ELIZABITES

I knew when I got to Portland, I had to check out Voodoo doughnuts. It was on every friend’s recommendation list, pointed out on every tourist map, featured on No Reservations, and involved soft cakey doughnuts topped with things like Butterfinger bars, strawberry Quick powder (um, yum) and Cocoa Puffs. Not to mention just slightly more age-appropriate varieties like the Arnold Palmer (cake doughnut with lemon and tea powder), apple fritter, and a maple-glazed doughnut with two strips of bacon. With this Technicolor array of late-night munchie material, I wasn’t surprised to learn that Voodoo is open 24 hours, and as my Portland-based friend Jay described it: “kind of a human zoo at night.” I had to plan my visit accordingly. Walking down there close to bar time wasn’t the best idea, as the rather rowdy line stretched around the block. I returned on a rainy Sunday, to, well, another line, that was shorter and less rowdy, but still did include a 45 minute wait as I got closer and closer to the sign.

The wait was long and rainy, but moved fast. Voodoo visitors poured out bearing pink boxes of doughnuts they were already busting into as they brushed smugly back past the line, while some locals walked by in packs telling the line to go to the doughnut shop down the street (but failed to specify which one). But we weren’t going to give up now.. we pressed on and waited and finally got inside to make our decision while we took in the decor.



The choice was difficult, but anything with peanut butter and the added attraction of Rice Krispies was good enough for me. I eyed the Triple Chocolate Penetration (chocolate doughnut, chocolate glaze and Cocoa Puffs) and considered the Memphis Mafia (chocolate chips, banana and peanut butter glaze), but the Rice Krispes (called—or not called?—the No Name), was doughy, crunchy and fantastic, and took me about 30 seconds to scarf down.

More varieties of Voodoo

Anyone else been under the spell of Voodoo? Leave your doughnut tales in the comments below. Voodoo Doughnut, 22 S.W. Third Ave., 503.241.4704

There were two lines I dealt with more than once during my Portland visit, the first was at Voodoo doughnut (post this week), the second was at Stumptown Coffee in the Ace Hotel. I didn’t stay in the Ace (next time!), but it was near my hotel and quickly became my hangout. Not only for Clyde Common, the awesome lobby-level restaurant, but for Stumptown Coffee, that (slow line aside), became my addiction after one visit. The beans (which come from Africa, Latin America, Indonesia among other regions) vary almost everyday, but each cup I tried was rich, robust, roasted in vintage steel-drum roasters and meticulously brewed with love (hence the line). I even made my way to the Division street Stumptown location, to experience the twice-daily “cupping;” a comprehensive coffee smelling, slurping, spittting and tasting method conducted by the Stumptown roasters to detect bad beans and blends. Not only did I totally fall for the coffee, but their stash of baked goods included a flourless chocolate brownie cookie with salt (yeah, oy), and fresh blueberry danishes I could’ve eaten every morning. Stumptown is a Portland institution, but you can (luckily) get a cup of the addictive joe right here in Chicago at Bagel on Damen, 1252 N. Damen.

I’ll be heading to Portland later this week to try everything from the totchos (tater tot nachos) to VooDoo doughnuts and the avocado daiquiri from Mint 820. Of course, I plan to hit up favorites like Clyde Common, Paley’s Place, and Beaker and Flask, just a few of the restaurants and bars my friends have gushed about. I’ll be posting mostly about the trip next week, so please leave any restaurant/bar/coffee/tea/wine/beer suggestions in the comments if you got ’em and I will put them on the blogging list. Any other suggestions welcome!