On a recent trip to Portland for an Elliott Brood concert, Tia and I stopped at some bakeries to try out the goods.  We did more than just taste their sweet treats (tough research, I know).  We also checked out the look of their store.  Since we are years away from having a location different from our kitchens, we are focused on making sure when it does come to fruition, it’s a place we’d love to go to day in and day out.

Bakery of the Day:

In typical Eugene fashion, it was pouring rain when this picture was taken.  In an attempt to save my hair from frizzing out more than it was, the artistic picture suffered.

Good — The Decor:

I loved the funky green wall.  It went well with the whimsical cake image pictured above.  It gave the place a fun, but chic feel.

Good — The Selection:

While we are looking a bit smaller for our bakery, the Sweet Life delivered a huge selection.  They had stacks of cakes, cookies, pastries, and bars.  I LOVED their display of merangues as well.  It was a fabulous display of individual jars.

Not So Good — The Space

It seems a lot of bakeries love to have a long narrow space so they can put out as many goods as possible.  The downside to this is the fact there isn’t enough space for two people to be in the same area.  Yes, while I am notorious about bumping into things, I nudged at least two people.  Also, Tia and I could not complete a conversation without being in someone’s way.

Not So Good — Cookie Decorating

While other people might not sweat the small stuff when it comes to decorating cookies, my exposure to the mad skill on the internet has raised my standards.  While the Sweet Life had some cute cookies, reasonably priced, they weren’t as clean a product as they could be.  I understand they aren’t going for that, but it sticks out to people who appreciate beautifully decorated cookies.

When all is said and done, this was a great bakery.  If you are ever in the Eugene area, you should really stop by and try the Tiramisu cake.  It’s one of those recipes I’m going to try to make our own creation.  A version may even pop up in our very own dream bakery.

Treats,