Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw

Living in such a great food city such as Portland and enjoying the richness of food and drink experiences available here, it may be hard to fathom that as we debate where to eat next on our wishlist, also here in the Portland metropolitan area there are children and families who go hungry. Many schools in the East Multnomah county have students living below the poverty line. 1 in 5 Oregonians live with food insecurity. Not so long ago Oregon even ranked #1 in childhood hunger in the United States. The just released Upcycled Ice Cream Series by Salt and Straw is the theme for June 2023 of their monthly rotating seasonal flavors, and helps spotlight a local non-profit helping to fight food insecurity and bring awareness to food distribution. Salt & Straw also created flavors with 4 other partners also promoting food sustainability and reducing food waste. The flavors are available starting today, May 26th – just in time for world hunger awareness day on May 28th.
Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw

At Urban Gleaners, a non-profit founded in 2006 by the inspiring Tracy Oseran, collects fresh food before it can go to waste. The difference from other food banks is that Urban Gleaners collects perishable food, bit by bit from grocery stores and restaurants, corporate campuses, event sites, colleges, farms, and food wholesalers, aka gleaning what is left behind after a harvest for charitable use.. The food tends to be fresher and healthier because of its fresh perishable nature. During my visit we saw not only fresh fruits and vegetables but also breads, cakes and pies, sour cream and milk, and salsas and guacamole. Within a couple days, food that comes in goes out as Urban Gleaners sorts, prepares some ingredients into convenient packaged meals thanks to volunteer chefs, and others are offered “farmers market” style. Recipients can pick what they want – no set food boxes or limitations.
Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw

Multiple items are high quality – from organic produce to speciality coffee beans, fresh ingredients that are systematically sorted and labeled by when they came in and stored in several cooler rooms to go out first in first out or based on how much longer it will last (so that guacamole will go back out very quickly). Donors include Whole Foods, Zupans, New Seasons, Pastaworks, Odwalla, Dave’s Killer Bread, Elephants Deli, Intel, Nike, Lewis and Clark, Reed College, Portland Farmers Market and more.
Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw Urban Gleaners, collecting and redistributing food before it can go to waste in Portland, Oregon, and a partner for the Upcycled Ice Cream by Salt and Straw

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Little Bean PDX is the best vegan ice cream

Summer is definitely here now that we are up to hitting 90 degrees F with that 12 hours and more of gorgeous sunshine beaming down on us. That also makes it ice cream season. Have you been to Little Bean PDX, which recently opened at NW 12th and Johnson in the Pearl? It’s worth the hype – Little Bean PDX is the best vegan ice cream I’ve ever had. And, they have much more going for them then ice cream, if that isn’t already enough.

Little Bean PDX is based entirely on the non-dairy, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, non-GMO, sustainably-produced, environmentally-friendly chickpea. They offer ice cream as well as excellent toasts and other baked goods, most of which are vegan Little Bean PDX is based entirely on the non-dairy, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, non-GMO, sustainably-produced, environmentally-friendly chickpea. They offer ice cream as well as excellent toasts and other baked goods, most of which are vegan

First of all, the ice cream is made of chickpeas – and you can’t really tell. They offer many satisfying fun flavors that go well together mixing and matching to make your favorite combination. My favorite is Orange Caramel with Cold Brew Coffee, which brings together orange creamsicle with a nod to affogato. It just barely inches it way to my top pick over the Szechuan Strawberry with Cherry Chai.

Little Bean PDX is based entirely on the non-dairy, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, non-GMO, sustainably-produced, environmentally-friendly chickpea. They offer ice cream as well as excellent toasts and other baked goods, most of which are vegan. My favorite combo of flavors is Orange Caramel with Cold Brew Coffee which brings together orange creamsicle with a nod to affogato. Little Bean PDX, chickpea ice cream flavors

Other flavors for your consideration include Triple Chocolate, Blackberry Basil, Mint Matcha, and Lemon Ginger. The texture is creamy and rich, even though the ice cream is non-dairy, nut free, soy free. I have always preferred ice cream in a cup so I can use a spoon and combine flavors in my bite and it’s less messy, but you can also opt for one of their plain or chocolate chickpea waffle cones.

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