One of my favorite shows is “No Reservations” on the Travel Channel which chronicles Anthony Bourdain’s foodie adventures around the world. Awhile back I caught an episode on the Pacific Northwest where he visited a dive doughnut shop in Portland called Voodoo Doughnuts. After a few friends moved there, my husband and I decided to take a quick weekend trip up north and the one thing that was a must-do was visit this amazing doughnut shop.
Upon entering I learned that it’s not just a doughnut shop, but a wedding chapel too (a $175 service includes a legal wedding with doughnuts and coffee for 10). At first I thought it was a little strange, but then I tasted their doughnuts and realized what all the buzz was about.
Tony (well, that’s what all Chef Bourdain’s friends call him, and after watching the show for three years now, I feel we’ve become quite close) had the Bacon Maple bar, and I was pretty sure that’s what I was going to indulge in (apparently Brad Pitt is a fan too!). When I first shared with my friends that was the doughnut I wanted they all winced, until I reminded them how delicious the perfect bite of warm pancakes with syrup and bit of salty, crispy bacon is (I probably should have mentioned that it was Brad’s favorite, but the fact eluded me at the time).
However, when I got to Voodoo, the bacon didn’t look very appetizing, so I decided to go with the No Name, and boy am I glad I did. You can’t go wrong with a glazed raised drizzled with chocolate and peanut butter sauces and then sprinkled with rice krispies. It was deliciously sweet and had just the right crunch. I made the mistake of not getting a cup of coffee with it. Then it would have been perfect.
If you find yourself in Portland (it’s a quick hour and change on Southwest), find your way to Voodoo Doughnuts.
By Kim Bedwell
Archives for October 2008
This Weekend in Sacramento
Thursday
What: Bella Bloom is celebrating their one-year anniversary with an open house including complimentary food and wine tasting from Fuzio, Table 260 and Scribner Bend Vineyards.
When: Thursday, October 9th from 3 – 7pm
Where: 812 J Street in the 800J Lofts Building
What: Sample several small plates and either three tastes of wine or one draft beer at The Shack tonight for just $18! While you are enjoying the food and drink, listen to live music on the patio.
When: Thursday, October 9th
Where: The Shack, 5201 Folsom Blvd in Sacramento
Saturday
What: Second Saturday Art Walk. Local art galleries stay open late so you can enjoy artwork and try appetizers, beverages and live music.
When: Around 6pm to 9pm
Where: Start your walk about 18th and L Streets and pick up a map at Zanzibar Gallery or print one out from the Second Saturday website.
Saturday and Sunday:
What: The 12th Annual American River Salmon Festival, a free event for the whole family including wildlife demos, puppetry, fishing clinics, food, music and fun!
Where: Nimbus Hatchery, Lake Natoma, American River Parkway, Rancho Cordova
When: October 11th and 12th from 10am – 4pm
Next Weekend
Register now for the Edible Crawl for a Cure, a gourmet food and pub crawl through more than a dozen Downtown and Midtown microbreweries, wine bars, restaurants and coffee houses. Crawl Captains will lead crews of 10+ people, so register your team now! Tickets are $35 per person if purchased before October 17th by noon or $40 thereafter.
Are you “Game”?
Another September, another sister trip to Los Angeles – the city of angels, of glam, and of great food. This year’s trip was a shopping bust but, luckily, a food boon.
We arrived on a Friday night, and almost immediately headed to Lotería Grill, my sister Cara’s current favorite restaurant. It’s not difficult to figure out why. This regional Mexican kitchen on Hollywood Boulevard boasts a varied menu at reasonable prices, plus mouthwatering margarita concoctions.
We started with a pitcher of tamarind margaritas which were curiously sweet and sour, as well as the probaditas sampler, which was a plate of mini tacos.
We sampled a number of dishes (it helps that there were five of us), including the summer salad; the red snapper with capers, olives and plantains; the green arroz (uniquely minty); as well as the papas con rajas taco and the mole poblano con pollo taco. We also were treated to dessert (gratis!), including their oh-so-good coconut flan and the refreshing lime-tequila sorbet.
The open floor plan of Lotería allows guests to see what’s happening in the kitchen and in the bar. The restaurant’s décor is all clean lines and warm wood, with painting-sized vintage Mexican playing cards lining the walls. “Lotería,” in fact, refers to a family game, similar to bingo we were told. Hey, we’re game!
On Saturday morning, we hit The Aroma Café for a breakfast/lunch thing. I loved the feel of this café – a worn-brick patio and lush garden setting with a chandelier overhead and an attached bookstore.
The food was great, too. While we didn’t sample their desserts, which looked mightily tempting, their breakfast and lunch offerings were a big hit with my sisters, including the Eggs Aroma and their tuna salad sandwich. And what’s a visit to LA without a star sighting? While we would never think of interrupting his meal, we wanted to say, “We loved the Ocean’s movies!” Can you guess who it was?
On Sunday, just before our flight home, we headed to the Mustard Seed Café located in Los Feliz (across the street from my favorite café, the Alcove, which I discovered is a partner restaurant to The Aroma Café).
The environs at the “Seed” are humble, but the food is fresh, delicious and eco-conscious. Our orders were all over the place – the chicken chutney salad, BBQ chipotle chicken wrap, a fancy BLAT, a veggie omelet, and the grilled vegetable and goat cheese sandwich – but the food was true to its reputation.
As always, it’s hard to say farewell to LA and our annual sister weekend, especially since we’re choosing a different city for next year’s trip (Cabo? Seattle? Carmel?). Stay tuned!
This Weekend in Sacramento
Friday and Saturday
What: Help Cookie Connection celebrate their 5th Anniversary by stopping by to sample their new flavors – Smores, Kitchen Sink, Carmelo & Rocky Road! For more information, visit TwinSoup and enter to win one of two Cookie Connection signature one-dozen gift boxes.
When: FREE cookies/samples Thursday, Oct 2nd-Saturday Oct 4th. Store Hours: M-F 10-7 p.m.; Sat 11-6 p.m.
Where: Two Locations: 2565 Fair Oaks Blvd; Fair Oaks & Munroe in Loehmann’s Plaza & 3992 Douglas Blvd; Roseville
Saturday
What: The 3rd Annual Oktoberfest Party at Brew it Up! – Enjoy German cuisine and brewery-fresh “Bavarian” beers.
When: Starts at 11 a.m.
Where: 14th and H Streets
Saturday and Sunday
What: The 2008 Big Crush Harvest Festival – Eat, drink and be merry at Participating Amador Wineries.
When: Dependent on location.
Where: More than 20 locations.