A coworker had a birthday this past week. His pick was a birthday treat for our team from Ken's but that the cakes Ken's had were passed over instead for macarons. He got two kinds, the sweeter orange ones as well as the spicy chocolate ones. I sampled both (even though each was probably 2 inches wide so these are nice big macarons) and the spicy chocolate are far superior by balancing rich chocolate with that dusting of pepper. I think the orange ones would be much better as part of a high tea but in the regular macaron size, they were a bit too creamy sweet for my taste anyway, though I think many in the team chose that over the idea of the heat in the chocolate. After a discussion of how macarons vs macaroons suddenly we were talking about other bakery goodies, and out came the word "cannoli" and the famous quote from the Godfather.

So of course this weekend I had an urge for some cannoli. I was hoping to find a place that would offer a version that would fulfill my craving without having to resort to asking my sister to ship them from her current hometown Boston from Mike's Pastry. But, as luck would have it, there is a bakery that is well reviewed for them in North Portland, only a few blocks from a yellow Max line stop. The cannoli I got are size small (they have small and large ones available but I think the small is  the perfect sweet 4 bites) at Di Prima Dolci on Killingsworth. I could not resist also buying some bread (I'm almost always a wuss for getting bread from a bakery- that aroma is too intoxicating to not take a bit with me) and well as pignoli cookies. The pignoli cookies are made with almond dough that then is rolled in pine nut, resulting in a cookie that is soft and chewy while having a light nutty flavor.

The take home from my errand run

This bakery stop worked out perfectly because they are just a door down from Hop & Vine’s release party with Block 15 of  bottled Pappy's Dark, one of the highlights IMHO of the recent Bailey's Cellarfest. Unfortunately they were only allowing one bottle per customer, so I only was able to snag one for our beer cellar. Hop and Vine had Pappy's Dark on tap, and I also got to try their Super Nebula, a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Imperial Stout which I actually decided I liked better then Pappy's Dark. The oatmeal gives it a bit more creaminess to the malty bourbon flavor profile of the beer. I can't wait until next year, as Nick said they might try to get more in the bottle next year of Pappy's, but also release both Pappy's and Super Nebula as their February bottles. Since he is also dropping off a keg and a case at Bailey's though, I might be able to get a second bottle so I am not torn between savoring and sharing its goodness versus saving and investing the beer. I know Block 15 is pretty new to the brewery scene, but they are definitely creating a unique impression with their barrel fermentation and mixing palate, keep the liquid deliciousness coming!