Nobody likes to name names, but if I had to pick my two favorite wines, Champagne would win, with sherry nipping at the heels.
And to accompany said wines? Well, salty meats, cheeses, roasted nuts, earthy olives and savory bites suit both wines (and me) so perfectly well, it’s really a match made in the cosmos.
So when I heard that talented pastry chef and dynamic owner Cheryl Wakerhauser had closed her two eastside Pix Patisserie pastry shrines to open up a brand shiny new, central location on East Burnside that would encompass a proper tapas bar, I was instantly smitten. The space is really a mirror image of my heart actually; on one side, Bar Vivant, with pintxos, raciones, copious pours of Txakoli, bar tables, dozens of sherries and gleaming fresh oysters. On the other side, Pix Pâtisserie, there are more than 250 Champagnes to choose from (!!), a couple dozen rainbow hued macaroons (which the The New York Times Style Magazine said, “trounce Per Se’s”), house made chocolates, pastries and artisan ice cream.
The impressive oval bar, ‘The Pyrenees” centers the room, allowing diners to ellipse easily back and forth between salty and sweet. We enjoyed a thorough line up of grower Champagnes while plates of savory San Sebastián-esque nibbles steadily arrived to our table. Tortilla Española, sliced-to-order Jamón Serrano, piquillos, empanadas, Marcona almonds, olives, local oysters, chorizo, boquerones and patatas brava appeared in waves of unfussy, authentic deliciousness.
When we were feeling a bit too stuffed, we would move to the outdoor pétanque court, move our limbs and work through some of the olive oil, before returning to the table for more Champagne, sherry en rama, and yes, more food. With tapas ranging from $1-5, who could blame us?!
Pix Patisserie is open late, 2pm-2am, and the stars over East Burnside really shine bright when you leave at closing, let me tell you. But the friendly, unpretentious atmosphere and knowledgeable, helpful staff make it a hard place to leave. Customers stand at the bar to chat over sherry, corks are popping and soiled napkins are tossed on the floor—all very good signs. The feel of Pix follows chef Wakerhauser herself: down-to-earth, friendly, authentic, detail-oriented and highly organized. In amidst the bustle of people feasting and socializing happily, this is a bar-pâtisserie that takes its wares and products seriously. No corners cut here, just foundation stone laid squarely.
And, if my heart’s mirror reflection is correct, Bar Vivant/Pix Pâtisserie has been built to last.
Pix Pâtisserie/Bar Vivant || 2225 E. Burnside Street, Portland || PixPatisserie.com
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Track on Twitter: @BarVivant and @PixPatisserie
