Taunted by yet another decadent bakery in Downtown Portland, I headed to Nuvrei, one of my favorite dessert haunts, during my lunch hour. There's never a shortage of something delicious to explore there - whether its their savory biscuits, bagels or sweets such as specialty croissants, macarons, cookies or the beautiful French cannelles.
I decided to try the latter on this visit, and especially since I noticed so many interesting flavors such as strawberry basil, peach cardamom, pistachio lemon and others. Served in these darling little cups that are each labeled with a distinct flavor combination, the cannelles are real teeny and therefore sharable, with six to seven pieces per serving. It's just enough to give you a taste of a little something delightful without totally overindulging.
Peach Cardamom Cannelles - While it was pretty tough choosing my flavor of choice, I went with the peach cardamom in the end because it seemed beautifully vibrant and the peaches are of course seasonal. Loving the pretty golden color of these little treats, they went down as pleasantly as they looked - each piece being coated in almost a carameley texture and a really soft, spongy/eggy interior. I couldn't detect the cardamom too much but there was no doubt that the dessert was elegant, sophisticated and expertly prepared. I look forward to trying the other flavor combinations soon.
Service and Cost:
Because I came in during an off peak time (they tend to be a lot busier in the mornings), I was helped right away. The gentleman I was dealing with was lovely and pleasant and generally happy to serve my every sweet wish.
Costs are pretty darn expensive but unsurprising given the level of quality and sophistication of everything behind the display case.
3 Mmmms
Nuvrei - 404 NW 10th Avenue, Portland OR 97209
503.972.1700
nuvrei.com
It's not too often that I venture to Downtown Portland, since I'm still very much in the throes of exploring the North and the South East. Last week however, presented an opportunity, as I had a breakfast meeting at a quaint little cafe that's popular with the locals called Nuvrei.
Atmosphere:
Even though I'm still very new to Portland, I've actually been to Nuvrei before and was happy when my dining companion chose it as a meeting place. Friends, Sonya and Moses took Dan and I there last summer for a quick bagel and coffee stop-over before hitting the Willamette Valley Wineries.
Situated in the heart of the Pearl District, which is the snazzy part of Downtown Portland, Nuvrei is a popular haunt for residents and folks who work in this part of town. Although the cafe is quite small, it never manages to feel too crowded, as the seating is strategically dispersed into every open crevice of the space. There's a lovely display case of beautiful looking freshly baked treats such as croissants, scones, cookies and gourmet, delicate bagels one can't help but salivate at.
Food and Coffee:
Nuvrei excels at both of the above, and I especially love their Heart Coffee Roasters local coffee, which originates from East Portland. It's great, potent stuff that you can prepare in an aeropress, and that's no joke.
Dante Biscuit - Even though their specialty bagel sandwiches always look impressive, I steered clear this time, as I chose a hearty biscuit sandwich instead. There's a few ingredients that sold me on this right away, including a combination of smoked bacon, raspberry jam and a fried egg on top. We can't forget about a crumbly, buttery biscuit that soaked up all the juices of the aforementioned ingredients. While the sandwich looked on the petite side, it packed a punch and kept me full for more than half the day, giving you great bank for your buck.
Service and Cost:
I usually find the service in Portland beyond cordial and wonderful, but I won't use effusive words when referring to the folks here. They're nice enough but for some reason don't really exemplify the Pacific Northwest hospitality I've recently come to know.
Costs are expensive at $2.50 and $6.50 for the coffee and the biscuit respectively. But, you get what you pay for and that's high quality.
3 Mmmms
Nuvrei - 404 NW 10th Avenue, Portland OR 97209
503.972.1700
nuvrei.com
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