Bun’d Up (@bund_up)
With original artwork, styled shoots (think brightly colored cocktails set among lime-green mahjong tiles) and close-ups of fluffy, overstuffed bao buns, Bun’d Up chef-owner Scott Chung has created a cohesive and energetic brand worthy of his Instagram following. A graduate of Gaithersburg’s now-closed L’Academie de Cuisine, Chung started selling his steamed buns at farmers markets. Now the Korean American chef has three brick-and-mortar locations, including a stand at The Block food hall in Pike & Rose. Follow along for giveaways, farmers market schedules and special events.
Bun’d Up, 967 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 571-225-7234, bundup.com
Fresh Baguette (@freshbaguette)
Let’s be honest: It’s hard to take a bad photo of baked goods. But the local Fresh Baguette chain takes its Instagram game to another level—from photos of elegant glazed strawberry mousse to snackable avocado and cucumber cream tartine (that’s fancy speak for avocado toast). You can also see behind-the-scenes photos of the bakers at work—and the life cycle of croissants, in case you were wondering. Fresh Baguette regularly posts Q&As with staff members so followers can get to know the people behind the baguettes. One fun thing we learned: When manager Jamin Baty (pictured above) isn’t eating baked goods, his favorite junk food is nachos—the kind with the yellow cheese sauce.
Fresh Baguette, 4919 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 888-648-0009, freshbaguette.net
Underground Pizza Co. (@undergroundpizzamd)
With mouthwatering photos of its Detroit-style pizza, topped with things like pesto, buffalo chicken and hot honey, it’s no wonder this Baltimore-based business cultivated a Montgomery County following on Instagram. When restaurants were forced to close at the onset of the pandemic, Underground Pizza Co. was quick to pivot. The owners started holding pop-ups at various locations throughout the county, including Olazzo in Silver Spring, where customers could pick up preordered pizzas, hot and ready to eat. The local “pizza drops,” as the company calls them, have been so successful that when Olazzo closed in May after 15 years, Underground took over the lease on the restaurant’s former space on Georgia Avenue. Underground was slated to open its first location this side of the beltway in late 2021.
Underground Pizza Co., 8235 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, 443-347-6190 (text only), undergroundpizza.co
