2448 E Burnside & 24th Ave • 503.548.0359 • facebook.com/alderpastry
You know that feeling when it’s about 8 or 9pm and you really want a delicious dessert, perhaps to celebrate something great that happened that day or just because chocolate tastes great, but you just can’t think of where to go? Sure there is always the option of going to a restaurant and ordering off their dessert menu (which my husband Brice would like to remind me that it isn’t a bad idea if it involves a cookie pie!). But now us Portlanders have another option – the amazing Alder Pastry & Dessert which recently opened just off East Burnside!
Open until 10pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends, this bakery is starting to make a name for itself with its absolutely gorgeous French pastries and tarts. Their incredibly beautiful desserts are unique, delicious, and certainly worth the late night celebration.
Pretty much anytime my husband and I have something to celebrate, we do so with dessert. So last week when celebrating Brice’s job, we met up with our two good friends Mike and Tauna at Alder Pastry. I had heard of this bakery once or twice before but couldn’t really remember what they served or what it would be like.
I walked into their spacious shop, somewhat expecting the typical array of pies or cookies. Instead I was blown away by a large display of gorgeous miniature tarts – there were about 10 choices of impeccably prepared tarts with unique flavors, such as the seasonal Orange Chiboust Tart (shown above). I may not like to admit that I don’t know every baking term, but I swallowed my pride and had to ask about this one since I didn’t really know what chiboust was – it is a whipped creme patisserie (pastry cream) flavored with vanilla and orange zest. It was custardy and had a great flavor, which was perfectly complimented by the sweet mandarin oranges and sugary crust.
It took us a while to decide on our second choice but we also went with the Chocolate Caramel Tart. I was a little hesitant to destroy the edible artwork but eating it was well worth it. Filled with rich caramel on top of a chocolate cookie crust, then covered in dark chocolate ganache, it tasted like an extremely high-quality (and tastier) Milky Way. If you are looking for something a little less decadent, they have great cookies, mousse cakes and pastries. If you are more in the mood for a frozen treat, I have been told Alder Street’s gelato is also fantastic.
So next time it is about 9pm and you really want a fantastic chocolate tart or delicious scoop of gelato, skip the restaurants and head to Alder Pastry & Dessert. Plus they serve beer, wine and coffee to make your dessert date complete.
Alder Pastry's Chocolate Chip Cookie - it's almost like a brownie!
What to Get:
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Kougin Aman: A traditional dessert from Breton meaning “butter cake” – it’s buttery, doughy and covered in caramelized sugar. Alder Pastry is the only place in Portland (at least currently) where you can find this cake. So you can sound extra knowledgeable when you order it, it is pronounced “queen ah-man.”
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Chocolate Caramel Tart: Dark chocolate ganache, salted caramel and chocolate sable cookie crust.
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Orange Chiboust Tart: Mandarin oranges, chiboust custard pastry cream and a pate sucree crust.
Other Facts:
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Hours: Tues-Thurs 9am-10pm; Fri-Sat 9am-12mid; Sun 9am-10pm
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Have a drink with your dessert: Beer and wine served
They really do look like pieces of art. I felt guilty breaking it.
What about the London art dealer we met there? haha
I wanted to include that fun factoid about our encounter with a “local celebrity” but couldn’t figure out how to make it work in the post. But that definitely made the night more entertaining!