Ristretto Roasters
3808 N Williams Ave- Portland
3520 NE 42d Ave – Portland
$2
I have nearly a crapload of cookbooks. The truth is, though, that only a handful of these are ones that I use on any kind of consistent basis – or any basis, for that fact. But when my friend Giovanna reviewed Good to the Grain a couple of months ago, it quickly became one of the few cookbooks I’ve come across lately that I felt the need to add to my collection.
Read MoreAlma 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.
Read MorePearl Bakery
102 NW 9th Ave – Portland
$1.50
1
If you’re noticing that there is a disproportionate number of ginger molasses cookies featured here, well, it’s because I have a disproportionate love of ginger molasses cookies. Because ginger molasses cookies are fucking awesome.
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Mexican Sugar Cookies
Location: Possibly every Mexican bakery in the world
$: Not very expensive
I like to write mainly about the cookies I come across that excite me and give me brief moments of joy. Occasionally, however, I will meet one (or in this case, several) so dreadful that I feel compelled to warn my fellow cookie monsters to take heed. Consider this both a precautionary tale as well as the seed for discussion. If there are Mexican cookie lovers out there, I want to hear your voice. Tell me what I’m missing. I am nothing if not open-minded in my quest for maximum cookie enlightenment.
Ay, the Mexican cookies. Where do I begin?
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Note: This meringue is sitting on a dinner plate, not a saucer, not a salad plate. What I’m saying is: this is a big-ass cookie.
The Bread Peddler
222 Capitol Way North – Olympia, WA
$1.35
Meringue, probably more than most cookies (and pie toppers, for that fact), is divisive. I have friends who ADORE meringue, and others who tell me that it is not so much different than eating a stick of sidewalk chalk. I am not sure if I know anyone who sits on the fence with meringue, anyone who says: “eh, it’s alright. I can take it or leave it.” A person will either take it – with gusto, or leave it – happily. And like all matters of taste, there is no accounting for it. We likes what we likes.
Read MoreGrand Central Bakery
Portland* – various locations
$1.30
As I typed the words “Triple Chocolate” just now, I realized that I’m not really sure why it’s called “triple”. Rich chocolate base: check. Nice semi-sweet chocolate chips: check. But…what is this mystery third chocolate in the trifecta? (Note to self: Next time you go to Grand Central, ask what that damn third chocolate is. Shit, now I’m totally curious! Stay tuned for an update.)
Okay, so here is what’s interesting about the this one: Every time I taste it, I am surprised all over again by how honestly delicious it is. That is to say, it does not have a whole lot of curb appeal; it appears somewhat dry and biscuit-y to the eye, and even though I’ve eaten probably twenty of them over the past, say, 5 years, it is as if I’ve developed some sort of chronic Triple Chocolate Cookie amnesia.
Read MoreFresh Flours
6015 Phinney Ave. N
Seattle
$ ? (not more than a buck apiece, possibly less)
chocolate almond shortbread & green tea shortbread
Dear Fresh Flours bakers:
Buy a bag of salt. Please. Your cookies are very pleasing to the eye, as are the rest of your wares. I have no doubt that top notch ingredients are at play here, but they are totally lost on me because I CAN BARELY TASTE THEM. Because you don’t use any G-d blessed salt – the most fundamental of all flavor enhancers. What gives?
Regretfully,
Joanna
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 MoreRed 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 MorePortland – various locations
$1.39
“Hey, so what are your favorite cookies in Portland?”
This is something that I hear, arguably, probably a lot more often than most people do – for obvious reasons.
When I answer, I usually rattle off the last memorable one or two that I’ve eaten – whatever is in the front of my mind and lingering on my taste buds at that particular moment. However, something I’ve been telling people for the past several months (even when they aren’t asking) is that Whole Foods is making some damn good cookies – better cookies than you find at most local bakeries, and (contrary to its “Whole Paycheck”/ high-priced reputation) more modestly priced, to boot.
Read MoreWhole Foods Market
Portland – various locations
$1.99
Is it a cookie? Or is it a confection? It’s sitting behind the glass next to all the other cookies, but I’d say this one sort of rides the fence being that a) it contains not a lick of flour (not that flour is a requirement for cookie classification) and b) enclosed within its thin, almond-encrusted sheath, is a dense, slightly sticky mass of sweet, sugary marzipan – behaving more like candy than cookie, imo. Its ingredients are: sugar, almonds, almond paste, egg whites and salt.
Read MoreMarket Gourmet
Portland Farmers’ Market (PSU – Saturdays and Wednesdays)
$1.50
It’s an elusive cookie, to be sure. That is to say, you can find it only at The Farmers’ Market at Portland State University – on Saturdays and Wednesdays (and only during Farmers’ Market season, obviously). So, like many things that are truly worthwhile, you may need to stray a little bit out of your way in order to get this bad boy in your mouth. But… if you’re so inclined, do it.
Read MoreTall Grass Bakery
5907 24TH Ave NW – Seattle
$2
The photo tells you most of what you need to know. But here is the rest: earthy and toothsome – made with whole wheat flour, chunks of candied ginger and plenty of good, dark molasses, this is the Cheech and Chong fatty spliff of the ginger molasses community.
Read MoreNew Seasons Market
NE 33rd and Killingsworth – Portland
$1
A few months ago, the New Seasons Market near my house (Concordia branch) replaced their house-made oatmeal raisin cookie with one that, while baked on-site, is actually made with dough supplied by Grand Central Bakery. I am not complaining; while I had no problem with the old version of the o.r.c., I have great affection for almost all things Grand Central.
Read MoreJim and Patty’s Coffee
4951 Northeast Fremont St – Portland
$1.75
This dark and unassuming disc didn’t look like anything very remarkable when I decided to take it for a spin, but holy moly – what an unexpectedly delicious surprise.
Read MoreCrema Coffee and Bakery
2728 SE Ankeny, Portland
$1.25
Definitely above average. Heck, I’ll go one better than that; this is a very pleasing cookie- and while not in the same league as Milk, certainly worthy of repeat purchases.
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