Foodish Ways

Checking out local bakeries is a fun weekend activity. I recently visited Rose Ave Bakery with one of my fave people on Instagram, Hana. It was great to finally meet IRL (in real life)!

Rose Ave Bakery, D.C.’s first modern Asian American bakery, was founded by Head Chef and co-owner, Rosie Nguyen. The other co-owner, Paula Wang, is the CFO and Director of Operations. Rose Ave Bakery was originally a pop-up concept and became a permanent bakery in 2020. It had opened in a food hall but had to close regular operations due to the pandemic. During quarantine, customers had the option to pre-order items online for pickup. Part of Rose Ave Bakery’s mission is to “reflect the palate of Asian Americans and to share knowledge, culture, and Asian flavors to all.” (Source: Rose Ave Bakery)

Note: Rose Ave Bakery is closed on Mondays. I’m waiting to hear back about wheelchair accessibility.

Rose Ave Bakery may look small on the outside, but it opens up so much when you walk inside. Hana told me before arriving that the line was quite long. I was late due to searching for parking on a Saturday. Be prepared to spend time searching for parking. When I finally got there, the line had gotten a lot shorter. My suggestion is to be prepared for long lines if you’re visiting during the weekend. Online ordering is available, if you want to skip the line and secure items that may sell out fast. I didn’t have much to choose from since it was about an hour and a half before closing and busy.

WHAT I ORDERED

Rose Ave Bakery’s walk-in menu includes brioche donuts, croissants, cookies, sandwiches, and other sweet and savory items.

Saigon Banana Iced Latte

Banana is a flavor that goes well with coffee. Naturally, I had to order the Saigon Banana Iced Latte. This coffee has banana and cinnamon flavors (just like their Saigon Banana Cookie).

Nothing beats a perfectly balanced latte. The Saigon Banana Latte was everything I had hoped it would be. The banana flavor was the star of this drink. The cinnamon was a great addition to this drink. If you love banana anything and coffee, this is the latte for you!

Ube Kouign Amann

I was elated to try the Ube Kouign Amann. This particular type of pastry has become one of my favorites since trying it last year. If you love croissants, the Kouign Amann is right up your alley.

The Ube Kouign Amann is a caramelized croissant filled with ube cheese filling and tossed in ube sugar. Ube is a purple yam originally from the Philippines. (Source: Real Simple)

The Ube Kouign Amann was as delightful as I had hoped it would be. It was perfectly flaky on the outside and soft on the inside. The ube cheese dough added a beautiful touch to this and added another textural layer to this pastry. The cheese center made me think of cheesecake. Although some ube sugar fell off with some bites, most of it stayed put and added a nice sweetness to this pastry. I’d absolutely order this again and truly think about this every other week.

Saigon Banana Cookie

I was thinking of my future self with this one. I often wish I had ordered something to-go and don’t do so. I chose the Saigon Banana Cookie as my second pastry to try. According to the Rose Ave Bakery website, it’s a staff favorite that pairs well with coffee. It’s a cinnamon banana cookie garnished with flaky salt.

I had to try the cookie before heading home. Hence the photo of the cookie with a bite out of it. I was truly living in the moment and not thinking about content with this one. The Saigon Banana Cookie was chewy and flavorful. Think banana bread but even better. I think the flaky salt garnish was great for this cookie. If you love banana desserts, you have to try this one!

WRAP-UP

If you love creative pastries, Rose Ave Bakery is the place for you. There are so many interesting items to choose from that you’ll want to visit again to try more. It’s always refreshing to see this kind of creativity in the food space. Additionally, the staff was kind and helpful. They handled the long line with ease. The next time you’re in the Woodley Park neighborhood or in Washington, D.C., visit Rose Ave Bakery! I’m sure you’ll love it.

Address: 2633 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Until next time.

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