Pix puts spotlight on small producers with 38 grower champagnes on wine list and elite list of Spécial Club Champagnes
PORTLAND, Oregon (August 12, 2010) – At Pix Pâtisserie in Portland, Oregon, a passion for small, family Champagne producers stands out, especially at this casual neighborhood dessert restaurant decorated with sock monkeys and fuzzy red wallpaper. Owner and pastry chef Cheryl Wakerhauser loves the sublime combination of Champagne and chocolate and has designed her wine list to complement her artistic French pastries and desserts with names like Carmen Miranda, Shazam!, Amélie, Tiki Tiki and The Pixie. For the weekend oenophile and dessert aficionado, Pix takes its drink and dessert choices seriously and offers up a world class list of both bubbles and sweets.
“I love and appreciate a great glass of Champagne and there are so many fantastic ones out there,” said Wakerhauser. “It is very frustrating to go to a restaurant and see the same big name Champagnes over and over and at high prices. At Pix, I created a list to put the small, grower Champagnes in the spot light and make them accessible and affordable. We have one of the largest grower Champagne lists in the country! And from time to time I may even demonstrate sabering and slice the top off a bottle of Champagne with a knife or wine glass. Salut!”
Grower Champagnes
The newly expanded wine list at Pix features 38 grower champagnes and includes a select list of six Spécial Club Champagnes, including the Pierre Gimonnet Spécial Club 2002, J. Lassalle Spécial Club 2000 and the Marc Hébrart Spécial Club 2004. (Champagne’s Spécial Club is a group of Grower-Producers who all have the common goal of promoting the expression of terroir. The members serve as a jury of their peers, voting for the best Champagne of certain vintages.) Pix also offers two rotating grower Champagnes by the glass – at any given moment the selection may change so follow Pix on Twitter to be the first to find out. Vin Rouge and Vin Blanc are also available by the glass or bottle with selections from France, Spain, Italy and the Pacific NW, along with a list of Vin Rosé during the summer season.
Basque Cider and the Pix Beer Float
Don’t miss the specialties from the Basque Country, traditionally served poured into the glass from a 2-3 foot distance to aerate the wine and allow it to breathe. This tradition continues at Pix with Petritegi Cider and Arregi Txakoli on the list. The bière list ranges from Orval Trappist Ale and Duvel to local brews like Rogue Chocolate Stout and the seasonal from Ninkasi Brewery in Eugene. The Pix Beer Float combines Rogue Chocolate Stout with Pix’s homemade mocha ice cream. Beer backs available.
Cocktails and Dessert Wine Flights
Pix also boasts a cocktail list at the North location with classics like the Margarita, French 75 and Kir Royale, along with the Godfather and La Bicyclette – St. Germain elderflower liqueur, Mirabelle eau de vie and a float of sparkling wine. Spirits are available by the two-ounce pour (or one-ounce if over $10) and range from Armagnac and Absinthe to Eau de Vie and Single Malt Scotch. Dessert wines can be ordered as a flight of three for $12 or individually at both locations. Dessert wines include Alpine, Walnut Liqueur; Don PX, Gran Reserva ’82; and a 187 ml bottle of Dr. Loosen Beerenauslese. And the Chateau d’Arlay MacVin is a rare specialty from the Jura made of 2/3 fresh must with 1/3 marc-brandy that is aged for seven years in casks and then matured for three years in old barrels.
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About Cheryl Wakerhauser
Pastry chef and restaurateur Cheryl Wakerhauser (a.k.a. Pix), is known for her eccentric and distinctive style that intertwines an array of flavors and textures in every dessert creation. After a short-lived career studying to be an astronaut, Cheryl trained at the pâtisserie of MOF chef Philippe Urraca in Southern France. A graduate of the University of Minnesota in Food Science and Business Management, Cheryl was introduced to fresh, flavorful food during her travels to the Philippines and Thailand. After graduation she attended culinary school in Canada and studied in France. When she has time, she still loves to travel and tries to spend one month a year in France seeking inspiration for her next dessert creation or new macaron flavor.
About Pix Pâtisserie
Pix Pâtisserie has two locations in Portland’s SE and North neighborhoods offering elegant pastries, French macarons, and handmade chocolates and ice cream, as well as a wide selection of dessert wines, craft beers, fine spirits and Bubbly. The original Pix on SE Division opened in January 2002 and is adorned in yellow walls with comfy shoulder-to-shoulder seating. The North Williams location opened in 2005 and boasts a chocolate laboratory where customers can peek in on the mad scientists in the kitchen. With an upbeat fancy demeanor dotted with monkeys and fuzzy red wallpaper, the North Portland location offers Monday Movie Night and Sunday Tea. Don’t miss the Dessert Dim Sum night at SE Division and Concoct Your Own Dessert. Pastry chef and restaurateur, Cheryl Wakerhauser trained at the Pâtisserie of MOF Philippe Urraca in Southern France. In 2001 she moved to Portland and set up shop at the Portland Farmer’s Market before opening her first pâtisserie. Pix Pâtisserie North, 3901 N. Williams Avenue, Portland; 503-282-6539; and 3402 SE Division St., Portland; 503-232-4407. www.pixpatisserie.com; Follow Pix on Twitter @ PixPatisserie.