Bakeries on the rise with sweet eats
By STARLA POINTER
Where do you go to satisfy your sweet tooth? Why not the local bakery, whether it’s located in a food cart or a brick-and-mortar store? After all, bakeries are back, Baby.
And boy, do Yamhill Valley visitors and residents have plenty of options. Roths in McMinnville and other grocery stores offer doughnuts and cakes. Several restaurants, such as Sandwich Express and Red Fox, both in McMinnville, bake bread, cookies and pastries. Noah’s Bakery in McMinnville fills its cases with a colorful number of Mexican pastries. And Red Fox Bakery in downtown McMinnville has long baked up savory pastries — and a macaroon practically legendary in these parts.
Here are some other local standouts:
Mac Daddy Donuts
709 N.E. Third St., McMinnville
www.macdaddydonuts.com
Mac Daddy Donuts offers the ultimate in donut specialities: Customers choose the toppings for fresh, hot donuts.
The fluffy rings can be topped with glazes, such as chocolate, maple or strawberry; sprinkles ranging from Kettle chips to coconut to bacon; and drizzles of raspberry, Nutella or lemon. Signature apple cider donuts also are available as well as gluten-free ones, too — a separate fryer is dedicated to making them.
Chris and Niki Durig started Mac Daddy Donuts in a food cart in 2018 after working the festival circuit with the Sweet Apple Pie Fries food truck for many years. They earned a reputation for excellent customer service by catering to requests and delivering their donuts to customers waiting in cars.
They moved into a storefront downtown in March, almost tripling the size of their space and adding drip coffee.
Newberg Bakery
621 E. First St., Newberg
www.newbergbakery.com
Newberg Bakery creates an array of bread — among the varieties are whole wheat and hazelnut, using local nuts, for sandwiches; English muffin bread for toast; schiacciata, an Italian herb flat bread, for daily dinners or special occasions. The bakery also makes baguettes and boiled bagels, along with cookies and pastries, including cinnamon rolls five ways.
Owner Brenda Burg says she caters to gluten-free and dairy-free diets, as well. Her vegan sandwich loaf is quite popular.
Burg always wanted to open a bakery, and in 2014 she fulfilled her dream. “I enjoy baking and hosting,” she said. “I love hospitality and building community — I do that with food.”
Bad Dog Bakery
Baker St. and Baker Creek
www.facebook.com/baddogbake
A food cart at the Baker Street/Baker Creek intersection in McMinnville and other locations, Bad Dog offers bagels, English muffins, donuts, cookies and other pastries, and breakfast sandwiches
Owner Kelsey Ramer is a 2011 McMinnville High School graduate who participated in the school’s culinary arts pathway, then attended the Linn-Benton Culinary School. She works at Community Plate on Third Street, in addition to the bakery.
She opened Bad Dog Bakery in November 2018. The name originates from her family’s pets — boxers who are sometimes “bad dogs,” but always loveable.
Customers quickly became addicted to the items she bakes on the spot in her food cart. Her cinnamon rolls — huge and fluffy with cream cheese frosting — attract a crowd.
“It’s been pretty amazing seeing the amount of people who come,” Ramer said.
Baking and serving in the tight quarters of a food truck can be a challenge, she said, explaining, “fridge space can fill up quickly.” But she’s enjoying running her own business, something she envisioned for years.
She started baking and cooking as a child. She looked forward to the culinary program at Mac High. In addition to learning about food, management and business at Linn-Benton, she took two years of business management programs at Chemeketa Community College.
Please check her Facebook page for hours and locations.
Carlton Bakery
305 W. Main St., Carlton
www.carltonbakery.com
Carlton Bakery is famous for its authentic French baguettes and other breads, along with flaky croissants and pastries. The shop also sells food-related gifts.
Owner Tim Corrigan trained in French methods while living in Japan, then returned to his native Yamhill County to open his bakery in 2012. The successful business, which supplies bread to many wine tasting rooms and restaurants, will be moving soon — across the street into a new building.
Amity Bakery and Café
416 S. Trade St., Amity
www.facebook.com/amitybakerycafe
Amity Bakery and Café owner Mandy Hernandez, a 2000 Amity High School graduate, had been making custom cakes from her home for several years. She expanded into the bakery and café last year after a former barbecue restaurant space became available.
In addition to homemade soups, sandwiches and salads, she bakes pastries, scones and cinnamon rolls daily. On Fridays and Saturdays, she also offers homemade doughnuts, apple fritters and New Orleans-style beignets.
In summer, she makes pies with local ingredients using whatever’s in season — no canned or frozen fruit. Pies are sold whole or by the slice.
Custom cakes and other baked good also can be ordered.
The bakery recently added espresso drinks to its list of beverages, which includes drip coffee, milkshakes and Italian sodas.