Washington, DC. They may deal with “taxation without representation” but at least the 2 cupcakeries we visited represented the city well.

Georgetown Cupcakes was quaint and probably the most interesting little cupcakery we visited. Built on the ground level of an old rowhouse, it oozed charm. Teeny little storefront, not so teeny line of folks trying to get in. Their display was rather creative and inexpensive, which I always appreciate. (There’s something wonderful about seeing how other business owners showcase their products.) I’m also a total sucker for packaging. Me + good packaging = sold.

Their cupcakes were phenomenal. We tried almost every flavor over the course of the few days we were there.

The only thing that 50% of our research team didn’t like was that GC’s base frosting is a cream cheese-based frosting. So….everything was cream cheesey. Mint cream cheesey. Vanilla cream cheesey. Key lime cream cheesey. Coconut cream cheesey. So if  you love the ole cream of cheese, you’ll be in heaven.

Next was Hello Cupcake on Massachusetts Avenue. We got there a little late in the day so their goods were as good as gone, but we got our eat on with what they had left. I’m just saying….if ever wandering through DC, eat their Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcake. It was offensively good cake.

The other favorite about Hello Cupcake was their use of sprinkles as decoration. Their far wall had backlit jars of sprinkles that seemed so playful and Willy Wonkaish (pre-Johnny Depp Wonka). Once again. Me + good decor = yours.

We continue to learn a lot about what makes these bakeries successful and, once again, stuffed some invaluable ideas in our apron pocket.