October 27, 2005
Sugar Rush: Needs More Time in the Oven
Hate to say it, but last night's Food Network premiere of Sugar Rush, featuring Cakelove’s Warren Brown, gets mixed reviews from us. On one hand, Brown is great to look at and has fun with his interviewees. But on the other hand, he’s like a smiling deer in headlights when it’s just him and the camera. Next time, do a few head rolls and shake out those lanky limbs, Warren.
If we had a third hand, we might point out that the show must have been in the hopper for ages. In the first segment, which featured Duff Goldman from Charm City Cakes, Brown helps make a cannon cake that shoots fireworks for Independence Day. Last time we checked the calendar, it was October. Timeliness does not seem to be an issue for the folks at Food.
The theme of the show was celebrations and for that Brown contributed a recipe for raspberry chocolate parfaits. Not a horrible choice but is a parfait really all that festive? We were really looking for Brown’s molten-chocolate-filled Buzz Ball, a true party in every bite.
Once Brown relaxes in front of the camera and the producers keep the time of year in mind, the show might be worthwhile. Until then, we’ll watch out of loyalty to the Hometown Boy Who Made Good and in the hopes that he’ll tell us how to make that Buzz Ball at home.
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Oh come on...
Cake Love is so fucking overrated anyways. The only people who enjoy that place are U Street Yuppie Cracker Bitches who assuage their white-liberal/gentrifying guilt by feasting their eyes on their Oreo of the month -Warren Brown.
Yeah, really, you've convinced me - you're down with the darkness. That's so street! What would Grammy Ohio think! The scandal. Fucking vanilla bitchez.
while I don't agree with all of what anon had to say, I do think CakeLove should be in the running for "most overrated bakery in DC." The baked goods just aren't that good. I've yet to find a bakery that matches those of my childhood in the NYC area. Oh, and no need to flame me for pulling the whole "it's not as good as NY" thing. Honestly, I've hit up a ton of bakeries and if "the best" we have to offer are CakeLove, Firehook, and Whole Foods, then there's a serious deficiency here. On a more constructive note, DC does Salvadoran and Ethiopian food like nobody's business.
ugh...buzz balls. terrible terrible food. i am MASSIVELY underwhelmed by cake love. the stuff there just tastes bad.
wow. angry, angry folks. lighten up. we're talking about a bakery here.
I do love Cake Love. I have had things from them that failed to overwhelm, but then I've also had things that kicked my ass. Mango-cayanne cake, anyone? Yes please.
Also: anon. Might you be some white indie kid who would move to U St but can't afford rent? Cuz that's what you sound like.
DC does a mean empanada.
Yeah, Warren would be better off doing a show about marketing and self-promotion than baking. His cakes are good, they're definitely good. But the second frositng of the Messiah they are deifnitely not. And their prices are DEMENTED.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the opening of the Torta Bakery in Petworth.
Warren is not "street" and no one would ever think he was. No one. Anyone thinking that Warren was "street" because he's black is a fool. I don't know anyone who thinks "street" is anything but something you make fun of someone for being- you know- uncouth, uneducated, Keeping It Real (dumb). Anyone who thinks that a food network chef must act like a gangsta rapper has to think that Emeril must act like a heavy metal spandex guitarist and Rachel Ray must cry into her country music honkytonk beer in Nashville every night.
First off, DCist, that episode you saw was the Pilot used to sell the program to advertisers. Of course it was made months before the regular production episodes. Did someone just watch the magical moving picture box for the first time in their lives? What is the definition of the word "pilot?" altogether now...
And what about the straw man argument- is Whole Foods the best bakery in DC? Uhh, no, Whole Foods is a national chain grocery store, not a bakery and no one in the planet thinks it's more than "good"- you need new glasses if you think it's a bakery. Is 7-11 the best bakery in DC? What about Safeway?
Wow, you found a better bakery in New York City? Who still writes that BS in 2005? are there better art galleries, better bagels, better chinese food, better film festivals and better lawyers in NYC? sure! It's NY f'ing C, that's what it's there for and if you want that- move back now! please. go!
Cakelove is great, the prices are great and when he first opened across the street from the cafe, no one in the city could touch the quality of his icing, mix of flavors and his innovative cakes. Period- I bought cakes for visiting friends from NY and LA and they were overwhelmed. His quality has slipped and when they stopped going to the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market, that sucked, but find a better sage-flavored buzzbomb in the US- just try to Dorcus.
Y'alls going to wait for Torta to open and then trash it too because you're self-hating.
Don --
I don't think that was the pilot; from what I understand, Mr. Brown was approached by the network to do the show, not the other way around.
Go easy on Brown, he is a BUSY man. When he is not baking cupcakes he is test driving new cars and writing about them for The Post. How many of you can say you run a bakery, have your own TV show, and a newspaper column on a completely different subject?
OK, spazing out a bit over cake? calm down... its butter, sugar, flour, eggs and maybe some food coloring... and while I agree with most of you who are underwhelmed by it, you have to admit that the guy is successful- why you gotta hate? Just dont buy your cakes there!
Don,
My bad. Washingtonians ranked PANERA BREAD FACTORY, a "national chain" as it's number two best bakery (see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/entertainmentguide/bestbets/2005/results/700001.html)
Firehook was number three.
Washington just doesn't value good beked goods. You don't have to go to NYC to find a good one. Baltimore, Philadelphia, and even FREDERICK MARYLAND (pop'n 50,000) offer a ton delicious bakeries, while we rank dry, stick-of-butter-tasting overpriced cupcake bakeries as the best that we have to offer, followed closely by a national chain. WTF?!
I think Mr. Brown is great at what he does, and I'm sure he'll get better on camera as time passes--lots of people do! But the prices are a bit out of my range--I need cupcakes for a party this weekend but $3 a pop is steep for my budget. I would love to see a bit more selection in the baked goods department. wherearethegoodbakeries, spill some of your other bakery options!
I too am looking forward to the opening of the Torta Bakery in Petworth!
you people have way too much free time on your hands. it's cake. move on with your lives.
you people have way too much free time on your hands. it's cake. move on with your lives. Anon, get some anger mgmt counseling.
PLEASE don't start any mixed or negative review of Warren Brown or his products on DCist with "Hate to say it," because you don't. DCist writers have a history of being down on Mr. Brown, his products, and his business ventures. I'm not saying that's "wrong," I'm saying don't start the post with "hate to say it" when a brief glance through your archives proves otherwise!
hey guys, i'm the guy who shot the fireworks out of that cake. i think you all should be a little more positive on warren and his success. he is bring positive media atention to d.c. and the area and he is really cool dude. also, as a cake professional, i think his cakes are awesome and maybe you might want to look at the show as proof to the world that there is food talent outside of NY and LA. food network seems to think so. and as far as "hey man, it's october, why have other holidays?!?" all i gotta say is, get a grip, man! you know how t.v. is, it is a show about ideas, who cares if the ideas aren't seaonally specific. why not be happy that there are people out there really trying to make this area more well known instead of being down on 'em, especially someone as cool as warren. you have a gem in your city, cherish it and go over there and buy some cakes and tell him how cool you think it is that we have some passionate local people. just 'cause d.c. is full of dipsh;t politicians and gross manipulations doesn't mean you have to buy into all that crap. i am amazed at how easy it is for people to be so down on someone who is doing something great for YOUR town. peace.
Hey Duff
Saw you on Sugar Rush AND the holloween cake contest on FoodTV. You're great. As for Warren Brown - I used to work at a Kitchen store and he came in occasionaly to buy stuff - from those brief encounters he struck me as very hard working enthusiastic about his business and DC plus he really does know a thing or two about cars! I've had great cakes from CakeLove and not so great cupcakes from CakeLove - go figure. spread the love tone down the hate
Why does everyone have to be so negative? I was interviewed by Warren for a segment to be on an upcoming segment of Sugar Rush. He was so easy to talk to and made me feel very comfortable. He was alot of fun, and HE KNOWS HIS STUFF. I've never tried his bakery, but I'll bet that most of you that are bad-mouthing it wouldn't know the first thing about running a bakery OR baking a cake. Keep in mind also, that he isn't the one directing the show. Give them a chance! You don't have to watch it if you don't want to. Some of us happen to appreciate it!