Baking as a skilled craft

Freshly baked baguettes, macaroons, various rolls, cookies and other treats are just begging to be enjoyed at Ken’s Artisan Bakery located on Northwest 21st Avenue between Everett and Flanders. Owner and founder Ken Forkish opened shop in 2001, specializing in traditional baked goods resembling those found throughout Europe, especially France and Italy.

Before you even reach the front door your senses are treated to the delightful fragrance of fresh pastries just out of the oven. Once inside the shop, the dazzling array of the treats is a bit overwhelming at first, especially since they all look so good. For first timers, try out something sweet like a macaroon or perhaps a more traditional Morning Roll.

Not only are the pastries a delight, but their bread is also superb. Fresh bread is baked every day and some types, like their baguettes, are even baked twice. Ken’s artisan breads have a strong reputation throughout Portland and are served in several restaurants such as Le Pigeon, Metrovino, Wildwood and Higgins.

Once your treats have been picked out, take a seat inside the warm, friendly café and enjoy the cozy ambiance while sipping on some Stumptown coffee. The large windows surrounding the shop allow the customers to sit back and watch the world passing by while savoring a little piece of the heaven they just purchased.

If you’re pondering what to do for dinner on a Monday night, try heading over to the bakery for a long-time special event called Monday Night Pizza. In fact, by 2006, the popularity of the pizzas grew so much that Forkish was forced to look for another space—thus Ken’s Artisan Pizza on Southeast 28th Avenue was born.

The first thing that one notices when entering the pizza shop, besides the mouth-watering smells, is the giant wood-fire oven used to bake the pizzas. Next, you’ll likely be taken back by the amount of noise and business, which is a good sign for any eatery. All the high energy and echoes of laughter only add to the overall dining experience.

The 12” thin-crust Italian-style pizzas are a perfect serving size for one to two people. The turnaround time after ordering food was another highlight of the evening, as a hot pizza pie can be placed on your table ready to be consumed within 10–15 minutes. The chef at Ken’s Artisan Pizza did an excellent job staying true to the inspiration, as anyone familiar with authentic Italian cuisine will certainly be satisfied. The pies have just the right amount of sauce and cheese, mostly because they don’t consume and overwhelm the whole pizza.

A few pizzas you shouldn’t miss: the mushroom, the fennel sausage and onion, the margherita, and, for seafood lovers out there, the anchovy pizza is a unique option. At $13 a plate, this place is ideal for a dinner date or a quick meal before a night on the town.