Pearl Bakery

I'm ruined for other croissants now.. We were in Portland for the weekend and decided to run amok trying tastes of everything we could manage in the Pearl. Which brought us to Pearl Bakery, woo hoo! The breads we tried were good but nothing stellar, although the sourdough had a nice twist in that it was made from wheat and you could see the wheat flecks in the bread.

Onward to the croissant! Oooooooooooh. I think I just melted into the buttery goodness of this crescent of golden, flaky goodness. Can I have another? Can I just stop, rewind and go back to when I pulled apart the croissant on the first round and inhaled the amazing scent of heaven? Oh boy. Oh wow. I'm ruined for other croissants now.

Something new to try, a chibassier. I must get the recipe for this one. Anise seed, citrus, sugary but not overly so, it was wonderful. Moist, yet sturdy, I can see this one being used for both savory (melty prosciutto and brie sammie) and sweet (lavender ice cream on top of a slice) applications.

Finally, what's a tasting without chocolate? A bouchant. Rough translation: amazingly dense brownie in a small, deep muffin pan. Very good, and a little goes a long way.

This will be a regular stop whenever we're in Portland!…

Worst Customer Service. First place I visited when I got to Portland to grab a quick and cheap lunch. I stood there for the longest time trying to get someone's attention to place an order. The girls behind the counter seemed very rude and acted aloof. Finally the guy behind the counter decided to help me. I've rarely experienced this kind of bad service before!…

Citysearch Editorial Review. Just a block from the perennially popular Powell’s City of Books, this cozy corner bakery has an equally impressive cult following; only in place of bookworms, it attracts bread-obsessed locals and famished office workers. The casual, open-floor plan encourages grab-and-go dining rather than eat-ins, though a handful of two-tops are available for those who like to linger with a latte and apple almond bear claw. Pretty pastries and loafs lure guests to the front counter, where they place orders for chocolate croissants and, at lunch, black forest ham sandwiches. By afternoon, the orders shift toward mood-lifting chocolate chunk cookies and artisan loafs to serve as a standout breadbasket loaf back home.…