The Sugar Cube

Location: SE 43rd and Belmont [updated 4/2011]
Hours: Wed-Sun, 12:30-8pm

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kir Jensen towards the end of last week to chat with her about the grand re-opening of The Sugar Cube, her dessert baby.

The Sugar Cube, a cart specializing in desserts and all things sugary and sweet was originally located in downtown Portland up off SW 9th. Kir made a name for herself quickly with her signature cupcakes. I would drop by occasionally for a tasty chocolate chip cookie just to get my afternoon going. Kir’s original cart closed just weeks after she was profiled in Sunset magazine. It was winter 2009 and financially, some difficult decisions needed to me made. Kir decided to close.

Caramelized Apple Brown Butter Cart

Kir knew she wanted to have her own cart and knew she had a good thing going, just wanted to take the time to do it right. She spent the last year acquiring a new cart, perfecting her craft and acquiring the funding to get her cart off the ground and through what she learned to be the most challenging time for carts – the winter. Kir received a micro loan from Mercy Corp and Albina Bank – a new program designed to help small businesses make their dreams come true. Kir re-opened The Sugar Cube in November 2009 in Mississippi Marketplace to much fanfare. And we’re glad she’s here.

While The Sugar Cube was famous for their cupcakes and still is, Kir has broadened her menu to include a tasty caramelized apple browned butter tart and coffee caramel panna cotta. We had the pleasure of trying these new items while chatting with Kir over a beer at PROST. The panna cotta was creamy, with layers of salted caramel and grated chocolate and topped with a couple of gingersnaps to dip into the whole mess. The caramelized apple tart was a fan favorite at the table also. All items are served up on vintage plates from Kir’s family. Her belief- why let them sit in a cupboard? Why not use them. I loved seeing these tasty desserts on those vintage plates. It warmed the entire experience.

Amy Winehouse Cupcake

Kir, along with the other carts at Mississippi Marketplace are still working out their hours. They offer up something most every day from morning to night. We should all visit, say hi and help support them all through winter. Oh, and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[You can read Cuisine Bonne Femme's original profile of The Sugar Cube here]

Some of The Sugar Cubes offerings:

• Coffee caramel panna cotta- velvety smooth coffee panna cotta, topped with a layer of salted caramel, whipped cream, grated chocolate and served with a freshly baked gingersnap cookie.
• Amy Winehouse cupcake- Boozy yellow cake soaked with brandy and orange, dipped in some sexy bittersweet chocolate ganache. Served straight up with a coke straw and a sugar bump. Imported sugar from unknown Colombian region…
• Black N’ Tan cupcake- chocolate buttermilk cupcake, ethereal coffee cream frosting, caramel and toasted coconut.
• Caramelized apple browned butter tart served warm with fresh whoop, apple cider caramel and a dusting of fennel pollen.

Location: SE 43rd and Belmont
Hours: Wed-Sun, 12:30-8pm
Twitter: TheSugarCube

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