city news...
Jan 4,2009
Alma Chocolate
by arthur smid
I have a confession to make: I eat so much chocolate I buy it in bulk. Okay, that said, let's talk about more delicate patterns of consumption. When I open a bottle of wine and turn to my stash of chocolate, I don't want a handful of chips. I want each bite to be a chocolate experience. You have artisanal bars, molded chocolate, and chocolates - or as Sarah Hart prefers to call them, bonbons; and in French, "bonbons", are "good good". Hart's kitchen is behind the counter of Alma Chocolate, a boutique nestled in the row of restaurants at 140 NE 28th Ave. Her little chocolate packages hold any flavor imaginable to satisfy the palate, and your loved ones. People who cook with chocolate, make chocolates, or chocolate bars all have something to say about what makes an artisanal chocolate. Hart says, "The human touch makes some ineffable difference." A man comes into Alma Chocolate and says, "Last time I had the bourbon. I think you put a little extra of
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posted at 01:44 PM
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Dec 3,2008
Thank You Sweet Masterpiece
by nancy
Thank you Sweet Masterpiece for hosting families this afternoon for a delicious field trip. Crystal, one of the owners, connected with the kids right off by passing around an actual coco pod. And impressed the parents by fielding tough questions about chocolate terminology. We all loved the 'behind the scenes' look at how to dip chocolate candies and seeing what a ten pound bar of chocolate looks like. Crystal wrapped the tour up by passing around creamy chocolate and steamed milk so kids and adults alike could make their own hot chocolate. Delicious! And all the parents appreciated how kid friendly and thoughtful the staff were to have a big group of kids having fun and enjoying fine chocolate. If pictures of kids clamoring for chocolate makes you smile, you'll definitely want to check out the photos on our flickr page . There's one where it looks like the children are trying to claw their way into the chocolate case. Uh huh. Th
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posted at 08:07 PM
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Nov 16,2008
I Give My Heart to Two Tarts
by northwest nola
I tried Two Tarts today. Let me be more specific; I tried two cookies at the Two Tarts Bakery today. I tried the oatmeal peanut butter cream and the s'mores. Holy cats I'm in love. I'm glad that these cookies are rich and little because if they were any less rich, I could eat more than my fair share's worth of their deliciousness. And if they were any bigger I'd probably break into the sugar sweats eating them. Two Tarts started at the Portland Farmer's Market and now has a retail location on NW 23rd. So, now every single time I walk down NW 23rd, which is often since i live right here, I will have to walk by the store, which is a devilish temptation for me. And I will be inevitably haunted by thoughts of oatmeal peanut butter cream cookies swimming in my head. And I will need to stop and get one. And then I'll have to try some other flavor and eventually I'll grow big as a house eating Two Tarts cookies -- or "artisan sweets for the soul," as they say. Devils! Or, Ang
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posted at 10:37 PM
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Nov 11,2008
Put a Cork In It!
by TableTalkPortland
Put a Cork in it! That is what I have been saying for ages about my beloved Northwest Portland hood. I just didn't think it was fair for the east side to hog neat-o wine shop Cork (2901 NE Alberta) all to itself. And I guess somebody must have heard me, because lo and behold! Cork is popping open ANOTHER Cork at NW Lovejoy and NW 17th TODAY! At 11 am! Be there or be sober, I mean, square! I peeked in the windows yesterday and saw that not only is Cork stocked with oodles of fun wines, but there appears to be a wall of chocolate as well, which means that Cork must be kind of like Heaven. So join me today in welcoming Cork to the NW neighborhood. (Free glimpse of the afterlife included!) -J
posted at 06:01 PM
0 comments
Oct 30,2008
Happy Birthday Pearlgirl!
by shooter
Yes it's true, today is pearlgirl's Birthday! So let's all wish her a very Happy Birthday! Yay! All together now: Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday dear pearlgirl Happy Birthday to you!
posted at 07:54 AM
3 comments
Oct 9,2008
Shop Talk - The Arrangement
by alex
I love shopping in my own Northeast neighborhood. I'm quite lucky to have some great little boutiques practically around the corner! Take The Arrangement , for instance. I always seem to have plenty of time to shop there since it's conveniently located next to hubby-magnets such as Pizzicato, Beaumont Market and the hardware store. Take your time, honey; I'll be right over here! The Arrangement is a great one-stop shop for cards, gifts, home decor, and fashion accessories... read more »
posted at 07:18 AM
0 comments
Sep 7,2008
A Sip of Vegan Milkshakes
by Veritable Vegan
With only a few golden moments like today left among the waning days of summer, everyone should bike on over to Sip , a recently opened food cart parked on the patio of People's Food Co-Op in Southeast. There are all sorts of beverages from juices to smoothies to - my favorite - the vegan milkshakes. They're tall, thick, creamy and quite an indulgence - and did I say vegan? Peanut butter chocolate was my favorite, but today's orange creamsicle hit the spot. The young fella behind the counter - I think he is the owner - says that he'll be switching over to hot drinks - like cocoa, teas and soups - around the turn of the month, so you only have a couple more glorious weekends to wheel over for a Sip. Sip is located in front of People's Co-op at 3029 SE 21 st Ave.
posted at 04:34 PM
0 comments
Jun 26,2008
Make a Strawberry Chocolate Tart
by nancy
Oregon strawberries are everywhere, especially at the farmers markets. Sold in flats (12 pints) and oh so hard to resist. Which provokes the seasonal question of 'just how much shortcake can I really eat?'. Now some of you might raise your eyebrows at that question, while you spoon up the last of your strawberry shortcake breakfast, not missing a drop of whipping cream. I respect your abilty to focus, singlemindedly, on one way to consume the bounty of the season. The flat we purchased at the Saturday Farmers Market is gone now. Consumed fresh on the way home, as part of the aforementioned shortcake, cut and sugared, sent in lunch boxes to camp, and given as hostess' gifts. And the berries that we buy this evening at the Ecotrust Market? With any luck they'll make their way into our favorite strawberry tart. This is a great tart to make with kids, and can be executed beautifully by novice bakers, or taken up a notch by experts. Here's how it goes: Kids and adults wash their hands
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posted at 09:29 AM
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