Category Archives: Cookies

May 20 2013

Blind Tasting Bingo #2 with Kim Boyce of Bakeshop

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 5351 NE Sandy Blvd & 54th Ave • bakeshoppdx.com • 503.946.8884

Hours: Wed-Sun 7am-2pm

Just a few weeks ago, I attended my first Blind Tasting Bingo event with Nostrana’s Cathy Whims, hosted by Edible Portland. It was a super fun, completely strange experience, eating blindfolded and then trying to guess what it was you just ate. While that meal was delicious, I was particularly excited about the second Blind Bingo I was going to attend with Kim Boyce, an amazing James Beard winning pastry chef.

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Not only did I figure I could guess baked goods better than Italian dishes like head cheese (eek), I obviously was excited about a giant dinner of pastries.

(Side note: As I couldn’t take any photos – well I tried to take one blindfolded but it just was a blurry mess- below are a few photos from previous Bakeshop visits.)

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And that is just what we got – from savory pastries like Corn and Gruyere Muffins to an assortment of cookies, we had a whole meal of 15 gigantic bites of pastries. Yes, unlike the Nostrana dinner instead of a small bite of food, we truly were given a full sized pastry for each “course.” Needless to say, with my lack of self-control and how good everything tasted, I ended the night extremely stuffed.

Kim is known for her skill at baking with whole-grain flours, like graham, rye, spelt and buckwheat. Her knowledge is demonstrated in her James Beard award-winning cookbook, Good to the Grain. So not surprisingly, she played with a lot of different flours, both tricking and teaching us along the way. She made two current scones, one with dark rye flour and one with spelt flour. It was fun trying to determine which was which and seeing how the majority of guests greatly preferred one over the other.
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Bakeshop’s Sweet & Salty Cookie

I particularly loved her savory pastries like the Cheese Straw and the Bacon Cheddar Scone, made with graham flour of all things. The Pig n Blanket was a fantastic twist on a classic American snack for kiddos. According to Kim, this was made as a slight joke in the bakery. But with their croissant dough and Olympic Provisions mini sausage, it is seriously delicious.

On the sweet side, my favorites included the Raspberry Crumble Bar with a tart filling with a sweet, brown sugar topping and the Kamut Sand Cookie, which was very similar to shortbread. I had never heard of Kamut flour before, so it was great trying this ancient grain made from khorasan wheat, known for its buttery, nutty flavor.

Perhaps to satisfy my never-ending chocolate craving, I also really loved what Kim dubbed the “Cookie with White Flour” on our bingo boards. Essentially this was the mistaken cookie. The bakers were trying to make their awesome Sweet & Salty Cookie, complete with chocolate chips, raisins and sunflower seeds, but they accidentally added white flour instead of whole-grain. As a result, they didn’t sell it in the shop but brought it in for our dinner so we could taste the comparison between white and whole-grain flours.

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I did so much better than the Nostrana dinner – only got 3 wrong!

Fortunately, most of these items can all be found at Kim’s NE bakery. And luckily for you, you can actually see with your own eyes what you’re going to eat! You can also find Bakeshop’s fabulous pastries at numerous cafes around town, such as Salt & Straw for when you’re craving more than just ice cream or the Daily Cafe, which serves one of my favorite Sunday brunches (in big part to Kim’s incredible scones).

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Looking awesome with our “masks down.” It was slightly awkward looking at a camera, not knowing actually where it is.

Kim has a wealth of knowledge about whole grains. If you’re interested in learning more, like how to better incorporate whole grains into your baking or what flours go best with what kind of items, I highly recommend checking out her cookbook, Good to the Grain. It also includes the recipe for her famous Figgy Buckwheat Scones!

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Molly got a BINGO and won a bottle of tequila! Woo hoo!

Apr 1 2013

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies: Bluebird Bakers

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2390 NW Thurman & 24th • bluebirdbakers.wordpress.com • 503-415-1278

Hours: Sunday-Monday 11am – 4pm; Tuesday – Friday 10am-6pm

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“One of the best things about Bluebird Bakers is that you can try samples of all of their cookies!” I told a friend who asked me what fun new bakeries I had visited recently.

“So it’s like Costco but with cookies?”

“Um… yes, I guess, but imagine really good cookies instead of crappy Hot Pockets.”

Sure, that’s one comparison you can make. I mean, Costco is pretty well-known for its free samples. And now the recently opened “cookie bar” in NW Portland is known for that too.

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Words to live by!

The wholesale bakery turned retail space is baking up a storm, offering Portlanders a great selection of treats. With tiny bites offered free of charge, you can be sure you pick the right cookie for whatever mood you’re in.

Want a classic with a twist? Check out the chocolate chunk cookie with sea salt. Looking for something lighter? Get their Snickerdoodle which is the perfect balance of crisp on the edges, fluffy in the center and liberally sprinkled with cinnamon sugar on top. Want something ultra chocolately and rich? It’s the decadent, fudgy brownie you want. Or pick up one of their peanut butter cookies made with real creamy peanut butter and a delicious hit of chocolate chips.

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Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong.

To make your cookie experience truly complete, they’ll even serve you a glass of cold milk to wash it all down.

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You can also find Bluebird Bakers cookies at numerous stores around the city, including Zupans, New Seasons and Market of Choice.

Mar 12 2013

Salted Honey Pie at Sweedeedee Bakery

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5202 North Albina & Sumner  St • sweedeedeepdx.tumblr.com • 503.946.8087

Hours: Wed – Sat 8am – 4pm; Sun 8am – 2pm

“The only reason for being a bee that I know of is to make honey…. And the only reason for making honey, is so as I can eat it.” – Words of wisdom by Winnie the Pooh

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That cartoon pooh bear would certainly love Sweedeedee, a new bakery brunch spot in North Portland, for their Salted Honey Pie. It is the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The filling is wonderfully unique and full of pure honey flavor. The crust is flaky and crisp. Topped with a light homemade whipped cream, this is a pie is worth the trip alone.

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But instead, just plan to come hungry, because their other menu items are also great.

Sweedeedee’s small space is adorably decorated with old records and cookbooks lining the bookshelves, and mason jars for water glasses. It is fun and nostalgic, without being too kitschy. From where you order, you see the magic in action with the kitchen on the right and the pastry case right in front of you.

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It is filled with amazing treats ready to tempt you including ginormous Cinnamon Brioche Rolls and near-perfect Chocolate Chunk Cookies that are chewy, but crisp on the edges and full of flavor from brown sugar and thick layers of semi-sweet chocolate.

For a “healthier” option, try their House Salad with an over-easy egg. The large bowl is filled with greens, blanched broccolini, beets and radishes, tossed in a light vinaigrette and served with an fabulous piece of freshly baked bread.

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As with most brunch places in the Rose City, be sure to arrive early on the weekends, or be aware you might have a short wait for a seat as Sweedeedee only has about 5 tables and 5 stools at the counter.