Crema Bakery
2728 SE Ankeny – Portland
$1.25

I’d had this cookie 2-3 times in the past and for some reason  remembered it being oatmeal based. I guess because of the dried fruit; where there is dried fruit (raisins, cherries, apricots, currants), there are usually oats.

But when I tasted it again last week, I realized that it is, in fact, oat-less. Which (even though I’m oatmeal cookie’s #1 fan) is perfectly fine – especially since it is packed with plenty of other texture-giving goodness: shredded coconut, pecans, raisins (dark and golden) and chocolate chips. Not to mention the fact that it is

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Alma Chocolate
140 NE 28th Ave – Portland
$1

Alma Chocolate, a tiny shop in Northeast Portland, is known mainly for their signature (edible) gold leaf-painted molded chocolate icons,  bon bons, barks, toffees and cocoa-dusted candied nuts.  The array of unexpected confections, all  made from one deep, dark single-origin chocolate or another, is stunning. But what I want to tell you about is the shop’s  more off-the-radar (at least to me) bakery items.

I seem to forget about Alma as a bakery, per se, but the fact is that they are kickin’ out some of Portland’s better cookies, brownies and cake.  And this, natch, is what I want to tell you about – a cookie.

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Honore Artisan Bakery
1413 NW 70th St. – Seattle
$2

Yes, that’s right – there is coconut happening here.  But as you can see by the photo, this cookie, to be sure, is a macaron – not a macaroon.

That is to say, it is not in any way a coconut macaroon a la Red Fox Bakery, as recently reported.  Rather, it is a Parisian macaron, using shredded coconut in place of the typical ground almond. I realize the word “coconut” in the title may be misleading.  So…don’t be misled. It’s not a macaroon.  It’s a macaron.  Are we clear?

No?  Well, I’m going to spare you a  lengthy definition of macaroons and macarons because I figure if you already know, then I’ll be boring your pants off, and if you don’t already know, then you can look here. Read more »

Red Fox Bakery
328 NE Evans St, McMinnville, OR
$1.75

My nephew, Ben (age eight) and I took a little day trip to McMinnville last week  to visit the Evergreen Air and Space Museum (home of the famous Spruce Goose).  After the hour-long drive, we wanted bit of  lunch before embarking on our (much more compelling than I had been expecting) tour.  Even though the museum proved to be very worthwhile,  I was, frankly, more excited about revisiting Red Fox Bakery* than I was at the prospect of seeing vintage airplanes.

(*Not to be confused with Redd Foxx.  Sadly, Fred Sanford is not the proprieter of this business.) Read more »