(Photo courtesy of Halfsmoke DC)
Dish of the week: Funnel cakes
Where to find it: Reba’s funnel cake, Halfsmoke, Wingo’s, Provision 14, The Commodore
Eating hot, fried dough during the mid-Atlantic summer months does not seem naturally appealing. Still, the funnel cake manages to attract fans all season long, from oceanside boardwalk stalls to amusement park and baseball stadium concession stands. The light strands of doughnut-like batter are often simply dressed with nothing but powdered sugar and perhaps a drizzle of chocolate sauce. And in contrast to its fried dough cousin, funnel cakes are easy to share and pick apart, with basically all of the batter exposed to crisping.
The lowbrow confection has a place in D.C. too—even as the city’s dining culture continues to shift toward upscale restaurants. The best thing? They’re not just for dessert, either. Funnel cakes are being used in some interesting ways on District menus.
At the sweet end, check out the carnival-inspired take at the fast-casual Halfsmoke (651 Florida Ave. NW). The funnel cakes here are $3 each and come with two toppings from a selection that includes maple syrup, whipped cream, powdered sugar, strawberry compote, and chocolate and caramel sauces (sorry weirdos, sausage is not an option at the moment). You can even pair them with one of the restaurant’s milkshakes or super milkshakes for an indulgent finish.
For a funnel cake on wheels, make a point to track down Reba’s Funnel Cake food truck for its latest stop frying up twirly dough in the District. The classic funnel cake also appears on the menu at Wingo’s (3207 O St. NW) in Georgetown. A sugar-laced 10″ funnel cake here sells for $4.49, with extra toppings like honey and raspberry available for $0.75 each.
Funnel cakes can be used in savory dishes, too. It gets a north-of-the-border treatment at The Commodore Public House (1100 P St. NW), a neighborhood bar just off Logan Circle. The funnel cake here is served as County Fair Poutine, and topped with Virginia cheese curds, smoked pork, and gravy ($12). Over at Provision 14 (2100 14th St. NW), the restaurant swaps out waffles for funnel cakes in its chicken, funnel cake, and maple gravy brunch dish. It’s a perfect American-Canadian mashup.
Previously on Dish Of The Week:
Fried Shrimp Po’Boy
Crunching On Crudites
Bring On The Bao
Stop And Taste The Rose
Beat The Humidity With Cold Noodles
