Hitting the sweet spot

Dessert devotees, cupcake connoisseurs and macaroon munchers, take note! Sweet treats aren’t just after-dinner delights—here in P-Town, our desire for sugar rushes strike any time of day. And to appease the sweetest of sweet teeth, here are a few of the city’s most delectable destinations.

Photo by Riza Liu

DESSERT SPOONS

Pix Patisserie
2225 E Burnside St.

At Pix you’ll find 30-plus flavors of French macaroons, ganache-filled cakes, homemade ice cream, tarts, mousse creations and chocolates that will make your taste buds stand at attention.

Try the Shazam!, a towering display of thin rolled chocolate filled with caramel mousse and salted almonds atop a moist slab of chocolate-almond cake. The Royale with Cheese will satisfy even the most adventurous of diners: A chocolate mousse dome hides a hazelnut-praline filling atop a dacquoise cake, with a side of French Brillat-Savarin cheese.

For traditionalists, try the chocolate with chocolate (and more chocolate) Queen of
Sheba cake, or a perfectly torched creme brulee.

Pair your dessert with a drink: Pix offers a 30-plus-page drink menu with more than 150 types of champagne, wine, sherry and beer.

Photo by Riza Liu

Papa Haydn
701 NW 23rd Ave.

Get your cake here! Papa Haydn’s decadent cakes will satisfy any cake lover. Try the Cassata, a sponge cake soaked with Kahlua and espresso and layered with chunks of chocolate and ricotta. The Triple Chocolate Cake promises near-chocolate-overload, with three layers of chocolate buttermilk cake combined with espresso ganache inside a glossy milk-chocolate shell.

Papa Haydn serves more than just cheesecake and mousse concoctions—there’s also a full dinner menu.

HOME-BAKED

Saint Cupcake
1138 SW Morrison St.

Mmmm…cupcakes. The memory of Saint Cupcake’s moist muffin-cakes will linger in your mind for days, until you’re compelled to have another. And another. With rotating flavors like chocolate and mint buttercream, pumpkin spice, chocolate and coffee buttercream, the Fat Elvis, and the ever-adored red velvet, choosing your favorite is a difficult decision.
The downtown bakery is a must for those seeking a bit of comfort on a rainy day. Saint Cupcake also offers cookies, brownies and other delights, as well as the latest menu additions: caramels and goody drops.

Pacific Pie Company
1520 SE 7th Ave.

Pie. Pie. Pie! And not the kind you want to throw in someone’s face. Devoted to the art of pie-making, Pacific Pie Co. is a definite destination stop, especially for those (like me) who miss mom’s famous—and secret—pie crust. The sweet-pies menu changes with the season, baking in the best of seasonal fruits and offerings. Each week the bakers choose different pie recipes, making it almost a new experience every time you go.

Examples of Pacific Pie’s creations include: Key Lime, peanut butter chocolate, summer berry, peach blackberry and pumpkin.

Make it a full dining experience: have a Shepherd’s Pie or a Spinach and Feta Pastie for lunch or dinner.

Photo by Riza Liu

CREME DE LA CREAMERY

Ben & Jerry’s
PSU Urban Plaza

Ice cream’s a college student staple, and we’re lucky to have our very own shop right on campus. Get one or two—or even three—scoops of your favorite flavors in a cup, cone or shake; if you want a little more sugar with your sugar, get a chocolate-covered, nut-dipped waffle cone, or add a topping to your scoops. My favorite? CoffeeCoffeeBuzzBuzz.

For the more health-conscious (Who are you? It’s ice cream!), B&J offers frozen greek yogurt in yummy flavors like Blueberry Vanilla Graham and Raspberry Fudge Chunk. Sorbet and real fruit smoothies also fill out the healthy side of the counter.

If you want something a little more experimental, have the B&J staff fix up a hand-packed pint of your favorites. But be a bit wary, peanut brittle ice cream and Mango Mango sorbet probably don’t taste very good together.

Tartberry
915 SW Ninth Ave.

Frozen yogurt aficionados, take note. Tartberry’s got a menu just for you. With flavors like Gourmet Nutter Butter, Chocolate Mint Creme, Very Strawberry and Pomegranate Raspberry Vegan Sorbet, you can feel free to indulge your frozen-sweets craving without wasting your entire daily caloric allotment. Kicking it up a notch, Tartberry’s frozen yogurt is kosher certified and has tons of live and active cultures.

So grab a cup, fill it up, pile on the toppings and enjoy your sweet treat in a vibrant, friendly atmosphere. Bonus: Prices are relatively low, so indulging your cravings won’t kill your budget.