.png)
Voodoo is not evil - except for calories.
I went to New Orleans about ten years ago courtesy of The Pampered Chef. I had earned a trip to the conference there and I was so excited to explore the city. One of the stops I made was at the Voodoo Museum.
It turns out that voodoo is not necessarily an evil religion even though it is often times depicted as such in movies. It's just another religion that believes in a supreme being, but also that there is a spirit level between us and God.
For some folk the name is apropo for Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland, OR. I'm guessing that for some people their doughnuts take them into a spiritual world as they savor their round confections.
The last time I had been in Portland for the day it had been Saturday Market day and the line for Voodoo was around the block. I admired from afar, but decided I wasn't interested enough to stand in the line. This time around I went on a Wednesday and found no line. I also found other foodie tourists just like me - taking pictures of the famed shop. The one downtown is the original, of course, but there is a second Portland location and one in Eugene as well.
The store is bright with a lot of pink. I liked the carousels with the displays of doughnuts - different from the typical doughnut store display case. The carousel adds to the cheerful atmosphere of the place as you contemplate what delight(s) you will choose.
I only had $3 on me and so I chose carefully. I got the Old Dirty Bastard and a chocolate coconut cake doughnut. The Old Dirty Bastard was a raised doughnut with chocolate icing, crushed Oreos, and a peanut butter drizzle. I actually saved them for the next day's drive home and they were both great the next day.
Some of the other whimsical treats include the Voodoo Doll. It's a doll shaped raised doughnut decorated as a doll and inside filled with raspberry jelly, with a pretzel stake through its heart. There is also a Maple Blazer Blunt in the shape of a cigar end with red sprinkles for the firey ash end. The Cock-n-Balls looks like you think and has the words "Bite Me" on it.
I, of course, couldn't help but think of our own new Doughbot Donuts and how they are trying to be similar doughnut trailblazers here in Sacramento. After seeing Voodoo, I think Doughbot is doing quite well with their own flavorful creations. It's good to know that you don't have to travel 300+ miles to Portland to get creative doughnuts, but if you are in the City of Roses, do stop by Voodoo.
