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Story & Photos by Leah Kennedy
In Eugene, orange is never a popular color. This time of year, however, you can’t escape odd-shaped orange globes as they sprout up everywhere from windowsills to gardens, and local eateries use their slimy innards in a multitude of creative ways.
From Halloween to Thanksgiving pumpkin becomes a key ingredient across Eugene, starring in varied menu items. Whether served hot or cold, liquid or solid, there is no doubt what season it is.
“Fall is my favorite time of year because of the smells and colors,” University of Oregon senior Lauren Merge says. “Pumpkin food is the culmination of my love for all things fall.”
Merge made this statement while exiting Prince Puckler’s holding a small dish of pumpkin ice cream. The light orange treat was gone within a few minutes, and according to Merge, it was worth every cent. The treat will be available at Prince Puckler’s until winter break. The Campus Sub Shop also features a pumpkin frozen yogurt.
For something a bit warmer, almost every local coffee shop offers their own rendition of a pumpkin latte. One bakery, however, aims to raise the bar with both coffee and baked goods. Located on 19th Street, Eugene City Bakery has an array of treats packed with a punch of pumpkin crafted just for this season.
“I think pumpkin has a really great earthy flavor and it adds a lot to otherwise boring foods,” says Bakery employee Victoria Brewer. “We’ve been selling a ton of pumpkin stuff, especially the pumpkin cookies, which we also sell year-round. People have been loving our pumpkin lattes as well. We’ve been playing around with our recipe and now we actually put pumpkin in it, as well as the spices.”
The scoop of pumpkin that rounds off this unique latte is the same stuff used in the pumpkin cookies with maple frosting Brewer mentioned, as well as the pumpkin tarts, cheesecake, and pumpkin walnut bread currently offered on 19th.
While all of these treats may sound like the enemy of a daily calorie count, pumpkin possesses a variety of nutrients and natural chemicals that can strengthen the immune system, provide much needed fiber, or just supply a variety of vitamins.
At this time of year, treats are everywhere, and for the next couple of months pumpkin will be invading baked goods, beverages, and sundaes alike. So have a piece of pumpkin pie, get some vitamins, and inhale the smell of fall.
