La Fête du Macaron is Almost Upon Us

Photo credit: Pix Patisserie

If you’re like me, Thanksgiving food is on your mind this week. And while turkey (roasted or deep fried?), cranberry sauce (canned or homemade?), and pie (pumpkin or pecan?) are easy to obsess about, for a change of pace consider the French macaron—and La Fête du Macaron at Pix Patisserie that starts on Thanksgiving day and lasts through the weekend. I’ve had Pix’s macarons and can say with assurance that they are some of the best in Portland.

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Excellent Avocado Toast and More at Grand Stark Deli

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While my friend Jen was in town I thought a trip to the newish Grand Stark Deli would be a great way to catch some breakfast before picking up my annual salmon share nearby—which, if you are unaware is a fantastic way to access high quality salmon in bulk (we’ve been doing it for 10 years). The deli is just off the lobby in the Hotel Grand Stark—the historic building was born as Hotel Chamberlain, converted to a local furniture manufacturer for 80 years and reopened as a hotel this past May. The deli serves up a west-coast interpretation of east coast deli food—including some of the best avocado toast I’ve ever eaten.

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Head to the Bee’s Cakes Cafe Pop-Up in September

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Beautiful lemon loaves. Photo credit: Bee’s Cakes

As you may know, Bee’s Cakes is now occupying the space at the northwest corner of NE Fremont and 72nd Avenue. It’s currently operating as a wholesale bakery but there are cafe/retail plans in the works (interior renovations continue). However, Rebecca Powazek  (the upbeat force behind Bee’s Cakes) announced that she’s doing a retail bakery pop-up event on Saturday, September 4! So exciting!

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Four Things I Learned This Week (August 20)

Need a custom vegan cake? Ben & Esther’s, Portland’s own vegetarian (soon to be vegan, I believe) bagel shop, can make your vegan cake dreams come true. In their own words: “Need a custom vegan cake for your next event? We got you! Shoot us an email at info@benandesthers.com and let us know what you’re thinkin’!”

Blind Ox Fremont is closing. According to their Facebook page, they are closing their Fremont location due to “failed lease negotiations.” People are super bummed. Join them for a last hurrah at this location (their N Interstate location remains open) on Saturday 8/29 and Sunday 8/29 for $2 pints, $8 growler fills, 50% off packaged beer.

Delta dashes indoor dining hopes for Pip’s. The folks at Pip’s posted on their Instagram, “Our dining room is closed and we are offering to-go only. This will be our business model for the foreseeable future. It is frustrating, it’s not how we hoped things would go, but it is the reality.” We respect their decision and are grateful that they have made it through the COVID-19 pandemic so far! Their donuts and chai remain excellent, so go get some to-go.

Bee’s is still wholesale but you can find her stuff all over the place. Rebecca of Bee’s Cakes reminds us that they are still a wholesale bakery, but with definite plans to open as a cafe in the future (interior renovations continue). Meanwhile you can find her pastries at a lot of spots around town, including Sullivan Gulch’s Steeplejack,  Roseway’s Rosebridge Coffee, and Parkrose Heights vegan coffee house Jet Black Coffee Company.