Twisted Croissant

Twisted Croissant is a bakery with two locations in Portland, Oregon. Owner Kurt Goddard began selling pastries at farmers' markets in the Portland metropolitan area before opening the first brick and mortar bakery in northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood in 2019. A second bakery opened in southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.

Description

Twisted Croissant is a bakery with two locations in Portland's Irvington and Sellwood-Moreland neighborhoods. The bakery's products are also available at various weekend farmers' markets.[1][2][3]

The business serves croissants with fillings such as ganache,[4] mascarpone-lemon glaze, and seasonal fruit. The Loaded Corn Bread Croissant is made with corn flour and is filled with corn, green chiles, pancetta, green onion, and cheddar cheese. Willamette Week described the croissant as "basically patisserie as empanada".[5][6] The Monte Carlo has ham, turkey, and Gruyère cheese, and is topped with crumbled bacon and maple syrup.[7]

The menu has also included caramel apple cruff puffs,[8] and "croissant-doughnut and croissant-muffin hybrids filled with fun flavors", according to Michael Russell of The Oregonian.[9][10] The Raspberry Rose Cruffin, considered Twisted Croissant's "signature", has vanilla custard, raspberry jam, and a rosewater glaze.[11]

Some of the shop's pastries take as long as three days to make.[12]

History

Owner and head chef Kurt Goddard started selling pastries at farmers' markets in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Portland (including the Hillsdale and Montavilla neighborhoods) in 2017.[7]

In 2018, Goddard announced plans to open a brick and mortar bakery in northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood.[13] The 1,800-square-foot space, which opened on September 6, 2019,[14][15] is used primarily for production and offers limited seating within the 600 square feet dedicated to retail operations.[16]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the business continued to operate via take-out and Uber Eats, except on Mondays.[17][18] The business was burglarized in 2020.[19] By 2022, a second location had opened in southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.[20]

In 2023, the business offered a cha siu bao (barbecued pork) croissant for Lunar New Year.[21] Twisted Croissant had special menu items for the holiday again in 2025.[22]

Reception

In 2018, Tamara Belgard of Oregon Wine Press said of the bakery's cruffins: "Twisted Croissant in Portland is the mad genius behind this creamy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside confection. Using seasonal and local flavors, their mission is to reimagine the possibilities of the timeless pastry. Frankenstein foods have never tasted better."[23] Michael Russell gave Twisted Croissant "honorable mention" in The Oregonian 's 2019 list of the city's best croissants.[9] Katherine Chew Hamilton ranked the business number three in Portland Monthly 's 2021 list of "our top 6 chocolate croissants".[24] Tiffany Hill of the magazine PDX Parent included Twisted Croissant in a 2021 list of the top five "kid tested and approved" bakeries in the Portland metropolitan area.[25]

In 2019, Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland called Twisted Croissant a "neighborhood haunt" with "inventive" options.[26] Michelle Lopez included the business in the website's 2021 overview of "where to find flaky, crackly croissants" in Portland,[18] followed by a 2023 list of "outstanding" bakeries in the metropolitan area.[1] The website's Nathan Williams included Twisted Croissant in a 2023 list of 14 "delightful spots to eat and drink on Northeast Broadway", in which he complimented select baked goods and also wrote, "The coffee is quite good, sparing patrons a trip to another coffee shop in the neighborhood."[27] Lopez and Janey Wong included the business in Eater Portland 2025 overview of the city's best bakeries.[28]

See also

References

  1. Michelle Lopez. Outstanding Bakeries in Portland and Beyond Eater Portland, 2015-12-01, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  2. Mandy Feder-Sawyer. Falling into the farmers market Beaverton Valley Times, 2017-10-18, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  3. Jack Rubinger. Montavilla Farmers Market Southeast Examiner, February 24, 2021, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  4. Katherine Chew Hamilton. Best Thing We Ate This Week: Chocolate Croissant from Twisted Croissant Portland Monthly, 2020-12-18, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  5. The Top Five Places to Eat in Portland This Week Willamette Week, 2019-10-23, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  6. The Top Five Places to Eat in Portland This Week Willamette Week, 2019-10-30, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  7. Jason Cohen. Twisted Croissant's Decadent Pastries Already Have a Cult Following, but Chef Kurt Goddard Can Do Savory Just as Well as Sweet Willamette Week, 2019-10-15, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  8. Andrea Damewood. Stuff Yourself with Cruffins and Cruff Puffs at Twisted Croissant Portland Mercury, 2019-11-07, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  9. Michael Russell. Portland's best croissants, ranked The Oregonian, 2019-11-13, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  10. Michael Russell. Twisted Croissant in Northeast Portland The Oregonian, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  11. Portland's Best Breakfast Pastries to Make Your Morning Portland Monthly, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  12. Alex Frane, Jenni Moore, Pete Cottell. Portland Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home Penguin, 2022-09-27^
  13. Brooke Jackson-Glidden. Croissant Doughnuts and Cruffins Are Coming to Portland Eater Portland, 2018-09-18, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  14. Brooke Jackson-Glidden. Beloved Japanese Bakery Oyatsupan Opens a Tiny Bakery Cafe in Tigard Eater Portland, 2019-01-09, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  15. Michael Russell. Twisted Croissant brings new wonders of the pastry world to Portland The Oregonian, 2019-11-13, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  16. Alex Frane. A New, Long Awaited Croissant Shop Has Landed on NE Broadway Eater Portland, 2019-09-06, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  17. Michelle Lopez. How to Get Desserts for Delivery or Takeout in Portland Right Now Eater Portland, 2020-04-13, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  18. Michelle Lopez. Where to Find Flaky, Crackly Croissants in Portland Eater Portland, 2021-04-02, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  19. Brooke Jackson-Glidden. Downtown Chocolate Shop Cacao Will Permanently Close Eater Portland, 2020-10-29, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  20. Karen Brooks, Katherine Chew Hamilton. Portland's Best Bakeries, Ranked Portland Monthly, 2022-04-08, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  21. Janey Wong. Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Portland Eater Portland, 2023-01-12, retrieved 2023-01-13^
  22. Where to find Lunar New Year treats, specials in the Portland area KOIN.com, 2025-01-29, retrieved 2025-01-29^
  23. Tamara Belgard. Trendsetting Portland Oregon Wine Press, 2018-10-01, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  24. Katherine Chew Hamilton. Our Top 6 Chocolate Croissants, Ranked Portland Monthly, 2021-06-11, retrieved 2022-04-25^
  25. Tiffany Hill. Top 5 Kid Approved Bakeries in Portland PDX Parent, November 18, 2022, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  26. Brooke Jackson-Glidden. 2019 Was a Turning Point for Bakeries in Portland Eater Portland, 2019-12-26, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  27. Nathan Williams. 14 Delightful Spots to Eat and Drink on Northeast Broadway Eater Portland, 2022-07-27, retrieved 2023-06-08^
  28. Michelle Lopez. The Best Bakeries in Portland Eater Portland, 2015-12-01, retrieved 2025-07-29^