Macarons from Nuvrei

I went to Nuvrei Patisserie & Café in order to purchase some macarons to share at work. Macarons are one of the items Nuvrei is famous for (some have called their version best in all of Portland), and these Parisan style flourless almond based treats are filled with a variety of flavorful creams and custards.

What I didn’t expect that now that they have moved from their basement location which had given it a secret bakery feel (as if you were walking into a commercial kitchen that baked for other restaurants and catered and you were purchasing their goods on the side- Ota Tofu also has that feel) to now a spot on the first floor, how utterly sweet and charming the storefront cafe now is, and how inviting it is to want to linger over coffee or tea. It’s also given them opportunity to expand their offerings.

I chose to get an assortment of macarons. Their variety of flavors include their

• Caramel au beurre sale (salted buttery caramel! My fave of what I tried!)
• Italian pistachio with light vanilla butter cream (my second favorite of the box)
• Framboise with oregon raspberry preserve
• Fruit de la passion with vanilla passion fruit custard
• Citron with lemon lime and orange zest folded into buttercream
• Rose et Fraise with pure rose and Oregon strawberry preserve
• Espressio with Coava espressio and white chocolate custard
• Chocolat with Valrhona chocolate ganache

As I was waiting to select my macarons, my eyes kept being drawn to the other wonderful baked items they had showcased. And so that’s how I “accidentally” also ordered a Bagel Sandwich.

It starts with a choice of bagel here as part of a Fried Egg sandwich that includes fontina, tomato, frisée and dijon butter and cream cheese. I went with the asiago cheese bagel, but other options of their bagel, made with home made pretzel dough, were cheddar jalapeno, honey oatmeal, everything, onion, sesame, salt, poppy seed, or plain.

I took a bite and just couldn’t put it down and stop until it was all done and maybe shook the sandwich bag for any crumbs or smears to lick the paper clean. There are a variety of other bagel sandwiches, as well as various croissant sandwiches be it for breakfast, which they serve all day, or such as one for lunch that caught my eye that has avocado and Oregon bay shrimp, apricot creme fraiche, dill and butter lettuce.

They also have just “regular” croissants (regular, chocolate, almond, or chocolate almond), scones (blueberry blackberry, lemon poppy seed with lemon glaze!), muffins, danishes, cookies, bacon cheddar biscuit or berry brioche, not to mention a whole bunch of other hot and cold sandwiches varying from your croque monsieur or madame to one with roasted and pickled beet with chevre arugula and truffle oil on their bread…

My goodness the menu is big enough for a whole tri-fold menu that would rival any restaurant, not a tiny cute cafe with only a couple tables and lovely window counterbar for people watching. And each option is irresistible you will be so torn what to get. Everything is clearly thoughtfully created with love and high quality and European craftsmanship.

I’m glad I don’t have to live too close to these temptations and that this is totally out of the way to go to work, or I would be their daily and this would be part of my routine. As it was, I had to go early when they opened to get them before heading to Beaverton for work, and it was totally worth it thanks to that sandwich even before I got on the trolley to get to the Max. I already hope to visit again (and maybe twice…) as after next week, I’ll be on vacation from work for the rest of the year!

They are open 7-5, and are an amazing little breakfast and lunch destination that just takes you from a gray dreary day in Portland to a mysterious gray dreary day in Paris, and seems to remind you of opportunity as it whispers “aren’t you ready for adventure and romance? let’s go!”