A true foodie trifecta running brand strategies at Cava and eating Cupcakes for Breakfast.
If you’re on Twitter or Instagram and don’t know who Nikki Rappaport is, then you’re either very shady or you’re just not following the right people. From pimping out her food/lifestyle blog Cupcakes for Breakfast, to posting hella cute outfit shots (this assessment coming from a straight man, mind you), Nikki is basically crushing it. Oh, and she’s also the Brand Strategist at Cava Mezze Grill – I mean, how freaking cool is that?
But okay, I get it, anyone can seem cool online (can we talk about “Catfishing”?!), but she is actually genuine, down to earth, and totally the real deal. I chatted with Nikki to get some personal deets surrounding her mini-frosting-covered-empire.
Landing in DC in 2005 to attend George Washington University, she studied journalism which helped fuel her love for writing. As part of her senior project she had to create a website, and ta-da, Cupcakes for Breakfast was deliciously born. “I love cooking at home for family and friends, so that’s where it really started. I don’t post restaurant reviews on my blog, but I do go out to eat often. It’s all about sharing good food with good people….and there’s a lot of both in this city.” Don’t I know it, too well in fact. Seriously 14th Street, we get it, you’re cool. Now quiet down, I’m trying to sleep.
Back to Nikki. Being Italian myself, I confess, I love her pasta food porn pics (#drool). And she says it’s her favorite thing to cook, “I cook it several times a week,” she notes. I ask Nikki her favorite thing to eat, “pizza and chocolate cake” she replies. And as for her homesick go-to food she says “I head to G for their chicken parmesan sandwich.” Yes, there’s a bit of an Italian trend here. Favorite happy hours? She says, “my two current faves are Ghibellina and GBD” – I wonder if she thinks her pasta is better than Ghibelina’s. Hmmm- follow up tweets on this one!
“I’ve been in DC for eight years now, so I’ve been proud to watch it grow from cheap college food to big projects like BlueJacket.
She loves eating all around DC. “I love comfort food and pasta so some of my faves are Red Hen, Graffiato, Fiola. I eat Cava Grill several times a week and honestly can say it’s some of my favorite quick and fresh food too.” As much as she loves eating around DC, she loves DC’s food culture and how much it’s grown. I ask Nikki what are her thoughts on the food scene here, in general. “I’ve been in DC for eight years now, so I’ve been proud to watch it grow and….from cheap college food to big projects like BlueJacket. When I first came to DC, it wasn’t a place that boasted food and lifestyle brands. Which is why I thought I would have to move to NYC after graduation for the kind of jobs I wanted. But slowly they became more prevalent, and they’re actually sticking around, which is awesome. It’s only growing and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Will DC ever become a multiple Michelin-starred city? “I don’t know,” she replies. “Does that even matter? It’s about the good food and the good people behind the food. And we have both of those things.”
Will DC ever become a multiple Michelin-starred city? “I don’t know,” she replies. “Does that even matter? It’s about the good food and the good people behind the food. And we have both of those things.”
Ok, enough about DC and all our food glories. Let’s get to know Nikki more. She isn’t perfect despite her Instagram feed. “This cake disaster from over a year ago is one of my most memorable. I watched it collapse in slow motion,” she laments. And she doesn’t always keep a clean fridge. So what’s the strangest thing in her refrigerator right now? “Blueberry soda,” she says.” I got a few samples of it like 2 years ago and haven’t gotten rid of it yet.”
But when Nikki’s had a hard day, she doesn’t go chug the soda. Instead, she goes to “Stoney’s with friends. Fat tire and super grilled cheese,” she says. Hell yeah girl! If you send her over a burger, it better have “Melted sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles” according to her favorite combo, but don’t send it at brunch. She’s strictly an “eggs, always” kind of gal.
After a terrible day, she goes to “Stoney’s with friends. Fat Tire and super grilled cheese.”
Obviously she wants to share a meal with Michelle Obama (Subway maybe?) and she’s not one to throw her food, “I’m so not into fighting” she comments. Although I may suggest a spoon full of eggs would clump nicely on someone’s head.
Ok Nikki, time for the Feasting Famously Fast Five and quickly tell me the first thing that comes to mind when I say the following words:
Chocolate – Valrhona chocolate gelato at Dolcezza
Leggings in public – GW Starbucks
Sweet vs savory – pies from Whisked. Get both kinds.
Sea Salt – Toast with Local Honey Butter & Sea Salt at Estadio
Instagram – follow @nikkirap & @cavagrill 🙂
Nikki Rappaport ladies and gentlemen: a foodie with a job where you have to be a foodie, one writing a foodie blog! Holy cow– it’s the foodie trifecta.