Experience I'm a Portland native but have lived in enough other places to gain a bit of perspective. I enjoy travel and learning about other places, so I want to help others learn more about Portland and get the most out of their trips here.
Expert: Diane Rynerson Date: 8/15/2003 Subject: Local food
Question Diane,
I am researching flavors and foods for a major food company. I am interested in finding out what desserts are popular in Oregon. This would include local favorites, traditional dishes or ingredients often used. Thanks in advance for the help.
Mike Gunn
Answer In the past week, I've eaten two desserts that I'd have to say are local (and personal!) favorites: (1) Tillamook ice cream (manufactured by the Tillamook County Creamery Association) and (2) blackberry crisp, made by my daughter with blackberries which she picked from a spot near our home. Tillamook ice cream often capitalizes on berry flavors. When the Brown Cow ice cream in my freezer is gone, I'll open the Mountain Huckleberry.
In terms of dessert flavors and foods, berries are tops locally. Fresh berries are particular favorites, and are used as sauces, adornments to other desserts, etc. Oregon strawberries are delicious, but they have a short season and they don't travel as well as California strawberries, so they're not exported as much. Oregon raspberries are fabulous, as are marionberries, which I haven't encountered in other parts of the country.
Another important Oregon dessert flavoring is the hazelnut. I believe that more of our hazelnuts are exported rather than eaten domestically. They are more frequently used in Germany than here. But often in imaginative local restaurants, you'll find hazelnut tortes or other similar uses of the hazelnut.
Best of luck with your research, and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have follow-up questions.
