A Discovery

Just call us Lewis & Clark.

Walking through Monument Square this morning, a couple of us Phoenicians discovered the next-best-thing in Portland sweets -- Cream & Sugar Bakery, based out of a Portland kitchen. On the establishment's Web site, they laud their own comittment to using fresh, authentic ingredients:

"We bake our cakes by hand from scratch using fresh, high quality ingredients. Even many local “bakeries” do not do this. Next time you are in one of your favorite “bakeries” ask to see a REAL ingredient list of your favorite item. (It helps if you tell them you are allergic to something—it makes them more honest.) Many places which offer very low prices, even if they bake on the premises, use pre-made mixes and cut corners by substituting shortening for butter, fruit “filling” for fresh fruit, imitation vanilla for the real thing, or corn syrup for sugar. We never do that!"

Whatever. All we know is that their chocolate chip cookie was divine, and the apple-walnut bar was a revelation -- gooey, nutty, sweet filing between layers of simple pastry. The bakery also makes layer cakes, bundt cakes, cupcakes, breakfast treats, and other sweet delights. Right now, they hawk their wares in Monument Square on Wednesdays and Fridays, and take special orders by phone all the time. If they ever open a storefront, we're in heaven (and our diet is in trouble).