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Then there’s Josh Lambert, a veteran who suffered a stroke a few years before
enrolling in the spring 2019 program. In the fi nal month of the program,
he found himself in the kitchen, turning out chocolate chip cookies. From
there, he collaborated with three other fellows in the program to create a
brand-new pastry to be baked and sold at the bakery. “After my stroke in 2016,
my brain was completely rewired. I lost who I was. With Dog Tag’s holistic
approach, they were able to direct me toward what I wanted,” Josh says.
That is precisely what’s happening behind closed kitchen doors—at the
bakery storefront, the sweet works are more easily viewed. There’s an ever-
rotating pastry menu, with new items refl ecting the creative synergy of new
fellows. One month, you could taste a Cherry Blossom Tart; the next, an
Oreo cookie-packed cream pie will take its place. Even with all the healthy
change, you can always count on a few standbys, recipes that Connie has
lovingly bestowed to the program for exclusive use. Longtime patrons are big
fans of her cult sugar cookies and beloved brownie recipe. Said brownie recipe
even starred in an enormous Dog Tag Brownie initiative. Sold in more than
8,000 Starbucks locations during April 2018 to raise awareness for veterans,
the baked and packaged brownie was just like Connie’s original, only this
fudgy beauty was dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in a salted potato chip
crumble. A quarter of a million brownies later, and it’s safe to say that quite a
few more people know about the worthy cause.
Eating at Dog Tag Bakery can be a visceral experience. You’ll take note of
the colorful palate of the bakery, the exposed red brick running alongside
bright white counters, cupboards, and tables, with navy and red chairs to
complete the red, white, and blue theme. And one can easily be dazzled by
the pastry display case with its sparkling sugar-coated cookies and perfectly
golden-brown pastries. But what you might miss are the wide aisles and the
automatic doors—small touches that make the bakery accessible to disabled
visitors and veteran staff alike. It’s a thoughtfulness that runs underneath the
surface of everything at Dog Tag Bakery.Dog Tag Bakery is a two-fold gift: an opportunity for Americans to give
back and a way for veterans to fi nd their footing. Take the signature Dog
Tag chandelier. It’s a humble symbol of the veterans who pass through the
program, yes, but it is also a mark of the overwhelming and steady stream of
support from civilians. Next time you’re in Washington, stop by the bakery
and try a new baked good that was made by the hands of someone who’s
served this country. Consider it a part of your patriotic duty.Bakeyourselfa batchofDogTagBakery’ssignatureTrailMixScones!
Gotobakefromscratch.com/trail-mix-sconesfortherecipe.•