The Amazing Kir

You know that Pollyannaism about every cloud having a silver lining?  Sometimes it seems hard to spot, but not this time around!  Kir Jensen, formerly the owner of a kick-ass little sugar shack at 9th and Alder called Sugar Cube, has joined the Tart Parade.  After nearly a year of baking mind-numbingly delicious treats in an 8x12' food cart, Kir decided to sell her digs and move over to our nearly-900 square foot, mansion-of-a-kitchen here on NW Kearney.  The infusion of Kir's spark, sense of humor, and kitchen creds into our business has been inspiring.  Come in and check out her Triple Threat Cookies, recently featured in Sunset Magazine.  Kir also makes ridiculously decadent cakes and cupcakes by special order.  We sure do appreciate that she always manages to make a few extra for her kitchen buddies.  Oh yeah.  Portland's Food Cart Scene may have lost its sweet shining star, but we're sure happy she's found a home at Two Tarts.

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

Passionfruit Creams

 

Yes!  They're back!  Spring was sort of in the air last week, so we took a gamble and ordered in a bit of passionfruit puree.  OK, so it snowed today... so what?  We made passionfruit creams anyway!  Maybe that will make up for the frozen daffodils in our yard. 

 

If you missed them last year, this was a bigtime spring favorite.  Passionfruit shortbread domes are filled with tangy passionfruit buttercream and dusted with powdered sugar.

Speaking of Love...

Up at an ungodly hour, car loaded with equipment, cookies, and marketing materials, coffee in hand, we make our way down to the Portland State University Campus to spend our Saturdays at the market.  One might think, given the labor involved, we'd be happy to have ten or so weeks off from the market circuit.  But hey, know what?  PSU Farmer's Market is the highlight of our week.  So dust off your market baskets, because the 2009 season is about to begin!

 

Join us (and a few thousand other Portland market junkies) for opening day, March 21st.  For more info, check out the PFM website at www.portlandfarmersmarket.org

Baking Up a Storm

Is it Spring yet?  No?  Ah well, time to find some cozy indoor activities to keep you occupied.  Join us for a baking class! Reservations are required, so call us to reserve your space (503.312.9522)

Baking Classes

Well,

I guess this is a good and bad Post. We have officially run out of room in our upcoming baking classes. We will be scheduling more (we promise), so stay tuned and we will update ya'll.

Peace, Love and Cookies!

The Tarts

Coffee By Bike

December's snow storms made traveling difficult for many Portlanders. Snowy, icy roads made bike delivery of our coffee treacherous for Joel, the owner and brewer of Courier Coffee.
If you have not had Joel's coffee in our cute french press pots, you are missing a true Two Tarts' experience. Joel's commitment to excellence goes beyond eco-friendly delivery practices. He keeps "baker's hours" rising before 4am to roast and deliver fresh beans for your 7am cup o' jo. Or perhaps an 11am cup if you have your first (or seventh) with us.

If one cup just is not enough, we have beans for sale, just ask Sarah, she can fill you up!

2009, It's Your Time To Shine!

Nothing says "new you" like learning a new skill. Many of you have inquired about our baking classes with Elizabeth as a wonderful means to furthering (or starting) your baking education. The details follow:

February 6, 5pm,Kid's Baking Class, $25

For kids eight years and up, two hours of baking fun!

February 7, 6pm, Adult Baking Class, $25

Cookie baking basics you will want to know.

Feb. 13, 6pm, Valentine's Baking Class,$25

Bake sweets for your sweet!

Mrs. Two Tarts Goes to Washington

Okay, not really. Upon returning from our week-long holiday, we are happy to be in Tartland again. However, we would enjoy a nice trip to Washington D.C. to see the Presidential Inauguration since there has been talk in Washington of something very dear to us.

Cookies.

It's true friends. Presidents love cookies. On further investigation, we offer many cookies revered by our former Commander-in-Chiefs. Mr. Lincoln would have loved to be in the bakery last month for our walk of the Gingerbread Men. How about Lyndon Johnson's love for all things Lemon Crumble Bars? And we have confidence Jimmy Carter would like a fresh Pecan Tessie better than a White House Pastry Chef's Pecan Square. Correct us if we are wrong.

And what of President-elect Barack Obama? Well, the word in cookie circles is that a cookie-maker in Iowa makes a chocolate chip cookie that Obama enjoyed so much while campaigning, Obama will have them shipped to Washington for the Inauguration.

We would like to point out that the bakery had not opened when record-setting crowds welcomed Obama to Portland's Waterfront this summer. Just putting it out there. You folks should smell the Fleur de Sel Chocolate Chip cookies while they bake. . .

Even if Two Tarts will not be going to Washington D.C. for the Inauguration, we want to welcome the new president to the White House. In honor of the ceremony on Tuesday January 20th, we will be baking Cocoa Nib Shortbread "O"'s all weekend. Perfect for a cookie-loving president and all of the faithful tartnation member alike, we pledge to be ready for the next time the Obama brigade passes through Portland.

Tarty on!

Res-O-Lu-Tion

Here at Two Tarts we resolve not to make New Year's resolutions, but we embrace the spirit of the newness. As a way to tip our cookie cap to the New Year, we have decided to try a few new things at the bakery. Here are some upcoming events:
 

January 18: Tea with the Tarts A Sunday tea party with Foxfire Tea and our cookies--a match made in heaven.

 

February 1: The Tart Bowl A foil to the standard Super Bowl extravaganza. Need to escape? We will be here. No TVs, no mini hot dogs, and no men in tight pants hitting each other (well, we could work on that).

 

February 6: Just Bake It Kids baking class. Yes parents, that is correct. Have your kids learn to bake cookies for you.

 

February 7: Not Just a Cookie Adult baking class where Elizabeth will share with you baking essentials for your own kitchen.

 

February 13: Sweets for your Sweets A Valentine's Day Baking Class all in the name of love. Or cookies. Your choice.

 

We recommend calling (503.312.9522) or emailing Sarah (sarah@twotartsbakery.com) as early as possible to reserve a spot. 

Tarty on Tartnation.

We will reopen from our holiday hiatus on January 10th.

See you all soon.

 

Sweetly,

The Tarts