In February, I had the opportunity to take photos for Wiz Bang Bar, the new soft serve dessert bar from the lovely people behind Salt & Straw. Hand dipped cones, chocolate tacos, sundaes, and concretes - that's a super-thick milkshake - with homemade Snickers, Oreos, and more. Items were brought in one by one and we rotated a variety of colorful backgrounds for each dessert. I aimed to take photos that highlighted the colors, ingredients, and texture of each dish. By the end of the shoot, there was a pile of tasting spoons, a few last bites melting away, and many happy faces.
Over the last five years, Salt & Straw has become a Portland institution, a place where tourists and locals alike flock to try the inventive menu and taste the monthly flavor series. Founders Kim and Tyler Malek are passionate about everything local, from the ingredients to the community. Case in point, this month's flavor series was made together with students from Portland Public Schools and all proceeds will go right back to the schools.
Wiz Bang Bar is located in the Pine Street Market, a new food hall opening in downtown Portland, and is the perfect place for the company to try something new, while being part of an exciting community gathering space. And it's just fun! On Thursday evening, I got a sneak peek inside Wiz Bang Bar. The open kitchen allows guests to observe the creative process and watch soft serve, baked goods, and candies in the making.
Being part of capturing these incredible creations was such a fun experience and I'm excited to have been a small part of this new endeavor in Portland's food scene. Wiz Bang Bar officially opens on Saturday, April 16 from 10am-11pm at 126 SW 2nd Avenue.