As the temperature begins to drop and the leaves begin to fall, the citizens of Portland, Oregon, finally know what has come: Fall. Oregon is known for its many fall attractions, from pumpkin patches to haunted houses and corn mazes. But what Portland should truly be recognized for is its delicious fall treats.
Whether you are looking to attain some crisp fall vibes or you want some seasonal treats, all of these places are a must-visit this coming fall.
Right outside Ida B. Wells in the Hillsdale Shopping Center, there is a bakery called “Baker & Spice” (6330 SW Capitol Hwy). They specialize in homemade pastries, baked desserts, and a full-service coffee bar to warm their customers. The owner of Baker & Spice, Julie Richardson, has been running her business since its opening in 1998. Richardson has also published two cookbooks (Rustic Fruit Desserts; Vintage Cakes), which have both been featured in The New York Times.
Baker & Spice has two different types of fall menu items. The first one is typical fall-flavored pastries. These incorporate more “fall fruits” into different types of French pastries. Like their “Nectarine Handpie”, “Blackberry Oat Buckle” and “Fruit Pies” that come in flavors like “Apricot Tayberry”, “Nectarine Blackberry”, “Blackberry with Ginger Oat Crumb”, and “Apple Blackberry with Lattice.” They also have some enticing drink options, like the seasonally popular Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as a Golden Latte made with cardamom, cinnamon, and pepper. According to Rebekah Booker, a retail member at Baker & Spice, “[The drinks] have different spices that are supposed to be really natural and good for your body.”
The second type of fall menu at Baker & Spice is their “High Holidays” menu. In celebration of the recent Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, they are serving a collection of different Jewish delicacies. “We do Crown Challah, a Honey Beefcake, the Babka and then the Rugelach, which is super popular.” Booker said.
Booker says that people should try everything off the Baker & Spice fall menu, but she does have one food that she will ultimately always recommend. “I would say my favorite is the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. Because it just perfectly blends all the fall flavors together.”
JJ’s Cafe is another hidden gem (9111 SW Barbur Blvd). They are located right down the street from Barber Plaza and right next door to Bentoz Teriyaki. JJ’s cafe specializes in your typical “American brunch” style meals. They have over fifty items on their regular menu, including different types of pancakes, toasts, sandwiches, soup and salads. JJ’s cafe is a really reliable option to choose, as it’s open every day of the week (7:30a.m.-2:00pm Mon-Thurs; 7:00am-2:30pm Fri-Sun)
JJ’s Cafe has added two additional items to its menu in celebration of the fall season. “We have Pumpkin Spice Pancakes and you can make that a combo.” Said Marissa Rodriguez, a server at JJ’s Cafe, “So it comes with your choice of meat: bacon or sausage.” JJ’s also provides a seasonal creamy tomato soup that comes with a side salad. The Pumpkin Spice Pancakes fit in perfectly with the other pastries on JJ’s menu, like their Cinnamon Roll and French toast.
Rodriguez’s personal favorite item on the recently added fall menu is the Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. “I just like anything pumpkin spice, it’s giving fall,” says Rodriguez.
Lastly, Grand Central Bakery is not only local to SW Portland but also to the Pacific Northwest. They have a total of 10 locations, eight of them in Oregon and two of them in Seattle, Washington. The specific one local to Ida B. Wells High School is based in Multnomah Village (3425 SW Multnomah Blvd). Grand Central is known for its home-baked pastries, warm loaves of bread, and healthy sandwiches.
Grand Central has a very diverse and plentiful fall menu. They have a wide variety of both sweet and savory foods. A popular item right now is their Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, which has a strong blend of spices and thick cream cheese. Grand Central also offers fruity pastries like the Peach Hand Pie, culturally inclusive bread like Challah and even some classic Seasonal Soup. The Seasonal Soup works on a weekly schedule, so some days of the week correspond to different soup flavors (Monday: Cream of Tomato, Tuesday: Thai Yellow Curry, Wednesday: Cream of Tomato, Thursday: Cream of Tomato, Friday: New England Clam Chowder, Saturday: Cream of Tomato, Sunday: Cream of Tomato).
“My favorite item on the fall menu would probably be the Fruity Danish,” says regular Grand Central customer Reesa Kelley. “It’s super good, my favorite part is probably the cream cheese and fruit mix.”
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing this fall, make sure to create some time to visit either Baker & Spice, JJ’s Cafe or Grand Central Bakery. Or maybe all of them!
