The Tout de Sweetest Thing

It’s the little things in life that make you smile. For some it’s listening to the sound of rain on the roof. For others it’s an unexpected email or phone call from a good friend. For me, it’s pastries - specifically French pastries. If you give me a flaky almond croissant or a chocolate mousse pyramid you’ve pretty much made my day twenty times better than it already was.

Since moving to D.C., I have been sans a reliable French bakery. There was just nothing out there that matched the pure bliss and flavor of the one I grew up two blocks from back in Ohio. Thankfully my pâtisserie dreams have been answered by Tout de Sweet in Bethesda.

Tout de Sweet ‘s small storefront near the Woodmont Triangle has a sleek and modern look that screams, "Paris chic." The front window displays colorful French macaroons while the small chalkboard advertises that they sell coffee and tea to go with your “sweet treat.” The walls inside are stark white with hints of mint green, a hue that recalls the color of a pistachio macaroon.

Jerome Colin, who previously worked as a pastry chef at Le Paradou and Sofitel Hotel, churns out some of the most authentic and tasty French bonbons that I have had since I was in France. The macaroons are the perfect midday pick-me-up with their sweetness and signature “soft crunch.” Every buttery croissant calls my name as if it was begging to be eaten. The willpower that it takes to walk by (and not eat) the beautiful cupcakes and mousse cakes deserves a round of applause.

Unfortunately, there are just a few bar stools that invite you to linger over your coffee and pastry. Luckily, there is plenty of seating across the street that can be utilized as we are headed into the warmer months. You can close your eyes, enjoy the sunshine, eat your French pastry and imagine that you are sitting in Paris living the sweet life.

I Love You I Do

It wasn't a pastry chef or a well known bakery that can be credited with bringing the cupcake trend to Washington DC. In 2002 a lawyer left his firm and opened a small cake shop in the up and coming neighborhood of U Street. Head baker, Warren Brown started selling simple cakes and cupcakes made with butter, sugar and other ingredients that could be referred to as "the good stuff" at Cake Love.

In the past 8 years the business has grown and there are now 6 locations around town. Yet, there is just one Love Cafe. Love Cafe is considered to be the little sister of Cake Love, but I would consider it to be more along the lines of the better half of a relationship. It is located across the street from the original bakery, and maintains a very laid-back vibe. It is the type of place you would go on a Sunday morning with the newspaper and some friends to hang out for a few hours. Every day they offer a rotating assortment of baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and good old fashioned breakfast items such as an egg sandwich. On the weekend they offer a limited number of frittatas, giving you a reason to get out of bed before your alarm goes off.

Even though the name of Brown's empire recalls cake, I don't recommend that you make a beeline for the cupcakes in the case. The cake tends to be a bit dry, and they are served chilled (which kind of turns me off). There are far better ways to inhale your calories and spend your money. Instead I recommend spending less than $10 0n a savory dish and an cappuccino made with Italian espresso and walking away full. Love Cafe isn't the most innovative or exciting, but it feels like a neighborhood hangout, which is sometimes all you need.

image: cakelove.com

Not A Scrooge

The coffee shop around the corner from my apartment considers the coffee they sell to be "for a cause." How can anyone argue with that, especially when the shop is owned by a church. This quaint space at the corner of 2nd and F Street NE is far from preachy. In fact, it seems that the java and community come before anything that can be found in the bible.

Ebenezer's is known in this neighborhood not only because they sell great fair-trade coffee, but they are also known for their simple lunch menu and their frequent community and music based events. The coffee shop hosts musicians and holds other fun events such as dance lessons and poetry nights on Thursdays and Fridays. It is events like this that help to create a feeling of community, something that is not always easy to find in this city. The menu hits the spot with fresh salads, subs and soups.

Although this java house is located in the shadow of Union Station and the Securities and Exchange Commission there is a calming quality that is present. Ebenezer's has comfy chairs inside and a generous patio outside - both spaces are welcoming, making you feel like you can linger for hours over your coffee. There is also free wi-fi, making this the perfect place to come and do work or catch up on email.

I can't promise you that your time at Ebenezer's will be an enlightening experience, but I can promise you that you will find comfort in the coffee and the community.

image: washingtonpost.com

Wired Up

I cannot remember exactly when I discovered Baked & Wired. It may have been sometime during my senior year of college, when I needed a place to disappear for awhile and get work done. Or maybe it was sometime after I came back from my semester abroad and was going to every coffee place in town trying (in vain) to find a cappuccino that came close to the one I could get on any street corner in Roma. But, I guess the when and why I found my secret (though it wouldn't remain so for long) hideaway doesn't really matter. What matters is how much I have grown to love this off-the-beaten-path gem in Georgetown. I come here a lot to get away from the craziness of DC, or just to sit and work on my computer for a few hours and use the free wireless internet.

Baked & Wired is located on Thomas Jefferson (off of M St. NW) about half-way down to the waterfront. The one defining characteristic of the storefront is its signature bright-pink bike that is constantly parked outside. It's a cheery welcoming that entices you to walk over and see what is inside. And, oh the inside it has. The decor isn't anything overly special, but that isn't very important. What is baked and brewed there is what truly matters.

I guess I should start with the coffee, since that is what drew me there in the first place. They serve a full-bodied brew that is roasted by Counter Culture Coffee in North Carolina. First of all, the coffee always smells and tastes amazing. Second of all, the baristas really know what they are doing and treat brewing coffee as an art. No matter whether I'm hanging around and have my coffee in a ceramic mug or if I am taking it to-go in a paper cup, they always take the time to make beautiful rosettas (designs) with the hot milk.

And the baked goods - oh the baked goods. Merely walking into the place could put you in a sugar coma, once you see all of their offerings. Throughout the past few years, I have had the opportunity to try many pastries: from their cupcakes to their brownies to their cookies. Yet, without a doubt, my favorite are their doughnut muffins, which only appear in small batches twice a week. [You can follow Baked & Wired on Twitter to find out their daily offerings.] So, what are you waiting for? Go get baked! Or wired! Or both!

images: seriouseats.com and thedeconstructiveblogger.com