Update: The Sugar Cube is reopened at N Mississippi and Skidmore in Mississippi Marketplace. See this post for more information.

[The Sugar Cube is closed until March 2010]

UPDATE – February 2009. This cart has closed, but the business has not! You can still do special orders. Go to www.sugarcubepdx.com for more info. Owner Kir Jensen is now at the wonderful Two Tarts Bakery serving up some of her standards treats along with Two Tarts’ own signature cookies.

Location: SW 9th between Alder and Washington

Description: Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice that’s what good pastry carts are made of. Much anticipated, and already comes equipped with a legion of fans. And I’m happy to report the Sugar Cube cart is worth the hype. Pastry chef Kir Jenson is the real deal folks with some pretty impressive credentials including working at the Ritz Carlton, Genoa, Blue Hour and Clark Lewis. Kir is whipping up some sophisticated yet comforting food at her new cart including sweet treats, savory nibbles and meals, and serving excellent Spella coffee and a few other liquid things like smoothies and a refreshing vanilla bean lemonade.

Specialties include a variety of moist cupcakes that put most other cupcakes to shame, with flavors such as the My Goodness My Guinness featuring a ginger Guinness beer stout cake with maple cream cheese frosting, or the the Lovely-Lady-lump which is a lemon teacake cupcake with a lemon curd center, lemon cream cheese frosting and a fresh raspberry on top. They even have my favorite cake – the booze heavy Harvey Wallbanger, in cupcake form. Whoa. (Although be warned: The menu is still evolving and some cupcake varieties are only available on occasion or by special order)

Other sweet treats include excellent seasonal fruit coffee cakes, textbook scones (other Portland bakeries take note), biscuits n’ jam, and very very good cookies.

Savory dishes include a savory cheese and veggie strata, panini sandwiches, and a rotation of soups that could include tomato curry, dill potato, vegetable dumpling, creamy shitake mushroom or a vegetarian chili served with buttermilk cornbread.

Smoothies feature our favorite yogurt brand Nancy’s in either Strawberry Peach or Banana Flax, all sweetened with honey and made with milk or soy milk. Healthy, and delicious! I know what I’m eating for breakfast this week.

Thank you, Kir for opening your little white Sugar Cube and for making Portland, and Portland’s cart scene that much sweeter.

Sample Menu: Coming Soon!

Hours: CLOSED. Please refer to Two Tarts Bakery

Phone: 503-890-2825

Website: TheSugarCube