Red Velvet in the City

Welcome to Washington D.C.

For those of you who know me, you know that this city is one of several places I loosely refer to as “home.” For those who do not know me (yet), please allow me to explain:

I do not stay in one place for long. In the past year alone I have lived in India (the country), Georgia (the state), England (old, not new), and of course, our fair capital – the District of Columbia. It has been a fantastic year, but all of this moving around has made it rather difficult to introduce myself. 

At first it was amusing to watch the jaws drop in unison when I responded to the accusatory question of, “And what have you been doing since graduation?” I didn’t realize how impressive it would all sound coming out of my mouth in chronological order. Apparently I have stayed quite busy. But then the follow-up questions began. At first they were simple, inevitable, culturally insensitive ones: “Did you learn Indian while you were all the way over there?” or “Atlanta? But isn’t that The South?” Then the questions started to get a little more personal: “So, do you have, like, an attachment problem?” and “Honey, shouldn’t you be finding a nice place to settle down?” 

Woah, let’s get one thing straight: it’s Hindi, not Indian. But all jokes aside, I think I might be seriously starting to worry a few people. Before I make an attempt to appease my elders, I would like to make something clear:  I am not settling down. That would cut against every grain of my personality. I am, however, willing to experiment. 

And so I propose this: I will stay put for one year. 

I have chosen Washington D.C. for several reasons. First and foremost, it is where I have found my dream job. Second, it is the perfect city for a twenty-something girl to continue her exploration of the real world. Third, it has incredible Red Velvet. 

Once again, for those who do not know me, let me explain: I am obsessed with Red Velvet. I discovered the variety of cake while in college and was intrigued by its uniqueness. I love food that makes me think – and this definitely qualifies. Hidden in the deep red there is a slight undertone of chocolate you don’t taste on the first bite. The powerful tang of the vinegar and baking soda that keep the cake light hits you so hard at first that you are both offended and amused. The cream cheese icing then softens the blow and asks you to go back for another bite. I’m hooked. 

The Red Velvet Challenge started as a way to explore a new city. I knew that wherever I may be in the world, I would not be fully content without access to the perfect slice of Red Velvet cake. Of course, I could just bake a cake weekly - but that is not nearly as fun. And so, what started out as a daily cupcake habit to pack on a few pounds has turned into way of life. 

The Red Velvet Challenge (RVC) is usually an account of my adventure to take a city by storm and find the best Red Velvet it has to offer. The problem is – I already know where to find the best Red Velvet in D.C. And so, this blog is going to be a little different. I will continue to search high and low in D.C. for a cake to match my favorite (a secret yet to be revealed). Along the way, there will be anecdotes, information on the city, and an excited discussion about all things culinary. 

This is a blog about life and cake, and a year of not settling down. Dig in.