BAKERS & BARISTAS

For most, traveling to Europe from the U.S., and back in one day isn't realistic. If you fall under the "most" category, I have great news for you; you can enjoy a genuine taste of Europe right in Washington D.C. Bakers and Baristas derives its flavors and inspiration from Vienna coffee houses. This corner cafe in Penn Quarter was named D.C.'s number one must-try bakery by Zagat. From the locally sourced coffee and espresso, to the pastries created by a noted pastry chef, Bakers and Baristas surely did not disappoint. 

Inside the glass case next to the counter are selective options that highlight some of Austria's most celebrated flavors; specialty danishes, Viennese cookies and specialty desserts, brioche, and sandwiches made on house made bread...need I say more? To make my decision on what to get harder, the mouthwatering sweets that are featured on the menu were developed by the well regarded pastry chef of The Blue Duck Tavern, Naomi Gallego. 

Given my sweet tooth and love of fresh summer fruit, I chose a raspberry tart. The tart had a buttery crust that was filled with cream and topped with perfect raspberries that balanced the sweet, creamy bottom. I loved everything about this tart and fulfilled my mid-day sugar fix.

To drink I tried the einspänner, which derives from 19th century Vienna, and translates to "one horse carriage" in English. The drink is simply a double shot of espresso topped with a dollop of whipped cream. The espresso shots give a blunt flavor, with a little creaminess from the whipped cream. If you love sugary coffee drinks, then this is not for you. However if you love bold, dark roast coffee, then this might be something to try if you're in the mood for a small caffeinated treat. 

My "travel companion", Jessica, whom I had spend the day with sight seeing in Washington, D.C., tried a melange. The melange is a typical Viennese coffee specialty, that is made with a small espresso, steamed milk and milk froth. This drink much reminded me of a latte and had a less robust flavor than the einspänner. 

To eat Jessica tried the butterkuchen, which means butter cake in English. Unlike most American cakes, the butterkuchen had a light, airy dough that melted in your mouth when you took a bite (it was delicious), sweet cream filled the cake and was topped with crunchy, toasted almonds. 

I love trying new places, and the craze for this place was definitely justified due to the espresso, pastries, and special ambiance. However, the only thing that was a little off-putting was the music. During my time there the cafe was playing 'Fergalicious' by Fergie and 'Pump It' by the Black Eyed Peas. The music felt forced and didn't suit the young man reading on the steps in front of me (pictured below) or the woman at a table on her computer to my right. Aside from the change in Pandora or Spotify playlist, this place successfully brought me to and from Europe within one day. 

~XOXO Katherine

ROWSTER

The idea of a vacation ending is bittersweet; I'm always bitter because I've had so much fun exploring a new place and spending time with family and/or friends. However at the same time, I have a sense of urgency to get back and be productive with a fresh perspective. My quick trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan for my mom's birthday was extremely fun and much needed. For our "last hurrah" before we headed back to Ann Arbor, we stopped at a local favorite, called Rowster.

What makes Rowster so unique, is that the owners have such a strong love for coffee and ensure the highest quality, so much so that they started a kickstarter campaign to develop their own brand of coffee. Their brand, Regular Coffee, is locally roasted and manufactured, as well as being affordable to smaller coffee shops. This was about two years ago, and now Regular Coffee is a well known name throughout Michigan. 

Along the wall is an extended wooden booth with tables that easily combine for large groups or studying. **insider secret: outlets are between the back and the seat of the booth on the wall** Featured on the wall, above the booth, is a project from a local artist that is titled 'Fifty States'. Each state is represented on the wall and has an original design that encompasses a significant aspect about that state. Each and every one of the state designs were thoughtful and added to the atmosphere within the shop. Ending our vacation at a place that generates and thrives off of an entrepreneurial spirit left me feeling more sweet than bitter.

Rowster's menu is simple, with the traditional coffee and specialty espresso drinks. I got an almond milk latte (top of the page), which had the perfect amount of foam and a heart drawn in it :). At the counter they also had fresh pastires that all looked delicious. One pastry in particular caught my eye, which was an almond croissant. I'm not sure if my eyes have taste-buds, but I certainly picked a winner. The croissant was flakey and had buttery, soft dough that melted in your mouth. In the middle was a sweet almond paste, similar to a pecan pie filling, only with almonds. This sweet treat was the perfect end to my quick weekend getaway (because calories don't count on vacation. right?) 

~XOXO Katherine

TERRA

One of my favorite things about summer is vacationing. Whether it be a quick weekend getaway or a few weeks abroad, it's always nice to have a change in scenery. This past weekend was my mother's birthday (August 2nd) and since I've been in Washington D.C. all summer, I flew back to Michigan for a quick getaway. Despite popular belief, Michigan has more to offer than just farm land and tundra-like weather. The summer is actually one of the best times to visit Michigan if you're looking for somewhere new to explore. My mother and I chose to go to Grand Rapids because it has a city atmosphere, yet is a close car ride to Lake Michigan. 

Our first morning there we went to brunch at a restaurant called Terra, which was recommended to us by multiple people and certainly did not disappoint. Terra serves authentic, artisanal fare, so their menu changes frequently based on availability. The menu has standard brunch bites and cocktails. Additionally, Terra is an extremely sensitive menu for those who have any allergies or dietary restrictions. The menu notes items that are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and even dairy free. 

My mom and I chose to split the breakfast pizza, which our waitress said is hands down the most popular item on their brunch menu. Terra's noteworthy woodfire pizzas are glazed with Terra's homemade red sauce and topped with mozzarella. The breakfast pizza has smoked, crispy bacon, potatoes and a sunny side up egg (my mom and I got two, so we could each have our own :)). To top it off, the pizza is drizzled with brown butter hollandaise, and my mom added jalapeños on her side and I added chorizo for a little extra spice. This pizza was served on a traditional wooden platter and had gooey mozzarella cheese melting off of it. Between the smokey meats and sweet brown butter hollandaise sauce, this pizza is the ultimate savory success. 

Terra was so good that my mom and I went back the next morning to split a pastry. When we got there on Sunday morning our waitress sold us on the caramel apple sticky bun, that had just come out of the oven (who could pass up a fresh pastry?). This sweet treat was the perfect balance with sticky brown sugar caramel and warm cinnamon dough that melted in your mouth. 

Terra is certainly not your average café  breakfast, but is definitely worth trying for its unique farm-to-table experience. Plus who doesn't love fresh pizza for breakfast? 


~ XOXO Katherine


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