Azerbaijani Bakery Sharbat Puts Detailed Handiwork on Display | Eater DC

"I discovered a pristinely clean, loft-style bakery and cafe on the 2400 block of 18th Street NW where Ilhama Safarova brings the labor-intensive, communal baking traditions of Baku to Adams Morgan with her shop, Sharbat. She and her daughter Shukrana bake Azerbaijani pastries like pakhlava—a multilayered pastry sweetened with simple syrup that takes almost four hours to make as they roll at least 15 sheets of dough and cut diamond shapes—shekerbura, a crescent-shaped pastry with a crumbly, intricately designed shell stuffed with ground hazelnuts, and xachapuri, a flaky, strudel-like savory filled with tangy feta. Cakes are a specialty, available in 12 varieties including double chocolate, carrot, and Bird Milk, and the bakery’s most popular item is a honey cake distinguished by a light cream filling whipped on the stovetop. Compared with heavier American desserts, these pastries are light and airy, use limited sugar, and rely on nuts to enhance flavor. Savory weekend offerings include a Village Breakfast platter (beef sausage, eggs, olives, tomato, cucumber, avocado, mascarpone, sweetened tea) served with a goghal, a black sesame bun spiced with cumin, anise, and black pepper. Sharbat’s opening was delayed by the pandemic from March to July, the shop has remained fairly quiet at times, and it offers dine-in and takeout every day from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with options for pre-orders and custom cakes." - Eater