Operation Summer Countdown: Ruby Jewel Treats

Ice Cream Sandwich, $4.00

Was it just me or is summer dwindling before our very eyes? I feel like suddenly we are counting down the days until fall quickly approaches and sweaty nights, cut off shorts and fresh basil are only faint memories.

Perhaps this is because I wasted all of July being a sad puppy or maybe its because Portland's summers, although spectacular at their best, don't start until July 1st.

No matter what it is, they go to quickly and for the next two weeks, my goal is to live up summer like its never been lived.

I just couldn't resist myself when I stumbled across Ruby Jewel's new NE Mississippi store front, where you get to choose your cookie flavor and your ice cream. 

Homemade ice cream. Fresh baked cookies. Ice cream in-between cookies = deliciousness.

Chocolate Chip Cookie and Marionberry Pie Ice cream

 

What are you laughing at . . .?

Wait for it . . . intoxicated shirtless man imitating a baby inside. Weird.

Let The Birthday Festivities Begin: Meriwethers.

I'm a little champagne tipsy, stuffed to the brim with dessert and I just happened to have met my future in-laws tonight, so I would say the evening was a success. The "girls" took me out for the start of my week long birthday celebration. I'm spoiled, I know.

Love you girls!

 Meriwether's outdoor patio is incredible. I can't believe I had never been and if you haven't either, I recommend you do so, and stat, before Portland's fall interrupts these calm summer nights. As soon as we sat down we were paraded with complementary champagne and then suddenly we began talking to the most adorable couple from the east coast, who were very aggressively trying to set me up with their son (who apparently is a chef!). The next thing I know I'm seeing wallet sized pictures and they are buying our bottle of wine.

My future in-laws, who also look like they could be my parents.

The outdoor garden

 We practically ordered their entire dessert menu and sampled each one, passing the plates around and around. I hope the pictures speak for themselves. They were superb. Meriwether's has a high price point, but going for dessert and a drink on their patio is a perfect way to enjoy all that they have to offer.

Fresh Fruit Shortcake

Creme Brulee

Chocolate Coffee Torte

My favorite: Limoncello  Custard Pie

Oui, Oui

Fruit Tartlet, $3.75
 I’m on a me kick. This entails a Facebook hiatus, yoga, lots of daydreaming about Paris and the French countryside, a New York Times Bestseller, writing and as much park and Ipod time as possible. I had a dream I was in Paris the other night . . . then I listened to French music and coincidentally enough I posted on my Facebook—pre hiatus—that I wanted to go in September. You won’t guess what happened next, suddenly I found myself in front of Petit Provence. So I took it all as one big sign that I must have a Fruit Tartlet and guess what? I was right; I was supposed to have a tartlet.

La Petite Provence gives the Oregonian the perfect boulangerie fix and for a reasonable fair. Their breakfasts are large and rich and their homemade pastries are out of this world, or at least out of the states. Allow me to digress; I have trouble making decisions. I spent over 30 minutes in Powell’s today deciding which color August to August day planner to buy. I am that crazy woman walking back and forth, away for a moment and then back again, pacing the shelves, trying to make a simple decision. I almost always walk away feeling regretful.

So you can imagine my dismay tonight when the dessert choices at La Petit Provence were endless. Finally, with a little guidance I choose the Fruit Tartlet. I did not regret. I ate each bite slowly, savoring the plump blueberries, sweet strawberries and custard filling; adoring the gelatin over glaze and buttery crust. I even licked my fingers clean of the last few crumbs on my plate.

If for anything else, maybe you’re gluten free or something (I’m getting annoyed of you people), go to Le Petite Provence so that you can sit in their beautiful boulangerie, which they’ve clearly spent tons renovating. Sit next to the open windows and forget you are on the most gentrified street in Portland. Forget you have work tomorrow, that you spilled wax all over your tile floors and that you have 3lbs to lose. Sit, breathe and eat pastries. 

Desserts Galore: Mother's Bistro

For the specialist of occasions, you need a night with champagne and multiple desserts. Papa Hayden's is clearly known around Portland for their fabulous desserts and although they almost never disappoint, I have found that Mother's Bistro not only matches their dessert echelon, but succeeds their dry, white table ambiance. Mother's bar, The Velvet Lounge offers a hip spot to sip champagne with sophisticated velvet-flocked wallpaper and crystal chandeliers.


What a better way to celebrate then to pass around four delectable desserts, and that's exactly what we did--passing them around frantically not able to get enough and practically getting in a fight over which four to choose.


Mother's dessert list is much larger than most restaurants and constantly changes. All desserts are made in house as well. You can be certain they will always have a Pie of the Day, Dessert Du Jour, Crème Brule, House made Sundae with homemade ice cream and sauces, Seasonal Fruit Cobbler or Crisp and a changing M.O.M Dessert.

We had the scrumptious Coconut Cream Pie, which was both light and richly textured with creamy, fresh shredded coconut filing, a moist chocolate crust and piled high with whipped cream and drizzles of chocolate sauce.



Brownie Sundae. This take on a typical brownie and ice cream was almost too good, with a homemade fudge brownie hot out of the oven, a large scoop of homemade Kailua ice cream (so unique and interesting), fresh whipped cream, topped with spoonfuls of homemade chocolate and caramel sauce. A table favorite and the only dessert with nothing but melted ice cream left.


Hot Apple Crisp. Large slices of green apples topped with hot crunchy crisp and a large dollop of vanilla ice cream.


Three Layer chocolate cheesecake. I know someone who loves cheesecake so much he once ate an entire one to himself in less than a week. I will be bringing him here for this to die for cheesecake. The bottom layer is made with darker chocolate—leading up to the two top layers that are lighter. So rich, so delicious.


The staff was incredibly nice, as they always are at Mother’s and they even comped us a dessert for the birthday girl; what a gentlemen. Can’t wait to come back for more.

Baby it’s Cold Outside: Moonstruck Chocolatier

Hot Cocoa $2.90

Nothing is more holiday-esque then hot cocoa and peppermint flavored chocolates. So this afternoon, in the blistering cold, my girls and I walked up to NW 23rd to get hot cocoas and chocolate. I felt like a child knowing that I was about to be served “special” hot cocoa, made from the very best chocolate in the world. Tim Allen in Santa Clause anyone? This little adventure actually brought up many movie references: Chocolat and of course Moonstruck. And so, we sat in the café, sipping our hot cocoas and gabbed and gabbed and gabbed until suddenly our cocoas were gone.



The cocoa was rich and creamy—even with my request of non-fat milk and no whip (I’m sorry, but I have some holiday dresses I need to fit into). Moonstruck is really something else and if you haven’t had a chance to visit their quaint little chocolate factory, this is the perfect time of year to do so. These chocolates are sent all over the nation and lucky for us, their only Chocolate Café’s are in Portland.



Each chocolate is handmade, exquisitely designed and their ingredients are from the Pacific NW. Needing to get someone a gift, want to get your wife in the mood, stocking stuffers. . . even one chocolate in their tiny single chocolate boxes are adorable and with one bite they will be transformed as were the French townspeople in Chocolat. These are not your everyday Hershey chocolates. And believe me, if there is a skeptic out there it is moi. I’ve been hearing for years these chocolates are too good to be true and in a sip I was made a believer. The chocolates are almost so delicate you don’t want to bite into them. However, at $2.00 a pop, you must take on the motto less is more here.



Ok, cocoa isn’t your thing—but I know wine is. A bottle of red with these chocolates will send you . . . well, straight to bed.

Skip the Corn Maze—Eat a Caramel Apple Instead: Kruger’s Farm

Carmel Apple, $3.00

Apples picked from trees only yards away. Carefully placed in wooden buckets and brought into the farm. One by one they are washed and dried. Then the farmer, wearing jean overalls and a straw hat takes a wooden spike and sticks it into the bottom of the apple. He then dips the glowing red apple into a near boiling pot of homemade caramel sauce. It’s turned multiple times to make sure the caramel dries evenly and smooth. Small children wait patiently.



In a mere 20 minutes, you too can be out of the city and enjoying one fall’s greatest pleasures: the caramel apple. Kruger’s farm knows just how to make these, with giant apples and soft, creamy caramel. These aren’t the caramel apples mom used to buy at Halloween that just about ripped your baby teeth out. I would say skip the creepy corn maze and come to Kruger’s to enjoy a nice fall afternoon.


On the weekends Kruger’s bar-b-que’s excellent Zenner hotdogs, Polish dogs, pulled pork sandwich, burgers and an incredible veggie burger. Step inside the farm to find your caramel apples, pumpkin pie and other goodies. Don’t leave without saying hello to the frightening cow sized pig in back.

Kruger's Farm
17100 NW Sauvie Island Road
Portland, Oregon 97231
(503) 621-3489

Open Hours:

Sunday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday + Saturday: 9 a.m - 10 p.m.

Waffles for Everyone: Flavour Spot

Waffle Sundae, $5.00
Needing something sweet to hit the spot? Why not try fresh baked waffles, drizzled with chocolate syrup and filled with chocolate and vanilla swirled soft serve ice cream? Or, how about marshmallow fluff and Nutella in-between a crisp, hot waffle—tasting just like a giant S’more? Still not enough? What about something more savory—like sausage and maple syrup wrapped within a waffle. All delicious, simple and spectacularly down home, when bought off a cart on Mississippi or better yet, N. Lombard.


With two locations, Flavour Spot has begun what Portland will soon know as the waffle fix, serving something called "dutch taco's." Who doesn’t like waffles? Think about it. Name one person that doesn’t like a waffle. You can’t. How perfect a niche they have found! With a full menu of waffle options, ranging from sweet to savory, the Spot can feed just about anyone. Feeling weird about sitting on their fold up lawn chairs, on top of a gravel parking lot, adjacent to a torn down lumbar thing? You shouldn’t, because you’re eating a waffle filled with ice cream.


Now about that waffle sandwich . . . I really didn’t know what to expect. I ate it with a fork and each bite was better than the first. The waffle was crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside—thin enough to be wrapped around the soft serve, which, just to be aware of, is real ice cream and not non-fat yogurt. Don’t be fooled by its consistency; this is the real deal. What really just made this dessert was the chocolate syrup that soaked into the warm waffle. I also won’t lie and must tell you that this dessert isn’t meant for one person. The person I was “sharing” with didn’t really understand the importance of actually taking half, because with that much lactose, you are bound to have a pretty hefty stomachache after consumption. But once that went away, I was just left with the memory of the Friday afternoon I ate a waffle sundae for dinner.