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Chef David Guas' signature "B.B. King Cake"
Chef David Guas' signature "B.B. King Cake"
Bayou Bakery

Hail to the King Cake

Feast on the Mardi Gras favorite

by Tajha Lanier
1 comment / new
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Chef David Guas' signature "B.B. King Cake"
| Bayou Bakery
by Tajha Lanier
1 comment / new

Mardi Gras season 2017 is nearly upon us.

And just as surely as this means music and parades and creative costumes in New Orleans, it also means king cake. The simple cake, generally made of sweet brioche dough shaped into a circle and topped with colorful green, yellow and purple icing, is a festival staple. And while D.C. is a long way from The Big Easy in virtually every sense, there's plenty of king cake to be had right here in the area.

This year New Orleans native David Guas is again making traditional cakes at Bayou Bakery, and he's also hosting a seasonal pop-up at Union Market. Over in Arlington, Heidelberg Bakery is at the ready to fill all those king cake cravings.

Just remember to be on the lookout for that baby come Shrove Tuesday (Feb. 28).

Here are a handful of places catering to king cake lovers in the D.C.-Metro area.

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Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

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Bayou Bakery’s Capitol Hill and Courthouse locations are offering chef David Guas’ king cakes for sale. The “B.B. King Cakes” serve 12 to 14, are piped with “Creole Cream Cheese” filling and come with a gift box that includes carnival beads for added flair. Order online.

901 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
202-664-5307
202-664-5307
Bayou Bakery

Black Jack

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Order a cake Feb. 1 through Feb. 25 at Black Jack to pick it up just in time for the main event. Cakes come with beads and a baby inside; order online.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612
Black Jack

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Fare Well

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Don’t want to travel up the hill into Columbia Heights? Sticky Fingers’ sister bakery and restaurant Fare Well will also have vegan king cakes available.

406 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 299-9700
(202) 299-9700
Fare Well

Also featured in:

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

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Heidelberg’s king cakes, which serve six to eight, are made with a yeast dough with diced, dried fruits and nuts. The cake is then topped with the traditional fondant icing in green, purple and yellow. Order online.

2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 527-8394
(703) 527-8394
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

Le Caprice DC Café Bakery

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This French bakery prepares fruit-filled galette des rois for Three Kings Day, then transitions into the sugar bombs Mardi Gras revelers greedily gobble up ahead of Lent. The king cake is priced per person ($2.99 a portion) and orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance.

3460 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 290-3109
(202) 290-3109
Laurent D./Yelp

Also featured in:

Praline Bakery & Bistro

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Bethesda’s Praline Bakery, as in year’s past, will again feature the seasonal treat for Mardi Gras 2017.

4611 Sangamore Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816
(301) 229-8180
(301) 229-8180
Libby F./Yelp

Sticky Fingers Bakery

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Want a vegan king cake? Grab one at Sticky Fingers in Columbia Heights from Feb. 24th through Feb. 28th. Cakes are $22 and must be ordered in advance.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 299-9700
(202) 299-9700
Tim Y./Yelp

Also featured in:

Union Market

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The same cakes found at Bayou Bakery will be available at Union Market this year through a David Guas pop-up shop called “Mardi Gras Headquarters.” Get “B.B. King Cakes” here whole or by the slice.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(301) 652-7400
(301) 652-7400
Don C./Yelp

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Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

901 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Bayou Bakery’s Capitol Hill and Courthouse locations are offering chef David Guas’ king cakes for sale. The “B.B. King Cakes” serve 12 to 14, are piped with “Creole Cream Cheese” filling and come with a gift box that includes carnival beads for added flair. Order online.

901 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
202-664-5307
202-664-5307
Bayou Bakery

Black Jack

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Order a cake Feb. 1 through Feb. 25 at Black Jack to pick it up just in time for the main event. Cakes come with beads and a baby inside; order online.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612
Black Jack

Fare Well

406 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Don’t want to travel up the hill into Columbia Heights? Sticky Fingers’ sister bakery and restaurant Fare Well will also have vegan king cakes available.

406 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 299-9700
(202) 299-9700
Fare Well

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA 22207

Heidelberg’s king cakes, which serve six to eight, are made with a yeast dough with diced, dried fruits and nuts. The cake is then topped with the traditional fondant icing in green, purple and yellow. Order online.

2150 N Culpeper St, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 527-8394
(703) 527-8394
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

Le Caprice DC Café Bakery

3460 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

This French bakery prepares fruit-filled galette des rois for Three Kings Day, then transitions into the sugar bombs Mardi Gras revelers greedily gobble up ahead of Lent. The king cake is priced per person ($2.99 a portion) and orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance.

3460 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 290-3109
(202) 290-3109
Laurent D./Yelp

Praline Bakery & Bistro

4611 Sangamore Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816

Bethesda’s Praline Bakery, as in year’s past, will again feature the seasonal treat for Mardi Gras 2017.

4611 Sangamore Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816
(301) 229-8180
(301) 229-8180
Libby F./Yelp

Sticky Fingers Bakery

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Want a vegan king cake? Grab one at Sticky Fingers in Columbia Heights from Feb. 24th through Feb. 28th. Cakes are $22 and must be ordered in advance.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 299-9700
(202) 299-9700
Tim Y./Yelp

Union Market

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

The same cakes found at Bayou Bakery will be available at Union Market this year through a David Guas pop-up shop called “Mardi Gras Headquarters.” Get “B.B. King Cakes” here whole or by the slice.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(301) 652-7400
(301) 652-7400
Don C./Yelp

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