Departure Portland offers new summer dairy-free ice cream flavors each week that are beautiful and delicious!
Summer is the best in Portland, Oregon.
The weather is warm but not humid, and Mother Nature shines with an abundance of outdoor adventures for 24/7 fun.
This is when the mountains, lakes, beaches, and desert are all buzzing with happy explorers soaking up the best of that Pacific Northwest life.
If you're in Portland this summer, cap off a day of adventure with a celebratory ice cream atop one of Portland's best (if not the best) downtown rooftop restaurants: Departure.
Summer dairy-free ice cream specials
Each week this summer, Chef Gregory Gourdet (pictured above; Top Chef Season 12) and his talented Departure restaurant team concoct new ice cream flavors that are both stunning works of art and delicious creamy treats. All of the summer ice cream flavors are dairy-free, which makes this dairy-free mama very happy! My dairy-free options at most places are usually relegated to eating plain ol' boring sorbets (cue sad trombone), but nothing is ever boring or plain at Departure. They've taken their creative approach to fresh, global dining to a new level with their summer ice cream specials.
Here's a look at a sample of the summer ice cream flavors you can find at Departure. Remember that flavors rotate each week, and there's always a vegan option, too.
Coconut with Fermented Berry Swirl - this was my personal favorite. The coconut milk ice cream has fermented local berries swirled within and topped with freeze-dried berries, gold leaf, and edible flowers. SO GOOD!
I don't know if this one has an official name but I'm going to call it the Tasty Thai Crunch. It's a super creamy treat packed with Thai flavors, thanks to coconut milk steeped with lemongrass, lime leaves, and chili. This was the crowd favorite.
Golden Milk with Pineapple Crunch - golden milk with tamarind, pineapple, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, glove, and tamarind gel. I would never have thought to use tamarind in ice cream, but it creates a really unique and delicious dessert.
And there is always a vegan option as well, such as the gorgeous vegan rhubarb sorbet pictured above, topped with gold leaf, edible flowers, and freeze-dried berries.
The new ice cream cones are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. They're crunchy and so much more flavorful than your average everyday cone. If I could buy a pack of the cones to take home, I would!
I have to give a shout out to Brea, the talented woman behind the delicious ice creams that we devoured on this night. Thanks to Chef Gourdet for introducing us to her in the kitchen, and thanks, Brea, for the amazing desserts!
Rooftop garden tour
Chef Gourdet also kindly took us on an impromptu tour of Departure's rooftop garden.
Not a bad view, eh? The garden is cared for by all, but managed mainly by Chef de Cuisine Jonathan Rendon, who grows a variety of fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers used in the dishes at Departure.
There's also a beehive on the rooftop garden. Hooray! I love this.
Departure Portland
Of course, while you're here, you should also enjoy Departure's full menu as well. The food is reliably creative, flavorful, and healthier on the whole than many other downtown restaurants. It's one of my favorite restaurants to visit with groups because there's something for every dietary need, whether you have friends that are vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, or gluten-free. I just found out that they even have an entire vegan menu, too.
Our kids wanted to eat here after watching Chef Gourdet on Top Chef, and you can read all about our family dining experience at Departure here.
Howeverl, when I normally dine at Departure, it's with a group of friends - it's an amazing spot for a girls' night out! CHEERS to that!
Departure Portland
525 SW Morrison, 15th Floor
The Nines Hotel
Portland, Oregon 97204
HOURS:
Sunday - Thursday 4:00 - 11:00pm
Friday & Saturday 4:00pm - 12:00am
Visit the Departure website for more information.
Which ice cream flavor pictured here would YOU most like to try?
Kat Fox says
I'm actually in Portland now! I'm so glad I came across this.
georgia holton says
Ice creams look beautiful and sound even better in combination with the flavors, and that they are dairy free makes them work for everyone!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I know! I love that aspect! :)
Singh says
Wow, that looks YUMMY!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Right?!
Kona vacation says
Great app. Something that could help wedding planners to plan the next perfect wedding with ease. Great job.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thanks so much!
Kelly says
Really cool places! That Thai crunch has my name written all over it!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
It's amazing! It was a huge hit!
Leah says
This is so amazing! Love that more and more places are aiming for dietary obstacles.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Me too! It's about time!
Hillary Harper says
All of these look incredible! I love grabbing a cocktail at departure and we've had dinner there a couple times, but maybe I'll just have to go for the ice-cream now ;)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
You really should give it a try! It's so good!
Jenni LeBaron says
We were just talking about Departure. I've grabbed cocktails here so many times, but I've never actually eaten here. These ice creams look perfect for a warm day!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
You should definitely give it a try!
Mary says
Oh my goodness! This looks amazing. And you know my kids are now DF and GF so this sounds so perfect. Though I'm not ready to take my kids to Departure just yet ;) They're a little too loud and energetic for that place (though it may be a good bribe for them to stay calm and mature???).
But I'd love to try them on a date outing sans kids, especially that Thai flavored one.
Side note, we were at the Beaverton Farmers Market last week and found a DF ice cream stand that had delicious GF cones! My kids were in heaven, as it was the first place we found with not just edible, but delicious sugar cones that were GF.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
It can be so hard to find accommodating desserts! I'm glad you found a place, though!
Erin @ Platings and Pairings says
All the cones look so beautiful, colorful and delicious! What a perfect day you had for the event too!!! Bummed to have missed it.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I'm bummed for you!
Pech says
The ice creams look beautiful and sound even better in combination with the flavors, and that they are dairy free makes them work for everyone!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Yeah! They're very accommodating!
Aysha Tayab-Ratsep says
I think I fell in love with Portland! These are such unique and gorgeous treats! The flowers are a beautiful touch and I love how the cones are so unique. I would love to try the Thai coconut crunch!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
That one is so yummy! I hope you get to!
Meg says
the Tasty Thai Crunch one sounds AMAZING! Can't wait to try these. :)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
They were all so good!
Jenna says
This ice cream! OMG it is gorgeous. It all looks so good! Especially that Thai flavor. Wow!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
They seriously have some of the prettiest ice cream I've ever seen!