When you're out and about in Alexandria, Virginia, what better way to spend your time than to stop by one of the many dessert shops in the area? There are many innovative bakeries, ice cream shops, and candy stores selling all kinds of scrumptious treats. Stop by these sweet spots for a taste test. more Nicecream Not only can you taste the delicious ice cream at this shop, you can watch them make it right before your eyes. What began in a small home kitchen has now become a well-known establishment with some of the freshest ice cream in the DC area. They mix ingredients from local farms with grass-fed cream. Gaze in amazement as you watch them use liquid nitrogen to freeze the ice cream right in front of you so you can enjoy truly fresh ice cream. They have new flavors available each week for you to taste test. Check out their flavor calendar to learn what's available before stopping by. Past flavors include Nutella, bananas and cream, honey lavender, wild blueberry, and salted caramel. The Dairy Godmother If you're craving frozen custard, you'll love this Wisconsin-style frozen custard joint. The Dairy Godmother offers several unique flavors that change each day. They use a frozen custard machine that briefly beats air out of the custard before pushing it into a waiting bucket and serving it. This makes the custard denser and extra creamy. You'll notice the difference, as their frozen custard tastes fresher and fuller than most. Their flavor forecast calendar lets you know which new flavor they're featuring each day. They've previously served mint brownie, cookies 'n cream, chocolate peanut butter, and funfetti. Don't feel bad eating your custard in front of your pup as the shop has two puppy pops created from yogurt and peanut butter. Your dog will love the tasty banana or pumpkin flavors that are safe for them to digest. Buzz Bakeshop Looking for tasty treats in a relaxing atmosphere? Buzz Bakeshop is a great spot for you. They have a friendly staff that greets you the moment you step in the door and assists you in picking the perfect dessert. You have a large menu to work with from brownies to cookies to cupcakes. They even have equally delicious options for their gluten-free and vegan customers like banana walnut muffins and vegan chocolate chip cookies. You can also choose one of their specialty cakes to bring to your next event. Blüprint Chocolatiers To satisfy all your chocolate cravings, head to Blüprint Chocolatiers. They're a cute little chocolate shop with production on the bottom floor and their retail shop on the top floor. You have a wide variety of chocolates and other candies to choose from when you step into the shop. Not only do their chocolates taste wonderful, but they're artistically designed to look visually appealing as well. They have a large mixture of both classic and unique flavors like mocha, minty mint, lavender honey, raspberry, and vanilla bean. Alexandria is a great area to try unique and savory treats. No matter which dessert option you choose, any of these spots are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. image via pixabay
Are you visiting Alexandria, Virginia, and looking for the perfect ethnic restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat? Or maybe you're an Alexandria resident on the hunt for your next favorite ethnic eatery. No matter your reason, these ethnic restaurants won't disappoint. more Royal Nepal Royal Nepal is located at 3807 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria and boasts fresh farm-to-table Nepalese Indian cuisine that is locally sourced and seasonal, so it's guaranteed to be delicious. The elegant yet casual dining area is Indian inspired and offers an ambient environment that you won't find anywhere else. Royal Nepal has several dishes that are loved by regulars and new visitors alike, including the Nepali Thali, free-range chicken curry, Tandoori salmon, and chicken tikka masala. For a lighter meal, consider one of the restaurant's starters. Favorites among their starter menu include aloo sadheko, oven-roasted wild boar, yak chili, and chicken chhoela. To finish things off, enjoy one of their decadent desserts, such as the Royal Nepal sikarni, warm chocolate melting cake, or the rasmalai. Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant offers vegan, vegetarian, and authentic meat that is Ethiopian inspired and always fresh. Hawwi has menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, and you even have the option to bring your own bottle of wine to drink while you dine. Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant strives to provide only the freshest meals and prides itself on sourcing much of its food from local farmers. Favorite main-course menu items include dereck tibs, awaze chicke tibs, fish goulash, and miser wot and beef alicha. Appetizers you can enjoy include lentil sambusa, shiro and timatim fitfit, and falafel hummus. They even have a dessert menu to satisfy your sweet tooth. Choose from chocolate cake, rice pudding, or baklava to finish off your authentic Ethiopian meal. Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located at 1125 Queen St. in Alexandria, Virginia. Namaste Namaste is a locally owned restaurant that specializes in Indian and Himalayan/Nepalese foods. Namaste strives to provide guests with an unforgettable and unique dining experience through creative international food and hospitality that you simply can't find at larger restaurants. All Nepalese and Indian delicacies are personally created by chef Nabin K. Paudel and include vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options. They offer regular menus as well as a menu of the day, which includes rotating specialties such as raj kachori, samosa chat, aloo papadi chat, and aloo tikki. On their main menu, guest favorites include lamb pasanda, malai kofta, chilly momo, and a variety of specialty naans. Dessert options include authentic Indian and Nepalese varieties such as Kesari Kheer, rasgulla, gajar halawa, and gulab jamun. Enjoy one of the delicious Namaste cocktails while you eat, like the Dirty Mother or Almond Delight, or try a tasty non-alcoholic specialty beverage such as a mint lassie or masala tea. Namaste is located at 6138 Rose Hill Drive in Alexandria. Are we missing one of your favorite local ethnic restaurants? If so, let us know! In Alexandria, we are always looking to expand our palate with new and exciting ethnic eats. image via pixabay
Do you want to impress your spouse, family, and friends with your cooking skills and some new dishes? Have you ever considered taking cooking classes but weren't sure where to start? If your answer to these two questions is "yes," continue reading for information on where and when you can take lessons and step up your cooking skills. more Sur La Table There is nothing like learning to cook, but sometimes you need to be right there in the kitchen with the teacher and not watching a video online. Sur La Table has locations near you where you can get the hands-on lessons you need to become a proficient cook. Classes include but are not limited to American Doughnut Workshop, Date Night: Winter in Paris (cast iron steak, truffle mashed potatoes, pear-hazelnut salad, chocolate mousse), Great British Baking (Victoria sponge cake, sticky toffee pudding, sausage rolls), and Perfect Spanish Paella (chicken and chorizo paella, Marcona almond-manchego-kale salad, Spanish flan). Classes are open to all skill levels. You are also required to be hands-on. The classes are capped at 16 students that usually work in groups of four, ensuring that everyone gets personal attention and guidance. Each class is between two and two and a half hours and requires you to stand and cook the majority of that time. Classes are held in-store, and you can check their website to find a location near you. Cozymeal Each cooking class that Cozymeal offers is considered as an experience. It is simple to find a place near you to experience a Cozymeal cooking class. Each class is taught by a professional chef, ensuring that you get the most out of the time you spend cooking. Finding an experience is as simple as using the Cozymeal online search by selecting the type of experience you are looking for and a date range. Once you find what you are looking for, you book and enjoy it. Classes include Fresh and Seasonal Italian, Fiesta de la Casa, Traditional Vegetarian Indian, Parisian Steak Dinner, The perfect Birthday Cake, and much more. Narrow down your interests and find the cooking class you are looking for today with Cozymeal. CulinAerie Located in downtown Washington D.C. is CulinArie, a destination location for those who want to enhance their cooking skills. Their instructors have an average of 15 years of experience in their respective fields bringing unique flair and talent to the kitchen. CulinArie's state-of-the-art kitchens provide for optimal cooking and learning and have sleek commercial equipment and flat-screen televisions for easy viewing. They offer classes for basic techniques and more intensive culinary skills. Contact them today for more information. These are a few of the places near Alexandria, Virginia, where you can take cooking lessons to improve your culinary skills. You can choose to partake in single dish classes or pursue a 12-week Masters series depending on your goals. No matter what you decide, you can locate a cooking class that suits your needs in the Alexandria area. image via pixabay
