Spring, we’ve been waiting for you

I’m sitting in the bakery enjoying one of my favorite times here – It’s 6am and the sun is just coming up. I have a cup of french pressed coffee in my favorite mug (Stumptown, Indonesia Sulawesi Toarco, for you coffee nerds). Aaron did all the work, so I didn’t even have to get up to make it, one of the joys of having great employees. It’s quiet except for the soothing sounds of food prep coming from the kitchen; refrigeration humming, knives chopping, pans clanging, oven doors being open and shut. Every once in awhile Jesse and Katie laugh at something as they work and I can’t help but smile. Outside traffic is starting to pick up, and when the wind blows the air is full of pink petals, flying like snowflakes, from the blossoming trees lining the opposite side of the street. I know in an hour it’s going to get hectic, and I’ll forget this moment.

by now i should probably know what kind of trees these are

It’s finally spring, and after all of the impatient waiting, the tulips are blooming, and we’ve had our first warm sunny days. It’s already getting too warm in the kitchen, and we’re started wearing shorts. We’ve been thinking about fresh local fruit coming soon, and all of the new things we’ll bake. As much as I love fall holidays, I think this time of year is my favorite. It’s like a fresh start.

In the theme of working on new things, we’ve been featuring more savory items lately, my favorite of which has been this roasted garlic and tomato tart. It looks fairly unassuming, but the intensity of flavors are incredible.

waves of tomatoes

Easter came and went already, so quickly that we barely had time to take any pictures. My Mom made a big deal of Easter when I was a kid, so I have more of a sense of excitement about it that the rest of my staff. I know it’s only because my Mom put money in our Easter eggs instead of candy, but I think that’s just because she’s a smart Mom – it kept me and my sisters interested in egg hunts well into our teens. Julie always seemed to get all of the money and I would get the eggs that had notes in them like “Empty the trash” and “wash the dishes”. Here at the bakery we made some cupcakes that were so fun and adorable that they sold out in minutes. And no chicken eggs were used in the process!

he's too fat to fit in the hole. too many cupcakes for breakfast.

It’s 8am now,and time to get to work. Hope your Spring starts as well as ours has, and we hope to see you in the bakery soon, wearing a tank top and shorts! Maye you can show us all the new tattoos you got this winter.

-Lisa

Shadows

Its no secret that it rains a lot in Portland, and even when it isn’t raining it is generally overcast. When the sun suddenly appears from behind the clouds people find any and every reason to be outside – walking the dog, taking a smoke break, lunch in the park. All of us are squinty eyed and pasty skinned, but shedding layers of clothing to get just a tiny bit of vitamin D. Everyone is suddenly smiling and chatting, standing on apartment stoops and gathering on sidewalks, or going for an impromptu bike ride. Some people are just standing in the warmth, staring up into the sky. It makes spring one of my favorite times here, not just for the beautiful blooming trees and flowers, but watching Portlanders expose any inch of skin that they can to the sun. I admit, I immediately roll up my jeans and wear a tank top under my shirt, just in case it gets warm enough!

Inside the bakery, the sun reminds us that we sell soup.

there's no soup in that bowl.

The decals that Jared so kindly put in our windows get wonderfully shadowed on our wall, and this is me, willingly posing for a photo to enjoy a moment of sun. If you don’t live in Portland, you should really try to plan a vacation here in the spring, the tulips and cherry blossoms alone are worth the trip. I’ll try to post a picture tomorrow of the row of pink trees right outside of our door.

-Lisa