Around the Washington, D.C. area, ghoulish delights are creeping up in all corners of the restaurant bar and bakery scenes. Beware. These treats sans tricks aren’t for the faint at heart. At Buttercream Bakeshop, there are treats for all ages, with special 3D Mini Chocolate Skulls on the menu. These are pumped with Red Velvet Oreo Cookies & cream filling. There are also hand-painted face cookies—The Pumpkin and Ghost-Shaped Sugar Cookies— trimmed with gold edging and rose tinting. Monster fans will enjoy the green-hued Frankenstein Macaroons. These creative and frightful bakery expressions are presented by Tiffany MacIsaac, a two-time RAMMY Awards-winning Best Pastry Chef.
[Related story: RAMMYS 2018 Backstage Video Interviews.]
At Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, the Halloween mini-box is scaring up business. The $23 treasure includes miniature versions of three Candy Apple doughnuts, three Dulce de Leche doughnuts, three vanilla-glaze doughnuts with Halloween “scary eyes,” and three cookie dough on plain yeast doughnuts. The Dulce de Leche mini doughnut isn’t scary, but it is decadent, as it’s a dulce de leche filled square doughnut with dulce glaze, crispy chocolate pearls and sea salt.
For adults of imbibing-age only, Mixtress mixologist Gina Chersevani is presenting the haunted hour at Buffalo & Bergen in Union Market with a Marvel Superheroes-themed cocktail menu. The sassy Storm’s Brew, spiked with punchy flavors of Flor de Caña Rum, Myer’s Dark Rum, activated charcoal, lime, and ginger, is a must-try during the haunting. The Wolverine tribute cocktail, Claws Out, offers Illegal Mezcal, pineapple, lime, tropical “punch,” and smoked salt. Buttercream Bakeshop has also created sinfully delicious Skull King Candy Bars, kissed with magical vodka-mixed gold dust and stuffed with meringue and caramel.
At Occidental Grill & Seafood, the Web of Death awaits. This cocktail, by head bartender Frankie Jones, combines Blue Dyer Dark Rum with Cardamaro, Frangelico, lemon, egg white, apple bitters, and activated charcoal, garnished with a web of powdered sugar.
Photo credit: Astro Doughnuts (featured), Scott Suchman (inline)