The recent passing of Betty White was a hard hit for Third Avenue’s Golden Girls inspired bakery, Mmm…Cakes.
Jose Barajas, baker and owner of Mmm…Cakes watched the Golden Girls every day with his sister, which inspired the creation of his newly established bakery on Third Avenue near F Street. With White’s passing on Dec.31, who played her signature role of Rose Nylund on the show, Barajas will bring back a “Golden Girls” themed pop-up on Jan.15 for the last time in partnership with Thr3e Punk Ales in her memory.
“She was loved by so many people in all different age ranges. She was the Golden Girl, the last Golden Girl so everyone loved her. As a television actor, she was in everyone’s home. It was a great loss and to hear that news was so heartbreaking,” Barajas said.
A variety of previously featured limited edition cheesecakes and confections will be sold beginning at 4 p.m. through 8 p.m. Mmm…Cakes held it's first Golden Girls themed pop-up in July 2020 in partnership with Thr3e Punk Ale, which released a limited edition Strawberry Cheesecake Seltzer just for the occasion. The duo planned to bring back this collaboration to celebrate White's centennial birthday on Jan.17.
“Back in the show, the Golden girls all loved their Cheesecake,” Barajas said. “It was such a big event and people really loved it. People kept asking if we were going to bring it back, and I wasn't sure. I realized she was going to turn 100, but then we got the sad news. We will do this in her honor.”
This time around, Thr3e Punk Ales' limited edition Strawberry Cheesecake Seltzer will have a specific label to honor White’s role of Rose Nylund.
“We just want this to be a fun event for everyone to come by and enjoy desserts with some beer to celebrate her birthday,” Barajas said.
Mmm…Cakes will bring back four mini cheesecakes in a variety of flavors that are to be determined, according to Barajas. Plans to recreate a cake that resembles Sophia’s purse, another inspired by the banana leafs in Blanche’s room, and hand pies inspired by “the men of Blanche’s Boudoir” are underway. Other limited-edition confections such as decorated Golden Girl themed sugar cookies will be sold.
“We are also going to have a bunch of cheesecakes because it's the Golden Girls, that's all that they loved. So we want to do a bunch of flavors for people to come here and enjoy as well,” Barajas said.
The desserts will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis so customers can enjoy the experience and attract business to neighboring locations along Third Avenue, according to Barajas.
“We are trying to get more stuff going, but for the most part we just want people to come by and celebrate Betty White, enjoy some tasty desserts and some seltzer,” Barajas said.
