Photo by Stephanie.
By DCist Contributor Travis Mitchell
Dish of the Week: Cinnamon Rolls
Where: RareSweets, Ted’s Bulletin, Dog Tag Bakery, Sticky Fingers
Sunday marks Mother’s Day, a popular occasion to enjoy an indulgent breakfast or brunch. Between the eggs benedict and free-flowing mimosas, be sure to linger over the warm, gooey goodness of a cinnamon roll.
If your only exposure to a cinnamon roll is the Cinnabon food court at the mall, you’re sorely missing out (Ed. note: Hey, there’s nothing wrong with Cinnabon). Fortunately, a number of bakeries and restaurants in D.C. are churning out these classic, coiled breakfast pastries.
Ted’s Bulletin serves what is quite possibly the mother of all cinnamon buns. The enormous pastry—they’re only slightly exaggerating when they say it’s “as big as your head”—is served Saturdays and Sundays only. It comes with a gravy boat of extra icing, and its huge size makes it great for sharing.
The new Dog Tag Bakery (3206 Grace Street NW) in Georgetown sells cinnamon buns made from layers of cinnamon, custard, and raisins and is finished with a maple syrup glaze. Each purchase supports the bakery’s work-study program for military veterans, and you won’t have to fight the cupcake-seeking hoards.
Cinnamon buns can be found at many other local bakeries, including the recently-opened RareSweets (963 Palmer Alley in Fort Washington, Md.) and a vegan version at Sticky Fingers (1370 Park Road NW). Have a favorite spot? Let us know.
Small Bites
The Black Squirrel goes barrel aged
Anyone interested in barrel-aged beer should swing by the Black Squirrel (2427 18th Street NW) this evening. Beginning at 5 p.m., the Adams Morgan bar will serve up 25 rare barrel-aged beers both on draft and by the bottle. Featured breweries include Mad Fox, Goose Island, and Mother Earth. If you get hungry, the kitchen is grilling up both a stinky cheese and stout burger to accompany the brews.
Sumo spirit in Chinatown
This May, Daikaya (705 6th Street NW) is giving guests a taste of traditional Japanese sumo wrestling. From the 10th through the 24th, the second-floor Izakaya will be showing sumo matches and offering sumo-themed dinner specials. Among the options will be a mini Chanko-nabe, a staple of the sumo wrestler diet. This Japanese hot pot is made with dashi, sake, mirin, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
Raise a glass to support animal research
The Smithsonian’s Zoofari fundraiser returns to the National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Avenue NW) on May 14. Tickets for non-members cost $200 plus fees and get you unlimited food, wine and beer from more than 100 area restaurants including BLT Steak, Jack Rose, Estadio, and others. Attendees also get special after-hours access to certain animal exhibits.
