Being asked my favorite bakery is like what I imagine parents go through when asked their favorite child (is that really a question people ask?). It is hard to narrow it down as there are so many great places in Portland. My answer usually depends on two things: 1) what part of town are you in or looking to visit? (Having a massive chocolate craving and having to drive 20 minutes, likely will not work, I speak from experience.) And 2) what kind of sweets are you in the mood for?
Given that I can’t tell where you are right now, I’ll leave that piece up to you and just give you my favorites based on type of sweet treat. My list of places to try is ever-growing so check back often for updates!
Sandwich Invitational – the incredible PB&J from Salt & Straw
Cookies: (also listen to my Soundbite on Right at the Fork about my cookie mission!)
Sweedeedee – my favorite chocolate chip cookie in the city, chewy, buttery and filled with tons of chocolate chunks.
Pearl Bakery – thick chunky cookie with bittersweet chocolate, pecans and orange zest.
Nuvrei – if you love chocolate, get their Chewy Chocolate Walnut, you won’t regret it.
Pastries:
Little T American Baker – I am seriously obsessed with their Kouign Amanns.
Nuvrei – best croissants in the city, IMHO.
Bakeshop – their scones might be made with whole-grain flours like buckwheat, but you’d never know
Maurice – Kristen Murray’s brioche rolls are always phenomenal.
Pie:
Lauretta Jean’s – I can’t get over how flaky and buttery their crusts are. All flavors are wonderful.
Sweedeedee – myself and Winnie the Pooh could eat this Salted Honey Pie all day, every day.
Date-Appropriate Desserts:
Pix Patisserie – dessert that seconds as stunning works of art, plus they have an extensive wine list and are open late (until midnight or 2am).
Maurice – Black Pepper Cheesecake. Beautiful presentation, impeccable technique and unique flavors.
Ice Cream:
Eb & Bean – fro yo you can feel good about and massively enjoy with killer flavors like Cardamom Caramel and toppings like Bakeshop marshmallow sauce and Fleur de Lis’ cinnamon sugar donuts.
Salt & Straw – obviously they have gained popularity amongst the masses of tourists and locals alike, and who wants to wait that long for ice cream? That’s why I skip the line and grab a pint of the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache from their freezer case.
Doughnuts:
Pip’s – mini doughnuts fried to order, served warm, and topped with things like Nutella and sea salt. I die.
Breads:
Tabor Bread – hands down, one of my favorite places in Portland, if only it was closer to me! Their breads are made with house-milled flours and the weekly bread specials are never a letdown, like the Cinnamon Swirl Breakfast Bread made with figs, walnuts and kamut flour.
Little T – I don’t know how they do it but their baguettes and pretzel rolls make me swoon.
Blogs:
I often get asked about the blogs I like to read. Here are my few favorites, and they happen to be all Portland-based because that just makes them even more awesome:
Hummingbird High – I feel lucky and special that I can call Michelle a friend. She is supremely talented, her photos are gorgeous and seriously look at those desserts? (Update: Sadly Michelle is no longer Portland-based, but I’m going to always pretend she is.)
Minimalist Baker – I love how top-notch all of these recipes have been, both sweet and savory. Plus they are simple, quick and nearly all vegan with 10 ingredients or less, which makes me feel like they are healthier, right? My favorites I’ve made to date have been the PB&J Pie and the Grillable Veggie Burgers.
The Kitchen Paper – Mary and I went to high school together and then somewhat randomly reconnected in the blogosphere. Her photos are amazing and in addition to great recipes, she always has fun travel stories to share.