I walked out of the lodge, loaded my car and kept one
special bag in the front seat. A brown bag with an enticing pastry and
bottled orange juice awaited my dawn getaway. I sprayed water on the frosty
windshield, turned on the wipers and warmed up the car. I looked down at the
bag. I must wait, I told myself. I needed my breakfast for the road. But the
smell was telling me to open the pastry bag. What awaited me was a Bend
specialty. And I had saved it for my trip home.
The day before, I had the pleasure of touring some of the
art and foodie finds of Bend with The
Bend Tour Company. We hit the Old
Mill District, learned about the Roundabout Art and then pulled in to The Sparrow Bakery in Northwest
Crossing. The French Bakery was humming with activity. Croissants were being
made in the kitchen, and locals were buying their bread for the day.
But there was something very special at The Sparrow Bakery…
something I didn’t know about. Locals all know about Ocean Rolls but I didn’t.
The Ocean Roll is their signature pastry made from scratch every day of the
week. Ocean Rolls are prized by Bend residents and savvy visitors (which I,
obviously, was not).
They make Ocean Rolls from their traditional croissant dough.
They roll out the dough and then add a layer of cardamom, sugar, and
vanilla. It is rolled up (in to a rather large bun) and they add a splash
of egg wash, and bake it
It was pure will power that allowed me to save the Ocean
Roll overnight. Our tour guide (who knew everything) said to sprinkle a little
water on it to keep it fresh.
I drove down the hill, around the “Sexy Roundabout” and
headed out on Highway 97 North. I fueled up just outside of town and eyed the
roll. Once I got back on the highway it was time for breakfast. I opened the
brown bag and broke off a piece of the flaky pastry. It smelled so good… it was
the cardamom. The orange juice and a couple of bites of Ocean Roll sustained me
for a while.
I sailed past Redmond and started up the hill after Madras.
It was a clear sunny morning and the snowy mountains glowed in the morning light.
I tried to remember all their names. At one point, I slowed and took in the
sight of a long chain of mountains. I swear I could see then all! Slowing gave
me a chance to discover even more of the Ocean Roll’s secrets. As the bakery will tell you, the natural
warmth of the cardamom plays perfectly with the slightly sweet mix of the sugar
and vanilla. And as I delved into the center of the roll, the flavors
accelerated. This was VERY GOOD!
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| Ocean Rolls (courtesy The Sparrow Bakery) |
I looked at each mountain, enjoyed the sparse traffic and
was glad I was on the road early. As Mount Hood came into sight. I stopped for
a photo and the final bite of my Ocean Roll.
It was time to go over the mountain, as the song says. I
found Mt. Hood white with snow, yet the roads were clear and the air warm. Within
no time I was headed back into town, down my street and to my home. All the
way, the Ocean Roll powered me. And, all the way I was reminded of the sights I
had seen, the warmth of the people and the wonderful experiences of Central
Oregon.
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| Mt Hood in view, just as I finished my Ocean Roll! |
So now I know a Bend secret. When you go be sure and stop at
The Sparrow Bakery for an Ocean Roll just like the locals do. You won’t be
sorry.
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