October 28th, 2008 at 10:08 am by Stephen Marc Beaudoin
Portland Mercury
What was life like before the immaculate fleur de sel chocolate chip cookie, or the fresh 
The sugar-induced haze I’ve been in since Sunday is all thanks to the efforts of two new-ish sweet shops in Portland, straddling both sides of the Willamette: Northwest 23rd’s boutique cookie bakery, Two Tarts, and Southeast Division’s frozen custard and yogurt heaven, Tart.
Start with the soft-serve frozen treats at Tart, in their lovely storefront home at SE Division and 22nd. A highlight among their frozen yogurt choices is the lip-pucker tangy “tart” ($3.00 for 6 ounces), but their seasonal pumpkin flavor (available through November) is the real scene-stealer. Add a dark chocolate dipped honey graham from - wouldn’t you know it? - Two Tarts bakery for a buck more and spoon up some nummy autumn comfort sweetness.
Two Tarts has long been the darling of the Portland indie bakery scene, making big waves from a tiny outpost at the Saturday Market and appearances on stores and menus across the area. Their new digs just off NW 23rd are the company’s first effort at a storefront presence.
The charm of Two Tarts is two-fold: the size of the cookie (about two bites, natch) and the inventive flavor combinations (explosive). Of the six cookie types I tried on repeat visits, my favorites were the incredibly rich not-so-thin mint bar; the near-famous fleur de sel chocolate chip cookie, with a dusting of crunchy fleur de sel salt atop a chip-loaded cookie; and the exquisite cappuccino cream (there they are, in the photo above right), a burst of cinnamon buttercream between two firm but not tough espresso shortbreads, which just knocks it out of the park. Arguably the best part of Two Tarts? - the price. Each flavor-shot cookie only sets you back 75 cents if you buy directly from the store. Sweet.
Tart, 2128 SE Division, is open Mon-Thurs, 3-9 pm; Fri-Sat, 12-10 pm; Sun 12-9 pm; 503-233-4333. Two Tarts, 2309 NW Kearney, is open Tues-Sat, 11 am-7 pm; Sun 12-5 pm;
503-312-9522
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