Sunday, April 20, 2008

Sunday croissant



TO EXTRACTO FOR COFFEE this morning (2921 NE Killingsworth St Portland OR 97211) — the second coffee, I mean; a nice cappuccino is always the first order of the day here in Portland. And, since it's Sunday, and being on the road we skipped the usual Sunday-morning soft-boiled egg, why not have a croissant?

I'm not going to take the time for a dissertation on croissants right now; I'm not in the mood. The best I've had have been hand-made, and I don't have any reason to think that was true of this morning's. On the first bite it seemed to have that slightly bitter taste baked goods sometimes develop, I don't know why — though I always suspect chemicals in the flour as the reason. The second taste came after a taste of my cappuccino, though, and it was okay, no bitterness, or if any was present it was masked by the coffee — and while I'm always loyal to my own brand, which for quite a while now has been Blue Bottle, Extracto is very good indeed, perhaps the best I know of in Portland. (I'd have to do one-on-ones with Ristretto and Umbria to be sure of that.)

Later today we were at Ken's Artisan Bakery for bread for dinner, and there Pavel and I split a canalé. I'll write about them again: the photo I took didn't really work out, and they're quite special, so I'll try again tomorrow or next day. We almost always stop at Ken's and Pearl on the morning we leave Portland, for canalés and gibassiers; we leave day after tomorrow, and that'll be the opportunity.

In the meantime, tonight's dinner: a rough, nutmeggy, delicious country paté with bread and a glass of red, then quiche, quickly steamed potatoes persillés, and broccoli.

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