PDX: Franz Bakery Tour

One tricky thing in writing about the Franz Bakery Tour is that we could not take pictures on the tour. 

That means I have pictures from around the building and in the waiting room and in the outlet store, but not while actually touring on the floor.

While some of this probably relates to trade secrets, there are also many rules related to food safety that affect other things, and appropriately so.

I have seen people lose all sense when taking photos. I like to think that I am not one of them, but in abiding by the rules of the tour, that was not put to the test.

I still have to say that it was really cool.

If you have ever been around the factory in NE Portland, chances are you have watched a conveyor belt (quite possibly conveying English muffins). I could not get a picture of it because of the holiday train art, and I am not angry about that.

Once inside, there are more conveyor belts, and mixers of dough, and ovens and bins for rising and supplies and quality sheets and all sorts of fascinating things.

They get explained in good detail, with questions answered.

One thing I learned is that the length of the conveyor belts is due to the freshly-baked products needing to cool. There would probably still be some transport, but that process is not just about getting from point A to point B.

We also learned some things about those safety and quality procedures. 

Tours were always on Tuesdays, which is not incredibly convenient, but that is related to the baking and cleaning schedule. There are times when it would be much worse to have people around, either more dangerous for them or more dangerous for the product.

This is very much a part of local history. Many of us from the area did a tour as school students. (Though my school went to the Frito-Lay plant instead. It was closer.)

One thing they did to make getting a tour easier is allowing signups that are not coordinated on the group level, meaning we went through with several people we did not know, and it was fine. 

There were some fun packs for the children on the tour, and everyone got a coupon for one free item at the nearby outlet. (You may remember that the Tigard Franz outlet was reviewed here in September 2024.) 

My favorite doughnuts were free!

One reason I wanted to review now is that the 120th birthday block party is coming up on April 14th, and there were tours available. They have all already been booked!

Well, it is a great tour, and there were extra tours set up.

It could still be fun to stop by the block party. The Franz Grilled Cheese Machine will be there. I am planning on checking it out.

COVID: Masks were not required but were encouraged. I stayed masked and it was fine.

Accessibility: As a working factory floor there are some restrictions and issues that cannot be accommodated. This is well covered on the signup page, but it is mainly that there is walking up and down multiple flights of stairs, as well as walking by hot ovens.

https://www.franzbakery.com/HTML/tour 

None of the staircases were so long or the pace so fast that it was exhausting, even for not particularly fit people, but if you require mobility aids it would probably not work. They are good about responding to questions. 

https://www.franzbakery.com/

Bridgeport Village Blooms & Buzz Springtime Scavenger Hunt (through April 5th)

There is another Mike Bennett scavenger hunt at Bridgeport Village:

https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2025/10/bridgeport-village-mike-bennett-studios.html 

This one is a lot like the Spooktacular one in October, but with a different theme. 

The twelve items involve flowers, insects, and gastropods, including one very familiar snail.

Participation is free, and there are once again prizes that you can get at the security office.

You can also pick up your initial form at the office or print one online. 

The gift bag includes stickers, a craft kit, and a couple of coupons.

One thing I have been reluctant to detail is the location of the items, taking away the "hunt" part. However, it can be hard to know if you are in the right area.

I am just going to note that the coupons are for La Frenchie and California Pizza Kitchen. If you walk from one to the other, looking around and taking a few detours but staying in that area, you should be fine.

Once again we found ourselves talking with people and having a good time. Bennett really is a joy-maker.

COVID: You do not have to enter any of the stores; this can be done all outside. Okay, if you want the prize you need to go into the security office.

Accessibility: The mall is pretty accessible in general. There are some areas where there are steps, but there was also always access without steps. 

https://www.bridgeport-village.com/event/37561-spring-scavenger-hunt              

  

NE Portland: Clyde's Prime Rib

Back when inclement weather meant it took me two attempts to see the Christmas lights at the Grotto, Clyde's caught my attention on the way back both times.

This was partly due to the somewhat castle-like architecture, but also the promise of prime rib.

Eight years later, I made it!

The food is all right. The prime rib was good, but happily there are multiple good options for prime rib and lots of those places have a somewhat more diverse menu. 

Part of it taking eight years to go there is that my frequent dining companions are not nearly as carnivorous as I am.

The atmosphere cannot be beat.

If you want to enter a Mad Men episode, I am not sure that you can do better (especially since Henry Ford's closed).

 The tableware has a weight that speaks to the bygone era.

 Also speaking that language is the upholstery.

 Soul singers adorn the wall, from the past but also representing live music on weekends in the present.

Staff was very friendly and prices were reasonable, especially considering how generous the portions were.

Part of the mood relates to the lighting; if you can see some of these details clearly, I probably used my flash.

 That's all part of it. Sometimes it's fun to step into the Way-Back machine and try something different.

 Even my more herbivorous companions were glad we went.

COVID: As a restaurant, it is not practical to stay masked. We went during lunch hours and it was not crowded so distancing was possible. Use your best judgement.

Accessibility: Clyde's is over sixty years old, so it would not have been surprising if there were stairs or narrow passages. It was very navigable. Sliding into the booths might not be easy, but the chair sides of the tables should be workable. 

They're waiting for you.

https://www.clydesprimerib.com/