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.

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.

Larry's Cupcake Cafe

My friend Brian had told me about this new cupcake place that he had heard good things about, and I knew we had to go there immediately. Now this place isn't your typical "make it just for kids" type of cupcake place, they actually make such sophisticated flavors (some involving alcohol) that would only target adults. It is located in downtown Eugene, conveniently close to the Saturday Market.

The impression I got of this place upon entering through the glass doors, was how organized and clean it looked. So different from the typical Eugene way of haphazardly decorating with whatever "hipster" decorations can be scavenged from yard sales.

I had heard things about their cupcakes and their cream puffs, so I knew I had to get both. As a way to both taunt my boyfriend and show him that he's always in my thoughts, I decided to get the "Apple Pie Surprise" cupcake, because apple desserts are his favorite.

(Left) Raspberry Cream Puff [$0.75]
(Right) Apple Pie Surprise Cupcake [$3.75]

White Chocolate Marionberry Cupcake [$3.75]

Tiramisu Cupcake [$3.75]

Mocha Madness Cupcake [$3.75]

Very Berry Cupcake [$3.75]

Each cupcake was filled with a surprise of some sort! Not to toot my own horn, but I believe I made the best choice with mine. The presentation of the cupcake was adorable, and I love how the frosting piped so that it looked like an apple pie! The cream puffs were also amazing! The cream wasn't heavy at all, but it still had the strong flavor of raspberry. The puff pastry was beautiful crafted to be amazingly soft and fluffy. They also had a buy 3 for $2.00 deal. Although the cupcakes were pricier than what you would normally pay for a cupcake (standard $3.75 price), I believe that "gourmet" cupcakes are worth every penny. Larry's cupcakes were particularly moist and creative. Best I have had in Eugene so far. Would recommend to ANYONE.

Larry!