Showing posts with label eugene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eugene. Show all posts

Monday, June 3, 2013

Sweet Life Patisserie

Located in what I like to call the somewhat sketchy area of Eugene is one of my favorite patisseries, Sweet Life Patisserie. Casually known as Sweet Life to most people, it is probably the most popular place to get sweets in all of Eugene. They always have about six different "desserts of the month," which usually consist of one or two choices from the following categories: pies, cakes, cupcakes, tart, and miscellaneous.

Prior to going to Noisette Pastry Kitchen, this would have been my hands down choice for desserts in Eugene. Now, it gets a little sticky, but I have to say that I still prefer them for their desserts...just because they literally have millions to choose from!

Tiramisu Cake 
Peach Panna Cotta
Blueberry Scone
The Josephine
The Josephine (inside)

Palazzolo's Gelato
Strawberry Cheesecake
Creme Brûlée  
Petite Four 
Orange Buckle
Orange Buckle 
Raspberry Mousse Cake
                               
                                   Raspberry Mousse Cake



















Price is pretty affordable, slices of cakes and pies are about $4.00-$5.00, other desserts range are about $3.00-$5.00. Very worth it! I also bought a bag of Bacon Caramel Corn on my last trip. It was kind of steep at $5.00 for a relatively small bag, but the popcorn is delicious! The flavors work surprisingly well.

Prince Puckler's Gourmet Ice Cream

Hello! So today I am writing about the infamous Prince Puckler's! A favorite of not only Eugenites, but also President Obama. Apparently, Obama is a fan of this little creamery...they even put a little sign indicating what his favorite flavor is! If you are wondering, it is Mint Oreo! Anyway, Prince Puckler's is conveniently located close to campus, so it has become a staple for hungry college kids.


Mint Oreo
Oreo Single Scoop + Waffle Cone 
Chai Tea Mini Scoop + Waffle Cone
I am not really sure what all of the images are of because I have gone so many times with so many different people, I don't even remember when I took most of those photos. However, I can tell you that I would recommend Prince Puckler's to anyone who is craving ice cream. They have a TON of flavors, however, their flavors are very "normal." Although there are about 12 different types of coffee flavored ice cream, there is nothing that really jumps out of the blue and bites you. I guess that is the charm of this little shop, it has flavors that everyone knows and loves. This makes this place an A+ choice for families with kids! However, I am biased towards ice cream shops with really funky and innovative flavors. That is why I would choose Red Wagon Creamery over Prince Puckler's. My standard flavor is  "Cookies n' Cream" or basically anything with Oreo. I judge a good ice cream shop based on whether or not I find myself going back to my "usual" or having an urge to try something new. The first time I went to Prince Puckler's I did get my "usual," but by my third trip, I was trying something else.  On the other hand, Red Wagon Creamery doesn't even carry Cookies n' Cream, they carry whatever is in their little cart for the week. That means that their selection is a lot more limited than Prince Puckler's. Both ice creameries are great in their own ways, it all depends what you want your ice cream experience to be.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Newman's Fish Co.

Here's another throwback from when I was on my food journey at the end of my spring 2012 semester at the UO. One place that I knew I had to try because of it's rave reviews was Newman's Fish Co., the local spot to get supposedly the best fish n' chips. There are two locations, so I can only speak on behalf of the one located on Willamette.

Now, I just have to get this off my chest. I don't really like fried foods. I mean, I'll take a bite out of it... but then I feel so oily and yucky. That being said, I fairly enjoyed the fish n' chips from Newman's, much more than the other fish n' chips option at the Saturday Market...not sure which restaurant that is. It wasn't as oily, and the fish tasted fresher.

Prawn Roll [$5.50]
Prawn Roll (inside) [$7.75]
Salmon Fish n' Chips [$7.75]
The prawn roll had a little too much mayo than I would have preferred, but it was still decent. The fish n' chips definitely out shined the prawn roll...but I am not sure if it was worth $7.75.  Food is competitively priced in Eugene, so this was a bit spendy for what you get. For fish n' chips lovers, this may be worth it, but for me...not so much. On the bright side, I did try their clam chowder (no image because the quality was really bad) and it was pretty good. Nothing was outstandingly memorable. The most memorable aspect of this restaurant is the glass case by the cash register showcasing the fresh fish that you can purchase. It really puts you in the mood to eat some fish n' chips!

Friday, May 31, 2013

Eugene City Bakery

One of the closest bakeries to campus is the Eugene City Bakery, known for their fresh baked breads. I am going to say right off the the bat that I prefer Noisette Pastry Kitchen's baked goods over Eugene City Bakery. That being said, Eugene City Bakery has a lot more choices in terms of little cookies and sweets.















Sorry for not putting captions! I took these photos over a year ago, so I don't remember what anything was. However, I do know that they are VERY affordable. Each item is about $1-$3, the REALLY spendy things would be about $4.

I would highly recommend this place if you are craving some baked goods and are by the University of Oregon. Everything is really tasty, but the vibe cannot compare with Noisette Pastry Kitchen. Also, for some reason I feel like Noisette's pastries are fresher, but that may just be because there is an open kitchen. If you do go to Eugene City Bakery, I recommend getting a box to share with others and just get a lot of different things to try! Everything is pretty yummy and affordable, so I am sure that you will be happy with whatever you grab! You can also catch Eugene City Bakery at the Saturday Market!

Studio One Cafe

During my freshmen year, I met a guardian angel named Sarah who told me about her favorite eating spots in Eugene (because she is one of the biggest eaters I have ever met). Conveniently located right across of her apartment was Studio Once Cafe, so she decided to take me there one day. Boy, this place is adorable. It has a very old Hollywood diner feel once you enter, with black and white pictures of celebrities adorning the walls. Restaurants with a certain theme automatically catch my attention because I enjoy searching for the subtle and not-so subtle hints of the certain theme throughout the restaurant.

First of all, I have to say this place is probably one of the most affordable breakfast joints in Eugene. You definitely get a very delicious band for your buck.

Pulled Pork Sandwich [$8.25] 
The Big Easy [8.25] 
The Original French Toast [$5.75]
(topped with almond custard, creamy Romanov sauce, and berry compote)

Avocado and Turkey Wrap [$8.00]
Soup&Salad Combo [$7.00]
(Caesar Salad)
Soup&Salad Combo [$7.00]
(Chile Verde)
I would highly recommend this place if you are in search of a hearty and affordable breakfast or lunch. I haven't been to Glenwood's, but from what I have heard, Studio One Cafe blows it out of the water. My favorite thing that I have tried from Studio One has got to be the french toast. YOU NEED TO TRY THE FRENCH TOAST. Prior to eating their french toast, I wasn't really a french toasty kind of person, but now I am converted. It opened my world to how amazing french toast can actually be! The berry compote is unbeatable. Must try. Although everything is yummy, nothing is really "kick-in-the-pants" memorable besides the french toast.

Off the Waffle


One of the quirkiest places to grab breakfast in all of Eugene has to be Off the Waffle, a waffle joint that serves only liege waffles. No syrup required! These waffles are thick and soft on the inside. So the age old question is, "is Off the Waffle all hype?"

I have ventured to this establishment twice and they are doing VERY well. So well, that they just opened another location in downtown Eugene! Whenever I have gone to the original location, there is always a ton of people squeezed into the small eating area and even the outside area. Table hunting is not on my list of things I want to spend my morning doing, but if the waffles are delicious...it is well worth it.

The first thing you will want to try upon going to Off the Waffle is there freshly squeezed orange juice. We were watching the girl in the kitchen tirelessly shove orange through the juicer, her hands must have been ridiculously itchy.
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice [$2.50]
The following waffles were shared among my friends and family, so I got to try a little bit of everything! I have to say, I prefer their sweet options over their savory...but that's just my personal preference.
The Beloved Bully [$6.25]
(Belgian chocolate chips, strawberries)
The Sweet Funk Machine [$6.00]
(pear, gorgonzola, cinnamon, local wildflower honey)
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy [$7.00]
(sunny-side up egg, bacon, real maple syrup)

The Fruit Party [$6.75]
(strawberry, pear, banana, and whipped cream) 
The Fruit Party [$6.75]
(strawberry, pear, banana, yogurt)
Cyclops the Greek [$8.25]
(kalamata olives, tomato, caramelized red onion, feta, egg, spinach,
homemade tzatziki sauce, olive oil, smoked paprika)
The Giuseppe [$6.00]
(Nancy's yogurt, banana, walnuts, coconut flakes)
Out of all these waffles, my favorite was by far the Beloved Bully (I know, I know, I'm boring). I think the fact that the flavors in the Beloved Bully were so familiar, I could appreciate the actual flavor and texture of the waffle itself.

Now would I recommend this place? Yeah, I guess. As you can tell I am not SUPER excited, but it is a fun place to visit with out-of-town guests. This place embodies the vibe of Eugene for an affordable price. The waffles are small, so small that many people argue that the portion is way too small for what you pay. I am someone that can accept paying higher prices for higher quality, so this doesn't bother me THAT much. I am a small eater, so a waffle any bigger would have been too much for me anyway.  A part of me does feel that this place is a little overrated, only because their waffles aren't over-the-top memorable and delicious. However, I do feel like you should try this place at least once if you are in Eugene, just to say you went...but if the there is no seating and the line is really long, there are other options in Eugene much better than Off the Waffle.