Donut Taste Good

Donut Excursion: Vidalia

2010-11-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

Do-Ho travels to Washington, DC to visit Vidalia

You may have heard that the men and women residing in our nation's capital take themselves rather seriously. Well even though that translates into political infighting, yawn-inducing fashion and just a general shortage of laid-back silliness, we are ever-so-grateful that this city also takes its donuts seriously.

One might not think that a restaurant named after an onion would house the tastiest desserts, but we discovered that Vidalia's "Sugar Spiced Doughnuts" have nothing in common with the establishment's multi-layered namesake (on the other hand these little treats were so good they might just bring tears to your eyes).

Since Do-Ho's friends were feeling a little blue after the recent election results, we decided they needed a little cheering up. Here they are at Vidalia waiting eagerly for dessert to arrive.

Below is a photo of the Sugar Spiced Doughnuts (and cinnamon-sugar rolled doughnut holes riding on top!) with accompanying dipping sauces: Chocolate-Cardamon, Berry-Citrus and Caramel-Toffee.

Finally, the success of the come-on-get-happy outing is evidenced below. Very little remained by the end of the night... but unlike a certain political party, we (thankfully) needn't wait four more years for a do-over.

Guest Blogger Donut Excursion: Super Che

2010-07-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Guest blogger Nisi travels to Puerto Escondido, Mexico to visit Super Che

Rarely do Do-Ho's friends travel so far for such (limited) fame and (still more limited) fortune. But our high school BFF Nisi, always a spitfire, has taken it upon herself to hop a plane to Mexico in order to guest blog for us from the Super Che market. The nervewracking thing is, our amiga does not even speak Spanish! No problema--when you're in need of a donut, we all speak the same language.

Interested in guest blogging? We'd love to hear from you!

Hi! I found these donuts and pastries at the Super Che, the large, modern market here in Puerto Escondido. Everything is out on open shelves instead of behind glass.

The shoppers take a large metal tray and some tongs and just pile their selections on top! When you are finished choosing you take the tray to a counter where your selections are put in a brown paper bag and the total price is affixed on the outside.

This method of walking around with a tray and tongs seems deliciously sinful to me. After being here for a couple days, the comfort of a chocolate covered donut was very welcome! We moaned as we bit into them. MMMMMM......

Today we got three very large muffins (one with strawberry marmalade on top, one pineapple flavored and one that looked good but its make up is unknown), plus three chocolate-dipped donuts and a pastry with cream cheese and peaches on top. All for about three American dollars!

Check out Nisi's blog for more amazing stories on location from Puerto Escondido!

Donut Excursion: Lebanese Food Festival

2010-06-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Richmond, Virginia to visit the annual Lebanese Food Festival

Occasionally, as referenced in this blog, our waistlines begin to feel the pull of what we now realize is an occupational hazard. But rather than take hiatus to address this weighty issue and therefore deprive our loyal readers of the latest in donut news coverage, we have learned to outsource our donut tasting and even our blogging when necessary. While the latest taste tester is comparatively smaller than many previous contract employees, his keen sense of taste and thoughtful commentary were huge. Below, he takes a scientific bite out of a zalabia (fried strips of dough made of flour, oil, salt, cake yeast and Middle East spices, served with special syrup). The verdict? "Mmmmmmmnnnynnnmmnymn."

Donut Excursion: Whist Restaurant

2010-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Santa Monica, California to visit Whist Restaurant

We have to say that menus featuring fancy donuts at upscale restaurants around Los Angeles is the most delightful trend we can remember since the invention of powdered sugar...too bad it's so tough on our pocketbooks. The latest sampling was preceded by a lovely dinner on the patio of the Viceroy Hotel, and while our budget didn't allow for the private, curtained cabanas which our wealthier co-patrons enjoyed, when it came to dessert the donuts had us all equally satisfied. With fresh fruit and ice cream on the side, we very nearly hit all the major food groups with one dish. Now that's equal opportunity.

2nd Annual Grilled Cheese Pageant: Teeny Weeny Cheezy Do-ninis

2010-04-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

When Do-Ho was just a donette, Mama Do-Ho often made classic grilled cheese sandwiches out of white bread and a slice of American cheese (the "square cheese" as our friend's daughter calls it). However as was the case with donuts, when we went out into the world we discovered that there is more than one way to enjoy this tasty treat. In fact we discovered that when bread and cheese get together, the sky is the limit. You may remember that last year Do-Ho designed a Spectacular Jelly Doughnut Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and walked away with a sash in fellow blogger Kathy's Panini Happy contest. Well this year we absolutely outdid ourselves with our original Teeny Weeny Cheezy Do-ninis. Part donut, part panini, part grilled cheese and part burger, we ended up with a complex hybrid of a meal. But don't worry, you can't go wrong with the step-by-step instructions below.

Recipe:
Form ground bison into small balls (bigger than a donut hole; smaller than a softball). Push a cavity into the middle of each ball and fill with shredded Cheddar cheese and a dollop of Patak's Original Major Grey Chutney. Seal. Place into sliders press to flatten.

Next, use a donut cutter (every house must have one! If not you can get them at Williams-Sonoma) to cut donut-shaped pieces out of sourdough bread. Brush with olive oil.

Grill patties on barbecue grill to desired doneness (we recommend medium, but it's really up to you). Over low heat or on the upper rack of your grill, toast the buns to a panini-like crispness.

Now you are ready to enjoy your Teeny Weeny Cheezy Do-ninis. If you really want to kick it up a notch (and who doesn't?), ditch the regular mayo for Trade Joe's Wasabi Mayonnaise. It's like heaven on a donut.

Donut Excursion: Puro Sabor

2010-04-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Van Nuys, California to visit Puro Sabor

Few things in life are better than sharing a meal with a friend that involves both french fries and donuts. Do-Ho recently discovered a small, family-owned Peruvian restaurant named Puro Sabor that provides all this and more. After a large helping of steak saltados (slices of beef mixed with vegetables and tossed with french fries), Do-Ho and friend Matt (who dined on a cheesy seafood entree) split a plateful of picarones. These delightful pumpkin fritters taste subdued until dunked into the syrup that comes with them. We only wish we knew enough Spanish to make the request "More picarones with extra syrup, please!"

Below, friend Matt takes a serious bite out of a picarone.

Donut Excursion: Trish's

2010-03-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to San Francisco, California to visit Trish's

When we say "We left our heart in San Francisco," we're not talking about a long-distance romance...but it could be true love. Do-Ho and spunky niece-ster Kendra fell hard for these hot mini-donuts--the size of fortune cookies, just cute as can be--served in the Fisherman's Wharf area of the City by the Bay.

Together with a ride on the cable cars, night tour of Alcatraz, dim sum in Chinatown and hot fudge sundaes at Ghirardelli Square, it was one of the top five things we'll probably do again!

They Eat Donuts in Holland, Don't They?

2010-03-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

Well yes, yes they do. At least the upper class folk, such as windmill owners and tulip farm owners do. We recently visited the lively city of Amsterdam, and were more than happy to contribute to the local economy by shopping for shoes (delightfully, clogs have not gone out of style here!)

and tulips in every color of the rainbow.

So it was a chilling disappointment to arrive at a bakery only to find that donuts were priced will beyond our budget. Yes, just one of these sugary Dutch treats cost two euros!

So, unable to come up with the coinage, we shuffled away in our wooden shoes. Apparently, "going Dutch" is not just a cultural artifact, it's a pillar of the economy.

Do-Ho Meets Actor Andy Garcia

2010-03-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

If you ever thought you couldn't take your mom to see a movie containing pole dancing, convicts and a secret love child, think again. The latest movie by dreamy Andy Garcia called City Island has all of this and more, yet never offends the genteel souls among us. We ran into AG at a shindig in Beverly Hills where he spoke at length about how painful it is to get a small picture made in Hollywood these days. That may be true, but surely no more so than gluing your own head back on after being decapitated in Black Rain. Now that's gotta hurt.

Team USA Dominates at Olympics; Team Do-Ho Wins Big Too

2010-03-02T09:09:00.001-08:00

Donuts may be our reason for being, but few things taste sweeter than victory. Two days ago as Team USA celebrated its resounding success at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Team Do-Ho was also making history: Fantasy Football League Manager of the Month for February 2010! This was the first time ever that a single team held the lead for every day of the month, and the first time that Manager of the Month was awarded to us Americans! We are so proud of our boys. Below, the Team Do-Ho management team poses for a victory photo. Keep up the good work Team!

Donut Excursion: Blue 32

2010-02-28T22:01:00.000-08:00

Do-Ho travels to Hermosa Beach, California to visit Blue 32

Sometimes we Angelenos are accused of being superficial. It's not all about the looks, say people from other parts. To which we reply, What's wrong with looking your best? The donuts at Hermosa Beach late-night hangout Blue 32 certainly put the average donut hole to shame. Served hot out of a Chinese takeout box, customers can dip them in any or all of the accompaniments: Fudge sauce, nuts, sprinkles, and shredded coconut. This menu item has looks and attitude.

In fact, we think the tanned, buff beach crowd that frequents this spot may be experiencing for the first time how it feels to be upstaged by a hot dish.

They Eat Donuts in Argentina, Don't They?

2010-02-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

Well yes--yes they do. But while we did catch a glimpse of donuts here and there in the shops of Buenos Aires, we couldn't help but notice that they were not as prevalent as in neighboring Chile. Instead, there seems to be larger per capita consumption of an alternative breakfast food called the alfajore. We're not exactly sure how to pronounce it, but we did manage to use the right combination of gestures to successfully order one in a coffee shop called Havanna (the Spanish-speaking version of a Starbucks coffee chain). The alfajore is a little like a moon pie with a dulce de leche filling. So yummy with a cup of hot Argentine coffee that we almost didn't want to leave. But don't cry for us, Argentina--we brought back a whole box and shared them with our friends!

Team Do-Ho Plays Exhibition Match in Buenos Aires

2010-01-31T08:14:00.000-08:00

We knew we couldn't go wrong in a city whose stadium is nicknamed "La Bombonera"--the Chocolate Box! Do-Ho and team traveled all the way to Buenos Aires, Argentina to partake in a foreign exchange athletic event that rocked the South American continent.

The team was a little confused when, upon entering the stadium, it was all but empty:

We wondered whether soccer was just one of those sports that never caught on in Argentina. But everything was cleared up when, in an adjacent field, we ran into none other than the Argentine National team! The guys explained that during the off-season, they play outside the stadium in order to let the grass grow back on the field. As you can see in the photo above, this seems to be working.

Once everyone had been introduced (via an interpreter), many sets of soccer were played and a good time was had by all.

Without a scoreboard it is hard to say who won the tournament but each team represented its country well.

Here, Do-Ho poses for a souvenir photo with the opposing team. Keep at it, boys--someday soccer just might take off in your part of the world.

They Eat Donuts in Chile, Don't They?

2010-01-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

Well yes--yes they do! In transit to chocolate-lovers' paradise Argentina, Do-Ho rolled through Santiago Airport and was delighted to see this Dunkin' Donuts right outside the gate area.

While the menu was somewhat familiar, it had its own Chilean quirkiness. For example, their donuts don't come by the dozen. Instead, they use the metric system and count their donuts by the bucket! As shown in the photo below, they tote their breakfast home in great big plastic buckets. Now that's what we call a Coke and a smile.

Guest Blogger Donut Excursion: Zippy's

2009-12-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

Big Bro Do-Ho travels to Honolulu, Hawaii to visit Zippy's

As previously chronicled in this blog, the Do-Ho clan has deep-rooted family ties to the sugar industry. As a result, we share an uncanny ability to spot the most notable donut offerings in any given neighborhood. On a recent trip to the tropical island of Oahu, Big Bro Do-Ho indulged in a seasonal offering at Zippy's, Hawaii's favorite family restaurant. It's a shame that so far, no one in our bloodline has married into a famly of dentists.

Chocolate Dream Ultimate Donut

Nothing goes better with an ice cold Pepsi!

Sweet!

Guest Blogger Donut Excursion: Doughnut Plant

2009-12-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

Guest blogger Holly travels to New York City to visit Doughnut Plant

Do-Ho's friend Holly is a true go-getter. Not content to merely be a supporting actor in the world of donut blogging, she jumped right in with her own post from the field. Interested in guest blogging? We'd love to hear from you!

Do-Ho friend and field correspondent Holly here, reporting on-site in the City of Doughnut Dreams. This fry-bread sleuth traveled to the Big Apple to check out Doughnut Plant on the Lower East Side. Along the way, I picked up NYC resident and brother, Christophe, and headed down the F train to the Delancey stop. Two subways and a gyro pit stop later we were crossing Delancey and heading to aptly-named Grand Street, to the tiny corner doughnut shop large enough to fit six customers, cramped.

This writer, savoring one of the last doughnuts

of the day with brother Christophe.

We arrived just in the nick of time, 4:30 pm. Our Doughnut Meister and hot chocolatier of the day was Cuberto, forced to ration the last two remaining varieties, Apple and Blackout, to one doughnut per customer to ensure that as many devotees as possible got a little piece of yummy.

This happy guy downs the last doughnut of the day.

Shop friend and informal promoter, Sine, gave us fair warning about the dangerous chocolate pudding hiding inside the Blackout. Sine is as devoted to her doughnuts as to her Mets, which made me wonder if Yankees fans would also appreciate the fine quality of an eggless doughnut? If they do, I’m sure that Doughnut Plant proves a neutral meeting ground where all New Yorkers can see doughnut hole-to-doughnut hole.

Our new friends at the Doughnut Plant (left to right) Sine, Cuberto, and Vrn.

We also met shop owner and entrepreneur Mark Israel, who stopped by to check in with the staff. Mark started Doughnut Plant fifteen years ago, after his grandfather’s recipe for eggless doughnuts turned up in an attic. Mark’s grandfather used to sell doughnuts for 20 cents a dozen. Time not proving always to lead to progress, Mark still uses the same recipe today, ensuring the high quality standards that keep fans coming back for more.

I, for one, consider this trip a success, but intend to make the trip again, for more thorough “research”, of course.

Donut Excursion: Bottega Louie

2009-11-22T19:26:00.000-08:00

Do-Ho travels to Los Angeles, California to visit Bottega Louie

Sometimes, when we try to be good just the opposite happens. Like this weekend for example, when we visited Bottega Louie in downtown Los Angeles. Of the many delectable things on the menu (brioche french toast, lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry syrup, eggs benedict), we chose the healthiest dish: an egg white scramble with tofu and avocado. Yes, we told ourselves. We are a vision of all that is pure and heart-healthy in the midst of a high-cholesterol, mega-caloric, mad mad world.

And then as we were leaving, we took a stroll past the bakery case.

We marched firmly past row upon row of pastries, cupcakes, macaroons and muffins, our chins set with determined self-restraint, and were almost out the door when we spotted a trio of lovely eclairs. Eclairs! Like a long, skinny donut with frosting on top and fluffy cream inside. Flavored in vanilla bean, pistachio, or just plain old chocolate. Friends Shauna and Kristin were extremely supportive in Do-Ho's decision to turn a sensible breakfast outing into an impromptu donut excursion. Sometimes even the best-laid plans need to be quashed!

Donut Excursion: Leonard's Bakery

2009-11-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Do-Ho and Momma Do-Ho travel to Honolulu, Hawaii to visit Leonard's Bakery

One day when Do-Ho was just a little donette, she asked Momma Do-Ho, "Where do donuts come from?" And that's when she learned about her family's important role in producing the world's greatest food. Many years ago, Momma Do-Ho's grandfather came over from China to work in the sugar cane mill in Hawaii on the Big Island. When Gramma Do-Ho was a wee girl, she was responsible for taking her father's lunch pail to him at the mill. Though she didn't like sweets herself, Gramma Do-Ho aided in the important work that goes into the donut food chain. Mahalo (Hawaiian for "thank you") Gramma Do-Ho!

On a recent trip to the island of Oahu we stopped by Leonard's bakery, a Honolulu institution. Finding just the right moment between busloads of international tourists, we ordered a half-dozen fresh malasadas, the Portuguese version of a donut. Not satisfied until we tried several flavors, we rated the plain, cinnamon, custard-filled, and haupia (coconut pudding)-filled versions all as Excellent.

Momma Do-Ho prepares for diligent donut research.

Guest Blogger Donut Excursion: The Donut Pub

2009-11-19T17:43:00.000-08:00

Guest blogger "Soho Do-Ho" travels to New York City to visit The Donut Pub

We're super excited to introduce guest blogger Soho Do-Ho, one of Do-Ho's favorite writers and partners-in-crime. We look forward to her next (alcohol-induced) post. Interested in guest blogging? We'd love to hear from you!

Some people take a keen interest in international affairs. Or the economy. Or the plight of the disadvantaged. I, too, have a very specific passion. I like to read, nay, memorize, articles about the best junk food in New York City. Whether it's the Times' round-up of truck vendors (OK, it turns out those are mostly making gourmet fare) or New York magazines discussion of pizza, or Chowhounds breakdown on hot dogs, I'm there. A favorite bar game? Give me an intersection and I can tell you the nearest "Best" fatty food. So when Do Ho first asked me to review a New York City donut establishment, I thought Finally. Get paid for my knowledge. Then she told me I'd be writing for free. OK, still it's an excuse to eat donuts. For the betterment of donut-seekers everywhere.

I'd already memorized an entire article on the best donuts in New York City. So imagine my delight when one boozy evening the hubs and I stumbled across The Donut Pub. With a name combining Donut and Pub, how could I have missed it before?

The joint was humble. Fluorescent lights buzzed above me as I perused the selection. No 'organic milled wheat' to be found or 'locally-sourced lingonberries.' No ironic-hipster servers, no gluten-free-donut-artisans clogging about. A couple guys waiting for you to order already. Donuts that perhaps sported locally-sourced lard. My kinda place.

I went for this jaunty number for its cheerful complexity: a glaze of white, marbled with chocolate, and instead of a hole, a useless hole, a generous glob of cherries immersed in cherry goop. Just what a four-margarita-buzz demanded. And it delivered. Every tooth, every internal organ that wasn't ready for this thing just had to buckle up. We enjoyed the ride.

In closing I'd like to offer a hats off to my kid, for being the purpose of my ordering Time Out Kids New York, publisher of the important source material. You're at Union Square and you need a donut? The Donut Pub, at 14th Street and 7th Avenue.

Do-Ho Meets Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton from "The Messenger" Movie

2009-11-04T23:04:00.000-08:00

What with Veteran's Day on the horizon, we thought it would be a good time to highlight a new movie, The Messenger, which focuses on the hardships of soldiers and their families. Do-Ho attended a Los Angeles premiere of the film and highly recommends that anyone who goes to see this movie bring a great big hankie. There is just no avoiding teardrops as you watch two Army soldiers (played by Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster) break the news of war deaths to next of kin. One of the Army wives is played beautifully by British actress Samantha Morton, who becomes romantically attached to her messenger.

At the premiere, Harrelson and Morton spoke of the preparation for their roles, which included visits to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Fans of Harrelson will see the irony in Harrelson, "a hippie from Hawaii" as he described himself, playing a lifelong soldier. "This movie puts a human face to war and the consequences of going to war," he said when asked why the script appealed to him.

Morton, meanwhile, was drawn to how the script addressed the wife's perspective, saying that she likes movies that "make people connect and feel."

We love you, Woody and Samantha! What a powerful film. Next time, we'll wear the waterproof mascara.

We love you, Veterans and Troops! Special shoutout to Do-Ho's friend Jason who just hopped a plane to Afghanistan. Come home safe.

Donut Excursion: Blair's Restaurant and Cafe + Free Dating Advice

2009-10-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Silver Lake, California to visit Blair's Restaurant and Cafe

Due to Team Do-Ho's recent dip in the Fantasy Football rankings, we've been doing a bit of crying in our beer. And what better way to throw back a beer than to mix it into some batter and fry it into a donut?

Some of the best donuts we've tasted, Belgian Abbey Ale Donuts with Warm Toffee Dipping Sauce are a specialty of the house at Blair's in Silver Lake, an area of Los Angeles described as eclectic, bohemian, and alternative. Silver Lake houses a considerable number of trendy eating establishments which makes it a great place to go on a date. And speaking of dating, Do-Ho has a little advice for those members of the male species who may be lacking in common sense.

Dating Etiquette by Do-Ho
Imagine if you will, a man and a woman on a date. We observe the following:

Man is on time. Check.
Man holds doors open for his date. Check.
Man finds way to restaurant without getting lost, and has called ahead to make a reservation. Bonus points.
Man lets date do at least 50 percent of the talking. Nice.
At conclusion of a delicious dinner, man suggests splitting a dessert. Hold the freaking phone.

Pardon moi, but we did not spend four hours shopping for an outfit and two hours in Hair and Makeup to eat half a dessert. Pony up for the whole enchilada or we can't be responsible for how the evening ends!

Do-Ho helps herself to the first of three Belgian Abbey Ale donuts with toffee dipping sauce.

We're starting to feel better already.

Guest Blogger Donut Excursion: Superior Donuts on Broadway

2009-10-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Guest blogger Maureen heads to Broadway to check out the play Steppenwolf's Superior Donuts

Our donut box runneth over! Another donut fan has entered the world of do-blogging. Last time we heard from So-Do-Ho, who lives on the East coast but flew all the way to the West coast to visit Top Pot Doughnuts. This time we did it in reverse: SoCal girl Maureen headed to New York City for a bit of East coast culture. Interested in guest blogging? No need to book a transcontinental flight: Go on a donut excursion in your own hometown. We'd love to hear from you!

Donuts Hit Broadway

Yes my friends, the great Donut has finally hit the Great White Way in Superior Donuts at the Music Box Theater on W. 45th Street. As my friend Katy and I were scouting the theater district in NYC about two weeks ago, a guy stopped us and with flyer in hand offered us half-price tickets (by the way we were offered two flyer deals in the big city; the second was for a French restaurant that was great--so keep a lookout!). We arrived at the packed theater with the paparazzi (ah--just like home) in full force as Jeff Goldblum and Liev Schreiber were also in attendance. Our seats turned out to be oh, shall we say in the upper, upper balcony (oh well, can’t expect much for a flyer and 50 bucks.)

Superior Donuts, written by Tracy Letts (August Osage County), stars Michael McKean (Lenny from Lavern and Shirley, Spinal Tap) as Arthur Przybyszewski the son of Polish and Russian immigrants, who took over the shop after his parents passed away. Author is a kind of hippie who dodged the draft, and owner of Superior Donuts, a small donut shop in Chicago’s uptown neighborhood. He is struggling with his business as he competes with Starbucks and his crazy Russian neighbor who wants to buy his store. Arthur has also struggled with his personal life: He has become quite lonely since the death of his wife and he has lost touch with his daughter. As the play progresses and the shop is vandalized, Arthur hires Franco played by Jon Michael Hill (whom I enjoyed), a young African American teen, and the two embark on quite the friendship.

I didn’t love this play--but it’s worth checking out. There are some monologues in the play that worked and some that didn’t, but the performances were good and there were some good laughs and hey, who doesn’t like donuts? A few were even featured in the scenery and Franco had to learn to fry the donuts just right. I think they should have had some donuts on hand as I was quiet hungry for some by the end of the show-- maybe it will tour at Dunkin or Krispy Kreme. Enjoy!

Guest Blogger Donut Excursion: Introducing So-Do-Ho!

2009-10-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

So-Do-Ho Debuts with a Visit to Top Pot Doughnuts in Seattle, Washington

Do-Ho is super excited to feature her first (of many, hopefully) guest blogs! Would you like to eat donuts as your (unpaid) job, and become très famous too? Contact us via the Comments section.

Dear Do-Ho,
I recently vacationed in Seattle, Washington. While I was there, I took the time to visit the doughnut shop hailed most by the locals: Top Pot Doughnuts. Since it was a delectable field trip, I thought I would take a moment to share my findings, in case you ever find yourself in Seattle with an empty belly, a hankering for doughnuts, and some spare time.

Top Pot is located under the shadow of the Monorail on 5th and Blanchard. When you enter Top Pot, there may be a small urge to catch up on your reading, since the walls are filled with bookshelves from ceiling to floor.

However, first I wanted sustenance. I perused the menu, which included doughnuts such as Sandcastle (chocolate doughnut with crushed peanuts) and Valley Girl Lemon. I was teased and won over by a Chocolate Feather Boa doughnut, but it was a hard choice over the Chocolate Double Trouble.

In true spirit of Do-Hos, the doughnut server pictured was more than willing to pose for photos while she served our donuts.

However, other Seattleites were not interested in their 15 minutes of fame, as the traditional Seattle barista was too busy making her coffee specialties to cease her activities for a photo and kept her head turned. Also, Kurt Cobain’s “daughter” with her mussed hair and flannel shirt, seeking to abstain from the paparazzi, hurried into the back when I explained my quest. (My theory is that Seattleites hide from the camera because the bright flash of light is foreign to their pale skin.)

Anyway, back to the main topic: The Doughnuts!!!! The targets of our search were big and dense, but not too sweet, which was a relief to me, as I was worried about a super sugar rush, which would make me even more hyper as compared to the laid-back locals. Although many of the flavors were traditional, they were well done and delicious. You were probably wondering about Seattle’s claim to fame--the coffee! It’s a sacrilege to say this around the locals, but I do not drink the brew. However my escort stated that Top Pot served the best of four coffees that he tried in the city.

Well, back home to Virginia now. If y’all are interested, I may be able to highlight a few of our local doughnut delicacies.

Take care,

Do-Ho of the South (AKA So-Do-Ho)

Do-Ho Meets Film Director John Woo

2009-10-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

We knew that soccer wasn't a recent invention, but Han Dynasty-old? We wouldn't have thought so either, until we attended the Los Angeles premiere of Red Cliff, the latest film by super-famous director John Woo.

American audiences know Woo's work from martial arts films as well as Broken Arrow, Face/Off and Mission Impossible II. Red Cliff tells the story of the battle at Red Cliff, a major event in Chinese history. The story involves many lessons on war tactics and strategy, Han Dynasty history, and a love story to boot.

Though Woo has enjoyed huge success in Asia, many people feel that Woo's U.S. movies have been sacrificed by the tight controls of Hollywood, and Woo himself has spoken of the difficulties of moviemaking here. Despite all that, at the premiere Woo said that he had learned so much about moviemaking in Hollywood that he felt it was time to take that knowledge back to China where there are so many young filmmakers who want to learn. While starting the project in China was easy ("I just walked into the office and said 'I want to make a movie called Red Cliff' and they said, Okay let's do it!"), the filming was incredibly challenging. Red Cliff is the most expensive film ever made in China. It took Woo more than 4-1/2 years to make, from screenwriting (two years), to production, to shooting (eight months), to post-production.

He explained that the most dangerous thing during shooting was the weather, and that a lot of the crew and cast got heat fever at one point. In the final scene of the movie which features an enormous blaze of fire, several stuntmen were injured.

We highly recommend Red Cliff to anyone who is a fan of soccer, John Woo, Chinese history, war movies, war strategy, war tactics, war, bow-and-arrows, crossbows, princesses, spies, trickery, horses and ships. We hope we haven't given too much away! But don't worry--the movie is 2-1/2 hours long so there is plenty that we haven't told you. As for the soccer? All we can say without spoiling the movie is that we would definitely be open to recruiting some of those players for Team Do-Ho.

We love you John Woo! Can't wait for your next movie. P.S. Can we interest you in a script about a team of donut-loving soccer heroes?

Do-Ho Meets Soccer Legend Brian Clough (Michael Sheen)

2009-10-07T23:34:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the Top One.

Ordinarily we like to review donut shops here, not movies. But what with Do-Ho's recent foray into the world of soccer, we decided that a movie about soccer (in British English, "a film about football") was an acceptable topic to include.

The Damned United is a "fictionalization" of Brian Clough's career as a soccer manager. Who is Brian Clough? Apparently, a cultural icon in England who was also arrogant, opinionated, and said truly outrageous things, such as the quote above. He is played in the movie by actor Michael Sheen, who is famous for his portrayals of Tony Blair in three different movies (The Deal, The Queen, and The Special Relationship), and as David Frost in the Broadway and Hollywood versions of Frost/Nixon.

Sheen's first memories of Clough were as "the guy that my dad used to shout at on the TV" when he was young. Clough was a soccer player whose career was cut short due to injury, and who felt like he was then "thrown on the scrapheap" by the world of professional soccer according to Sheen, speaking at a Los Angeles premiere of the movie. After having to settle for a second career as a soccer manager, Clough liked nothing better than to show the players that he was better than them. The Damned United is a tale of rivalry between him and another manager Don Revie, as well as a story of male friendship between Clough and his co-manager Peter Taylor.

Actor Sheen is no stranger to soccer himself, having made the cut by the team Arsenal when he was a youngster. However being from a small town in Wales, uprooting the family and moving to London was not in the cards, and Sheen went on to attend drama school.

Do-Ho recommends The Damned United to anyone who is a soccer fan or a Michael Sheen fan (Do-Ho would consider herself both, in recent years) but offers some words of caution: The accents can be difficult to understand at times, and if watching at a movie theater in America, be prepared for whispers of, "What did he say?" "I don't know". Also there are some difficult sporting terms, like "fifty-fifty", which Michael Sheen explained but is much too complicated to recapture here. This movie would have a far better chance of being a blockbuster if they remade it but changed the sport to football of the American variety...or maybe NASCAR. We would still vote for Michael Sheen in the leading role, however. We love you Michael--thanks for the photo!

And if you're wondering about Team Do-Ho's standings in the Fantasy Football League?
We wouldn't say Do-Ho is the best manager in the business. But she's in the Top Nine.

Donut Excursion: Fractured Prune - Virginia

2009-10-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Dulles, Virginia to visit Fractured Prune

You may recall our first excursion to a Fractured Prune location in Rockville, Maryland. This time we decided to travel to another locale to make sure that FP's donuts were just as good across state lines (all in the name of scientific pastry research). As you can see from the Black Forest variety above, the state of Virginia did not disappoint.

Below, witness the complimentary pairing of "Reese Cup" and "Peppermint Patty". Perfection!

Because FP donuts are dipped fresh out of the fryer into their respective glazes and toppings, a knife and fork are an approved eating maneuver. Friend Holly, below, dives into the "Myrna Medley" (chocolate, peanuts, and chocolate jimmies).

Our donut meister for the day was Dale, a Virginia native (pictured below). What fork in the road led him to this noble profession? Dale explained that after previous careers as a bricklayer and an auto mechanic, his aching back landed him in food service. We all know that people need houses to live in and cars to drive, but let us not forget that housing and transportation will always be meaningless without joyful foods like donuts. Good choice Dale!

Donut Excursion: 7-11

2009-10-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Fairfax, Virginia to visit 7-11

Many donut fans see a picture of our American President and see a symbol of patriotism. Others see the same photo and see a left-wing conspiracy. In the midst of her East coast junket of donut shops (the tail-end of her trip to meet with President Obama for the Soccer Summit), Do-Ho was approached by the young man shown here, who goes by the name of Dragon. He apparently took issue with what he saw as a one-sided portrayal of American politics on Do-Ho's blog. And he invited her on a guided donut excursion through the heart of Virginia.

Rather surprisingly, he insisted that his favorite pastries were sold at the local 7-11 convenience store.

Dragon and his sidekick, Darren, pose happily with their donuts.

Still happy, they prepare to indulge.

Do-Ho has not seen this type of donut-eating ritual before.

The donut excursion was topped off by attending a gun show for many hours, followed by a visit to a gun store. Here, Do-Ho tries out Dragon's second weapon purchase of the day. Dragon loves his guns as much as Do-Ho loves her donuts.

All in all, it was a fascinating way to share a love for donuts--an experience that Do-Ho will never ever forget. Thank you, Dragon and Darren! It seems that whether your politics fall to the left or the right, donuts provide a middle ground where everyone can be happy.

Soccer Summit in Washington as Furor Over Scandal Grows

2009-10-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 2, 2009)--Amid cries for the deportation of disgraced Team Badger, Do-Ho flew to Washington today in a valiant attempt to stave off an international incident. Do-Ho met with the President and First Lady at the White House, where she outlined a 10-point plan for improving relations between Britain and the U.S. The two nations, who had previously been allies, have had strained relations ever since the Badger scandal erupted. England's economy was hard-hit when American consumers began boycotting English muffins in protest of the soccer controversy.

At the conclusion of the summit, both parties seemed hopeful that a peaceful resolution could be worked out that would allow for the continuation of a multi-country Fantasy Football League competitive season.

Beckham, Badger: Brits Gone Bad

2009-10-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (October 1, 2009)--The world of Fantasy Football was rocked by scandal this week when an anonymous tipster contacted FFL officials regarding Team Badger, which recently relocated its home office from England to Los Angeles. Although British soccer personalities have traditionally been granted a warm reception by the American public, the Beckham family is proof that support can turn on a dime. Now that it appears Team Badger is in blatant violation of FFL bylaws (which dictate that no more than three players from the same real-life team can play on a single FFL team), the team's standing in America is in serious jeopardy.

Sales of Team Badger t-shirts have plummeted, and Tuesday night's crowd at the Rose Bowl was blanketed with signs showing a cartoon badger crossed out and replaced with a skunk. "Go back to England Beckham and Badger" read one banner, while another declared "You're all dirty cheats--P.S. You talk funny."

Team Do-Ho put out a statement that the organization is "shocked and saddened" by the improprieties.

Former Badger singing partner Miley Cyrus tweeted, "I feel like Taylor Swift being blindsided by Kanye West."

While President Obama called for tolerance, a viral video was widely circulated showing the Commander-in-Chief shaking his head and muttering, "What a jackass."

Donuts, Go Nuts! Team Do-Ho Locks in at Number Ten

2009-09-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

The rumors are true...Team Do-Ho is back in the big leagues: the crème de la crème Top Ten of the Fantasy Football League. In celebration, we sifted through our CD collection in search of a fight song (which, if all goes well, could also be used as a victory song--just sayin'). We thought this tune was completely appropriate, particularly because it just so happens to be the childhood lullaby sung by Momma Do-Ho to Do-Ho herself when she was just a little donette. Momma Do-Ho really knows how to strum the ukelele. Go Team Do-Ho! Donuts, Go Nuts!

Donut Excursion: Beach Comber Cafe

2009-09-27T01:03:00.001-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Malibu, California to visit Beach Comber Cafe

Initially, Saturday seemed like a not-so-good day for a donut excursion. An extensive search of Beverly Hills ended in disappointment for Do-Ho and friend. However, Do-Ho was able to pick herself up off the floor and try it all over again that very evening. Her motivation? The crashing surf of Malibu, the night ocean breeze, and the Beach Comber Cafe's infamous "Donut Hole Bread Pudding."

As a formality, Do-Ho and friend Margaret (above) ordered dinner first. The swordfish and short ribs were all well and good, but an obvious distraction was the Pièce de résistance. When, oh when would the waitress come back and clear the dinner plates away so that the real action could begin? Perhaps we neglected to mention that the outdoor seating at the Beach Comber is absolutely stunning--as close to sitting next to the crashing waves as one can possibly be without needing a surfboard, with the twinkly lights of LA dotting the coastline and the moon peeking through a night fog. Whatever. At last, we harkened the arrival of Donut Hole Bread Pudding, topped with vanilla custard ice cream and a perky sprig of mint. It was worth the wait! We wholeheartedly recommend this dish as a classy way to enjoy donuts during a fancy night out. But just between us, Do-Ho likes the idea of skipping dinner and going right to dessert next time.

Donut Excursion: Beverly Hills -- No Donuts Found, Jessica Alba Sighting

2009-09-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

It's easy to think that people in Beverly Hills have it all. But today's failed donut excursion to visit Fritelli's Doughnuts revealed just the opposite! Not only is Fritelli's now a vacant storefront, but even two hours of donut detective work with friend Michelle revealed not a single donut establishment within walking distance of Rodeo Drive. The story just gets worse...

We walked up to Darren, below, and asked him for help in our quest. A flicker of pain crossed his face. "I gave up donuts," he explained. "I lost 40 pounds." Do-Ho never likes to judge, but one wonders, Is a lifetime of sacrifice really worth a few pants sizes? As we walked away, he muttered softly, "I'm going to have to tell myself the rest of the day, 'No donuts. No donuts.'"

Darren pointed us in the direction of Whole Foods down the street, so off we went. Unfortunately when we got to the bakery there, we were told by both fellows below that they had no donuts.
They suggested we try Beverly Hills Market and Deli. When we arrived, to our horror we found nothing but packaged donuts gathering dust. Here is Michelle, forcing a smile for the camera but in reality close to fainting from hunger and near tears from disappointment.
Next, we saw Jessica Alba crossing the street. Look how thin she is! The poor girl needs some donuts.
Here she is again, with her husband Cash Warren (what a cutie patootie!) up ahead carrying their baby Honor (far right). And by the way, whoever said actresses can't eat frozen yogurt and cross the street at the same time? As you can see, she's doing an outstanding job. We love you Jessica! We also love that you let your hubby tend to the rugrat while you enjoy your fro-yo. A girl has to have priorities!

We thought we had struck gold when we spotted a sign that said "Crumbs Bake Shop". But inside, a friendly employee named Kris said that no, despite the deceptive name there were no donuts for sale at Crumbs. He tried to force us to buy cupcakes instead, which we vehemently opposed. However when sweet treats with names like "Red Velvet", ""Apple Cobbler", "Cosmo" and "Cappuccino" were dangled in front of our pinched and starving faces, we were powerless to resist.
With a box of cupcakes in hand to eat later, we finally called an official end to the Beverly Hills donut excursion and ordered up a hearty breakfast at Jack and Jill's (which by the way, became famous for its banana cream pudding after Jessica Alba was quoted in a magazine saying how much she loved it).
Here is Michelle digging her teeth into a massive omelet concoction. Sometimes, a bump in the road can end on a positive note.
But let us never forget the poor folk of Beverly Hills, California who live a donutless existence. It just goes to show that you can have a pile of money in the bank and still not be wealthy.

Team Do-Ho Improves to 11th

2009-09-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

After some major adjustments inside the organization, FFL's Team Do-Ho scrambled back into 11th place in the league, just a hair shy of its previous Top Ten position. The team had been plagued by an outbreak of Lardass Disease, but managed to return to a healthier position by the weekend. One possible exception was D. Drogba who scored once but then seemed to have trouble running on the field and had to be carried home. Word on the street is that his future with the team is on shaky grounds anyway, having been caught in violation of the no-donut, no-churro policy.

"We did some random locker checks and physical exams," said a team source. "Drogba had a half-dozen donuts in his gym bag, some kolaches in his lunchbox, and a churro stuck behind one ear."

The Team Do-Ho front office has been reviewing the matter and said it will make a decision on Drogba's status in the coming weeks.

Donut Excursion: Bob's Coffee and Doughnuts

2009-09-20T15:31:00.001-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Los Angeles, California to visit Bob's Coffee and Doughnuts

The Los Angeles Farmer's Market is a 75-year old institution that one really must not miss during a tour of Southern California. The open-air, dynamic setting houses a plethora of shops and foodstands, one of the most popular being Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts.

Kids love the dinosaur donuts...

and big kids love the two-hands required "Texas donut" (just be sure to bring a friend to share it with, or you may find yourself the subject of unsolicited commentary by judgmental tourists).

The Farmer's Market is full of history: It's said that Walt Disney designed Disneyland while sitting at a table here, and that James Dean ate breakfast here on the day he died in a tragic car crash in 1955. Is it possible his last meal was a "Giant" Texas donut?

News from the DonutWire

2009-09-18T19:39:00.001-07:00

Dunkin' Donuts employee saves the day

We came across an interesting news item from Syracuse, New York. It seems that a female employee of Dunkin' Donuts was walking down the street with cash receipts from the store when she was accosted in broad daylight! Luckily, our quick-thinking heroine used a lit cigarette as a weapon to force the bad guy to drop the loot. Everyone knows you keep your hands off the kolaches and you don't touch the donut dough!

Donut Excursion: Kolache Factory

2009-09-17T05:51:00.001-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Denver, Colorado to visit Kolache Factory

Just when you think you've researched the heck out of donuts and donut-like foods from every corner of the world, you discover a new donut cousin that by all means must be tasted and reported on. Originally hailing from Eastern Europe, the kolache is a delightfully plump and round, slightly sweet doughball that can only be found in a few scattered locales in the USA. Do-Ho traveled to Denver, Colorado to sample kolaches at Kolache Factory, and was served with a smile by employee Pat (pictured above).

Do-Ho was obligated to start with the special flavor of the day, Caramel Apple, and from there moved on to the Poppy Seed kolache. Both were deemed worthy of the trek out from Los Angeles.
In addition to its Denver store Kolache Factory's locations are almost exclusively limited to the state of Texas. It's probably no mistake that American kolaches are found in the Wild West where six-shooters are as common as dirt. Because if you found yourself looking down the wrong end of a revolver, you'd probably take it seriously when someone said, "Hey! Get your hands off my kolaches!"

Team Do-Ho Hit By Mystery Disease: Falls Back to 22nd

2009-09-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Team Do-Ho players are battling a mysterious illness that has resulted in permanent deactivation of one player and a steep drop in the team's Fantasy Football League ranking. Early indicators point to possible contraction of so-called "lardass disease" (LAD), symptoms of which include weight gain, sluggishness and delayed reaction time on the field. Previously ranked number ten, Team Do-Ho has fallen to 22nd in the league. As an emergency measure, the team's manager has instituted a no-donut, no-churro policy.

Items For Sale

2009-09-15T22:14:00.000-07:00

No, you didn't accidentally stumble upon craigslist. A friend is moving countries (because no, they haven't yet figured out how to build a fence that keeps badgers out of America) so we are helping out by advertising a few items he has yet to unload.

1. Aluminum ladder ("Peeping Tom" model--gently used)
2. KEF 1000 series surround sound speakers
3. Karaoke machine--Thrown in for free, Miley Cyrus's greatest hit (duet, see below)

(Miley) I hopped off the plane at LAX
with a dream and my cardigan
welcome to the land of fame excess (whoa),
am I gonna fit in?

Jumped in the cab,
Here I am for the first time
Look to the right and I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous

(Badger) My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda homesick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous,
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio
and a Britney song was on
and a Britney song was on
and a Britney song was on

(Miley and Badger) So I put my hands up
They’re playing my song,
And the butterflies fly away
Noddin’ my head like yeah
Movin' my hips like yeah
I got my hands up,
They’re playin my song
I know I'm gonna be ok
Yeah, It's a party in the USA
Yeah, It's a party in the USA

Team Do-Ho Issues Statement on Djourou

2009-09-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

Team Do-Ho Statement on Djourou
LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2009)--The Team Do-Ho Fantasy Football League organization announced today that J. Djourou has been released after a failed physical examination.

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Donut Excursion: Xooro

2009-09-06T22:30:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Santa Monica, California to visit Xooro

It has come to our attention that a certain number of players on Team Do-Ho are native Spanish speakers, who presumably grew up breakfasting on a variation of the donut called a "churro." Delicious and portable though they may be, we here at Team Do-Ho world headquarters tend to worry about the artery-clogging oils and high cholesterol contained in the native churro. At the same time, it seems heartless and a bit gauche to go around ripping churros out of the hands of the very players who helped power us into the Top Ten of the Fantasy Football League. Fortunately, we found an excellent solution.

The city of Santa Monica in California is well-known for what is called "California cuisine"--an innovative fusion of cooking from around the world, usually with a healthful yet artistic twist. We recently discovered Xooro (pronounced like "sure-oh"), and "sure-oh" enough, this restaurant serves something that looks like a churro but prettier, and tons healthier. We were delighted to find that these unique treats are made with rice bran oil, and are not nearly as greasy as the churro we're familiar with.

Even though it was 9:00 at night, Do-Ho was lucky to have two dear friends volunteer to go along on an impromptu donut excursion to Xooro. Admittedly, friend Karen misheard "churro" as "gyro" and showed up without having eaten dinner. Once we cleared up the misunderstanding however, she decided then and there that she was okay having churros as her dinner. What a trooper!

And oh yeah...not a pink box in sight.

Do Your Donuts Come in a Pink Box?

2009-09-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

It was just the other day that Do-Ho referred to the overwhelming lure of the "pink donut box." Well amazingly, in the midst of doing some highly academic research on the subject of donutry, your devoted pastry scholar found an interesting tidbit: Pink donut boxes are not universal. They are, however, extremely international. According to one study, it was our friends the Cambodians who imported this tradition into Los Angeles in the 1970's. But east of here? Not the ordinary occurrence that one would have thought. That is about to change, however. Apparently, they are about to start serving up donuts in pink boxes all the way over in St. Louis, where a Cambodian shop owner moved recently with a trailer full of boxes. All great trends kick off in California!

Incidentally, did you know that California is the capital of donuts? We here in the Golden State nibble on 750 million of them each year! A statistic to be proud of. Do-Ho feels a rap song coming on.

Team Do-Ho Rockets to Number Ten

2009-08-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

As Do-Ho reaches the rank of Perfect Ten in her Fantasy Football League, she is reminded that there are two things Californians do well: Donuts and Soccer. Here's a little ode to both, penned by friends of Do-Ho in a moment of quiet reflection:

uh, yeah, uh, Long Beach in tha house,
uh yeah Oaktown, Oakland definitely in tha house hahaha
Frisco, Frisco
(Tupac) hey, you know LA is up in this
(Dre) Pasadena, where you at
yeah, Inglewood, Inglewood always up to no good
(Tupac) even Hollywood tryin to get a piece baby
(Dre) Sacramento, Sacramento where ya at? yeah
(Tupac) Throw it up y'all, throw it up, Throw it up
Let's show these fools how we do this on that west side
Cause you and I know it's tha best side
(Dre) yeah, That's right
west coast, west coast
uh, California Love
California Love

(Who out there does NOT think this is a fabulous theme song for Team Do-Ho??!)

Donut Excursion: Spudnuts

2009-08-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho Travels to Los Angeles, California to visit Spudnuts

Sometimes, when you've had a tough week and you react by downing a chocolate molten lava cake on Friday night, you wonder whether a donut excursion the next morning is such a good idea. But then you think about all the Do-Ho followers who would otherwise miss out on crucial information related to donut establishments, and you soldier on.

Do-Ho and friend Laura (pictured) ventured up the 405 freeway this morning to a Spudnuts franchise on Venice Boulevard. The beauty of Spudnuts donuts is that they are made from potatoes, which presumably makes them much healthier than the other kind of donut. After all, potatoes are organic, they grow in the ground, and we use them to make good-for-you dishes like mashed potatoes, french fries and...hmmm. Well the nutritional information wasn't posted anywhere inside the shop, but Do-Ho made sure to ask the manager whether spudnuts contained calories. He responded quite seriously that they were low-fat and sugar-free. And then he laughed and suggested that we "just walk a few blocks afterwards."

A post-donut walk was not in the cards because quite frankly, it wasn't that kind of neighborhood. But we did enjoy a potato donut (or two) and agreed that we couldn't taste the difference between spudnuts and the other kind. So if your sweetie is getting a little thick around the middle, you might want to slip a couple of spudnuts his or her way--they'll be none the wiser.

You may be wondering about this terrible week of Do-Ho's. Well among other things, you probably noticed we had to bid farewell to a couple of Fantasy Football League players the other day. We wouldn't want to be overly critical, but those two guys were just not being team players and that is not okay. So without further ado, we asked them to turn in their cleats and sent them on their way. That's how we roll at Team Do-Ho.

Can't wait for the results from this weekend's games! Go Team Do-Ho!!!

Team Do-Ho Issues Statement on Dos Santos, Dossena

2009-08-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

Team Do-Ho Statement on Dos Santos, Dossena
LOS ANGELES (August 27, 2009)—The Team Do-Ho Fantasy Football League organization announced today that G. Dos Santos has left Team Do-Ho to pursue other options. In addition, A. Dossena has also departed Team Do-Ho in order to spend more time with his family.

###

The Elephant (and the Badger) in the Bathtub

2009-08-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

As Team Do-Ho rockets even further to the top of the Fantasy Football League rankings, Team Badger seems to be going nowhere fast. Do-Ho can't help but feel a bit awkward over her friend's misfortune and had been avoiding the topic altogether but finally decided that the issue needed to be addressed. Here's a brief reenactment:

Do-Ho: Um Badger? Your team is doing horribly.

Badger (we can't see him because he lives in England, but one imagines him puttering in a garden somewhere): Early days, early days.

Do-Ho: Well actually, it's not. We've been at this for weeks now, and your team just gets worse all the time. Aren't you worried?

Badger (at this point, carefully pruning some rose bushes): My dear Do-Ho, it's a marathon--not a sprint.

Do-Ho: Either way, you're practically in last place! Don't you think you should do something?

Badger (at this point, wearing a smoking jacket and reclining on the divan): Not to worry. Am doing some fine tuning. Tweaking, as it were. Cheerio.

Do-Ho: Okaaaaaaayyy...

There was an interesting article on the Internet (and this has absolutely nothing to do with Badger's team standings) about British male passengers aboard the Titanic. Apparently, their unflappability helped lead to their demise. After helping women and children into the lifeboats, they then

"went to the back of the boat to have a cigar, to stand around and be chummy, while basically the boat went down".

Just an interesting note for you history buffs.

Do-Ho Enters the Big Leagues of Soccer: Number 34 With a Bullet

2009-08-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

All that training by members of Team Do-Ho has paid off--as of last night's results we were ranked 34 out of 78 teams in the Fantasy Football League. Our boys are looking good! Except for a couple of them, who don't seem to be pulling their weight. And after all, it's all about the weight! Do-Ho not only has a brighter outlook on life these days, but as her Fantasy Football team (that's soccer to us Yanks) moves up through the ranks, she actually feels more fit! It can't be her imagination that the menfolk are looking at her differently since she started actively playing the sport of following soccer.

One has to feel a bit sorry for friend Badger, whose FFL team seems to be in a downward spiral. And if he weren't all the way over in England Do-Ho would fly to his side with a box of yummy donuts to cheer him up. I hear that Posh Spice does this for Beckham all the time since they moved here and he lost his popularity with LA fans. I think I saw her in Krispy Kreme the other day, hiding behind her big glasses. We know it was you, Victoria! But we love that you stand by your man. Just a word to the wise: The story that donut holes don't have calories is actually an urban legend. Just thought you should know before your jeans get too tight.

Donut Excursion: Beach City Baked Donuts

2009-08-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Redondo Beach, California to visit Beach City Baked Donuts

As you may have heard, Do-Ho recently launched a campaign called Promoting Healthy Living in Conjunction with the Donut Lifestyle. There are multiple facets of this initiative, including (1) Eating Less; (2) Exercising More; and (3) Other Options. We decided that this would be a perfect time to visit the newly opened Beach City Baked Donuts on Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach, California, which boasts a healthier version than the more traditional deep-fried pastry.

We could not have been more delighted to meet the two owners of BCBD Koji and Gina, who graciously explained the healthy aspects of their donuts and provided samples of several interesting varieties.

The shop itself was reminiscent of a Japanese pastry shop, with menu items attractively displayed behind the counter.

The crowd favorite was the cinnamon sugar coating, which combined with the powdery soft but dense donut, called to mind a cinnamon bundt cake. For the more adventurous types, BCBD offers a golden soy donut as well as a green tea powder donut.

It was so hard to choose, Do-Ho had to have one of each. But remember, on a day-to-day basis, one should always indulge in moderation. Do as Do-Ho says, not as Do-Ho does…

As they say in Japan when leaving a restaurant:

ごちそうさまでした (Thanks for the treats!)

Playing by the Rules is Harder than You Think

2009-08-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well apparently, Drogba and Drogbert are the same person. How a person completely new to the world of soccer is supposed to know that is beyond comprehension. This and other details would have been nice to know before the Fantasy Football season started, but never mind. Tattoos can always be removed, right?

All we can say is that when a computer spreadsheet was circulated among league members at the start of the season, friend Badger failed to point out that it had multiple tabs, thereby leading to a considerable amount of unnecessary confusion for Team Do-Ho. Upon opening these other mystery tabs, one finds a host of information that almost certainly could have been used to put our team in the number one position. Is a conspiracy at hand?

And while we're on conspiracy theories, Do-Ho was more than a little flabbergasted to read this MSN article about an anti-donut "doctor". It seems that this crazy man has been running around Florida posting signs that say mean things about great food, e.g. "Hamburger Spare Tire"; "French Fries Thunder Thighs", and (gasp) "America Dies on Dunkin'". Well it should come as no surprise to you that this gentleman was subsequently fired from his job as head of the county health department. After all, that's no way to behave. It is true (and even Do-Ho can attest to this) that an excess of certain treats can add a few extra pounds, but there are options. For example, one can counteract the weight gain by playing a sport, such as Fantasy Football. One would think this doctor fellow would be better received if he were to encourage people to stay healthy by having fun. End of editorial.

Go Defoe! Go Drogba/Drogbert! Go Dunkin'!

Do-Ho (heart) Defoe

2009-08-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

Go Defoe! Go Drogba! Go Drogbert!

Wait--we interrupt this message to share a snapshot of the amazing churros at Mucho, where Do-Ho and Big-Bro Do-Ho, who came to town unexpectedly, had dinner last night.

What better way to catch up on family news than over a shared plate of warm fresh churros (a close Mexican cousin of the donut)? Especially lovely when dipped in warm bitter chocolate or caramel dipping sauce! These little darlings are a must-have the next time you find yourself in Manhattan Beach, California.

So where were we? Oh yes--we've promised updates on the world of soccer, haven't we? Luckily there is good news to be shared by all. It seems that one fellow named Drogba, and another named Defoe have done quite well for Team Do-Ho and we would like to congratulate them for their efforts! Defoe scored three points today, which may seem kind of low but we're told is actually quite impressive. It's all about the theory of relativity: three is a number that can seem high (as in soccer), or low (as in, when there is a box of a dozen donuts sitting on the counter and you enjoy three of them, but charitably leave the rest for others).

As for Fantasy Football League standings, despite Team Do-Ho's sensational results, Do-Ho's friend Badger was quick to comment, "It's early days." As he puts it, FFL is a marathon not a sprint, so one shouldn't boast. Which is exactly what one would expect to hear from a manager whose team ranks approximately 76th out of 78 teams in our league. Just sayin'. Do-Ho salutes ALL the teams...even the ones that have a harder time scoring than a badger at a beauty pageant.

Must run! Check back often for the latest on Team Do-Ho!

After Brief Hiatus, Do-Ho Turns to the World of Soccer

2009-08-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

Donut Taste Good readers may have noticed that Do-Ho took a brief respite from the limelight for the past several weeks. What could possibly have caused this unusual break from routine? Well it seems that as with any passion, partaking in excess can have deleterious effects over the long run.

Apparently, donuts may cause weight gain.

There was an episode...a dressing room, some skinny jeans, a zipper that malfunctioned, tears. One doesn't really need to go into detail. In the end it became clear that something had to be done. After thoroughly researching the situation, Do-Ho came up with two possible options for regaining control of her waistline. Option 1: Eat less. Option 2: Exercise more.

During the month of July, Do-Ho pursued Option 1 with fervor. Saturday morning donut runs were all but canceled, the tempting pink donut box in the office break room was ignored, and even a return trip to Portland was enjoyed without a visit to the famous Voo-Doo Donuts (thought admittedly, the line of customers circling the block was a factor--it seems every Portland tourist must have read DTG's blog from last December).

July was an interesting experiment in the human will, but it never was very practical, was it? After all, giving up donuts altogether would seem to spell an end to Do-Ho's illustrious career as America's Greatest Pastry Researcher. Which leaves us with Option 2.

Never a HUGE fan of exercise, Do-Ho thought long and hard as to how she could up her calorie burn rate. And funnily enough, it was just then that friend Badger invited her to join his football team. Perfect! There probably could not be a more strenuous workout than running up and down a field 100 yards long, cutting left and right to avoid tackles, and leaping high into the air to catch the occasional Hail Mary. Do-Ho could picture the pounds melting away before midseason, and wondered whether she'd have to exchange her uniform for a smaller size at some point.

Turns out there was a bit of a mixup in that Badger (being from England) said "football" when in fact he meant "soccer". And apparently, when someone says "Fantasy Football" you don't actually get a uniform. Instead you get a very long list of names with numbers next to them, and you are supposed to choose a bunch of them for your team. Then you keep your list and during the season while those fellows are playing soccer for you, someone keeps track of how they all did. It's a bit complicated.

Never one to turn down a challenge, Do-Ho created a full line of players by scientific method: Only players with names derived from "Do" or "Ho" or some derivation thereof were selected. The final detail was to think up a team name. And voila, Team Do-Ho entered the world of competitive sports.

Stay tuned for updates on Team Do-Ho.

Go Team! Burn those calories!

It's National Donut Month!

2009-06-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, that may be a wee bit overstated. But it WAS National Donut Day on Friday June 5, and with such an important occasion Do-Ho decided there was no reason to discontinue celebrating over the weekend, and into the next week, and well...you get it. Posted below are a few snapshots from the restaurant Grace, which takes the modest breakfast pastry to a sophisticated level with its Doughnut Tasting Menu, served in the evenings and paired with wine if desired. Pistachio donut, anyone? Warm salted caramel donut? If "being seen" at a swank LA restaurant is more your style than hanging out at the local donut shop on the corner or you just want a break in your routine, get gussied up and sashay in to Grace's. Don't forget to make a reservation!

Donut Excursion: Cafe Du Monde

2009-05-31T09:04:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to New Orleans, Louisiana to visit Cafe Du Monde

If there's anything better than a donut shop, it's a donut shop that stays open 24 hours--especially when it serves up piping hot, powdered sugar-blanketed, French-style donuts called beignets. These square-shaped treats are served in sets of three along with Cafe Du Monde's famous dark-roasted coffee.

Do-Ho's recent New Orleans donut excursion was enhanced by visits to other famous landmarks and events including the world-famous Jazzfest and a stroll down Bourbon Street. But nothing could compare to stopping by Cafe Du Monde and finding it filled with a lively crowd enjoying beignets at 3 a.m. Perhaps they brew their coffee so strong because they want people to stay awake long enough to order a second plate!

Dollars to Donuts This Pup is Going Somewhere

2009-05-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

What do you get the dog who has everything?

When Do-Ho was invited to celebrate the birthday of her good friend and fellow blogger Chase, the excitement was nearly overtaken by the stress of finding the perfect birthday gift. We're talking about a four-legged Internet star whose earnings have already passed the three-figure mark on her blog about herself and her owner Shauna (http://www.playchase.blogspot.com/). We don't want to say that Chase's fame has gone to her head, but her apartment walls are adorned with photos of herself, including an Andy Warhol-style silkscreen portrait. Do-Ho was in a Manhattan Beach bar with Chase's owner one night when a gentleman approached her and said, "I read Chase's blog." Wow!

Luckily, a stop at Three Dog Bakery in Santa Monica, California was the perfect solution. The fuzzy squeaky donut (above) was well received by the guest of honor, and she also graciously accepted the real edible version without any complaints that the calorie-laden treat was going to ruin her figure.

Many happy returns, Chase! We look forward to watching your career develop. What's next--a reality show? A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? The sky's the limit, my friend.

Nostalgia Cupcakes

2009-04-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Not all Donut Excursions turn out like planned, but that's not to say they aren't successful! Do-Ho recently traveled to Annapolis, Maryland where she found a disappointing lack of donut shops. However after a nonetheless enjoyable morning meandering along the historic streets of downtown, Do-Ho was intrigued to see a sign reading "Nostalgia Cupcakes." Never one to discriminate against sweet baked goods of the non-donut variety, we entered the premises and were instantly welcomed by Sharon White, the friendly owner of Nostalgia.

The variety of scrumptious and eye-pleasing cupcakes was mind-boggling, and it was with much self-restraint that Do-Ho narrowed it down to just one purchase: the coconut cupcake. In the middle of the generously frosted fresh coconut concoction, we discovered a yummy pineapple filling! Now that's a pina colada you can throw back even if it's not quite happy hour.

Next time you travel to Annapolis, I recommend the following itinerary:
1. Wake up.
2. Go to Nostalgia Cupcakes and have a cupcake.
3. Tour the Naval Academy.
4. Have some crabcakes at a historic tavern.
5. Go back to Nostalgia Cupcakes and have another cupcake.
6. Take a nap.
7. Repeat.

Donut Excursion: Dunkin' Donuts

2009-04-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to Washington, DC to visit Dunkin' Donuts

April in our nation's capital is always delightful because it's the only time of year when hundreds of cherry trees are in full bloom all around the famous monuments. Everywhere you look, cherry blossoms! But walking around with all the (other) tourists sure can work up an appetite...Luckily, donuts are also plentiful and ALWAYS in season. The best part about those folks at Dunkin' Donuts is that they plant themselves wherever they think you might be when you need a little gas in your tank. Indeed, at the location we visited below, you can refuel both yourself and your vehicle with one stop!

Here's my friend Michelle with our donuts and coffee. Will that be caffeinated or unleaded?

Spectacular Jelly Doughnut Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2009-04-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho had two super important deadlines this week: Tax Day, and the Grilled Cheese Pageant. Which do you think was more fun? (Hint: The less-fun deadline involved a lot of math and a check to Uncle Sam.)

The Grilled Cheese Pageant is kind of unique in that the contestants are basically sandwiches. I say "basically" because as you know, most of the best foods come from the donut family. Hence, Do-Ho's original entry in the pageant was Spectacular Jelly Doughnut Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Let's face it--anytime you see "jelly doughnut" nestled in a sentence you know someone's gonna end up happy.

Spectacular Jelly Doughnut Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (inventor: Do-Ho)

1 loaf sweet Hawaiian bread

1 Philadelphia cream cheese brick, cut into slices

1 jar raspberry preserves

Powdered sugar

Spread a thick goopy layer of raspberry preserves on one piece of bread. Lay down some slices of cream cheese on top of the preserves until the surface is covered. Top with second piece of bread. Take out another piece of bread, and keep going until you have made a sandwich for everyone in your house. Cook sandwiches in a panini press or grill them in the toaster oven until slightly browned. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.

Well I don't know if we'll bring home the tiara, but it sure was fun participating! Thanks to Panini Kathy (http://www.paninihappy.com/) for holding the pageant. We've already got an idea for next year!

Mama Do-Ho and the Peeps

2009-04-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Marshmallow Peeps Day (a.k.a. Easter) everyone! Today we're on a temporary donut hiatus while we pay homage to the most popular nonchocolate Easter candy in the United States for more than a decade. Talk about some street cred!

People are crazy about their Peeps, and the Do-Ho clan is no exception. One year we traveled to Washington D.C. to visit a Peeps exhibit. Here is a photo of Mama Do-Ho with Marilyn "Peep" Monroe, in the movie classic Peeps Are a Girl's Best Friend.

Hold onto your chicks--there is a Creepy Peep lurking!

Getting around Washington D.C. on the Metro subway system can get you smooshed. Step back to allow others to exit!

We all overindulge a little during holidays, but peep-o-suction is not the answer.

Marie Antoinette loved the big-hair look.

Parental advisory: Peeps cannot handle their alcohol, especially during Mardi Gras [censored]

We all know Peeps are divine, but who knew they could sing and dance too?

Here's a little Peeps trivia:

It takes six minutes to make one Peeps chick.
Original Peeps have a shelf life of two years.
Peeps have zero fat grams and are gluten-free.

Happy Easter to you and your peeps.

They Eat Donuts in South Africa, Don't They?

2009-03-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well yes. Yes they do. Do-Ho successfully found the international breakfast treat at a local supermarket in Cape Town.

But wait! Just when you think a donut can't be improved any more, you discover something like the koeksister, below, a tasty South African treat. This syrup-soaked fritter is worth trying for those who think a cake donut is too dry or a raised donut too light.

Craving pancakes with syrup but no time for a sit-down breakfast? Grab a koeksister instead!

Dear Krispy Kreme, thanks for the donut

2009-01-25T12:05:00.000-08:00

We almost thought it was too good to be true, but when my friend Jen and I walked into the Santa Monica Krispy Kreme last Tuesday night, a nice lady named Sherry immediately informed us of our right as Americans to receive one free donut on January 20.

I can hardly wait until the next Presidential inauguration!

Free donuts? I love this country

2009-01-19T17:43:00.001-08:00

A wise person once said that donuts and politics make great bedfellows. I think it was Benjamin Franklin, but I'll have to research that.

January 20 will go down in history for many reasons, not the least of which is that Krispy Kreme is offering a free donut to every person! I was afraid this might be another hoax, but it's right there on the KK website.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ Inauguration Day promotion on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, is offering one, free doughnut of a customer’s choice at participating Krispy Kreme locations nationwide. No purchase is necessary. The promotion allows customers to commemorate Inauguration Day by selecting one free doughnut of any variety at local participating stores. On Election Day, November 4, 2008, Krispy Kreme ran a promotion that provided customers with one free star-shaped doughnut at stores nationwide. The Inauguration Day promotion is not about any social or political issue.

Set your alarm, set your email to "Out of Office reply", do whatever you need to do but make haste to a Krispy Kreme near you. What a great day for America!

They Eat Donuts in Fiji, Don't They?

2009-01-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Well no. No they don't.
At least not that we could find on the tiny island we called home for seven donutless days. To make matters worse, Do-Ho was stricken with food poisoning on New Year’s Eve!

Never mind. With one, and only one, New Year’s resolution (Eat more donuts) in mind, Do-Ho got the heck out of Dodge and returned to her homeland. Yesterday she was spotted at her secret local donut shop catching up on things with friend Kristin. Here is Kristin talking about Oliver, her sister’s new puppy. Every story goes better with a donut!

Donut Excursion: Voodoo Donuts

2008-12-07T19:23:00.001-08:00

Do-Ho travels to Portland, Oregon to visit Voodoo Donuts

When is a donut shop not like any other?

1. The exterior looks like the front of an underground nightclub.

2. The menu is largely unintelligible.

3. The donuts are covered with anything from pretzels to bacon to Froot Loops.

Do-Ho with "Froot Loops"

"Dirty Snowball"

4. Menu items revolve around themes of sex or the occult.

Raspberry-filled "Voodoo Doll Doughnut"

Here's my friend Kim holding a pentagram donut. No, she's not a Wiccan.

Not pictured (you'll have to go to the website): Triple Chocolate Penetration, Cock-n-Balls, and a very interesting annual contest involving hanging donuts from body parts.

Shoot! Swedish Chef makes donuts

2008-11-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

In honor of Mama Do-Ho's birthday and the Celebration of the Pilgrims, here is a clip of the Swedish Chef, one of my mom's cooking idols. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Just Say NO to Faux Donuts

2008-11-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

In the English language (or at least the dialect spoken in the beach towns of Los Angeles), the following word stems may be attached to the suffix -licious:

De -licious
Fabu -licious
Booty -licious
Ferga -licious

The following, on the other hand, may not be attached:

Nutri -licious

The word "nutrilicious" may not be used, particularly when describing donuts. Other words that do not belong near donuts:

Good for You!
Egg Free
Dairy Free
No Hydrogenated Oils
Healthy
Vegan
All Natural
Cholesterol Free

So if you happen to be in Whole Foods and see a package of Nutrilicious Donut Holes with all of the above descriptors on the label...
Just say No.

Donut Excursion: Miss Donuts

2008-11-17T18:55:00.000-08:00

Do-Ho travels to Falls Church, Virginia to visit Miss Donuts

Don't judge a book by its cover. Inside this unassuming storefront, a slew of local Virginians indulge in hearty, handmade donuts that are the antithesis of Krispy Kreme cutouts. The rough-hewn cake donuts with haphazardly placed-icing are dropped into a brown paper bag and handed over by Maritza, below, from El Salvador, and her hard-working colleagues.

Come for the donuts (apple crisp cake and sour cream cake are highlights), and stay for the people watching! Miss Donuts hosts a melting pot of clientele--every color and race seemed to be represented during Do-Ho's short Sunday morning visit, and conversation in Spanish is about as prevalent as English. Muy interesante!

Donut Excursion: Fractured Prune

2008-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Do-Ho travels to Rockville, Maryland to visit Fractured Prune

Hot Hand-Dipped Homemade Donuts.
I think I've just found my favorite sentence in the English language.

Fractured Prune is a chain that is fast taking hold in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. Do-Ho was too impatient to wait for the Prune to migrate West, so she hopped a plane to Maryland and ordered up a sampling: "French Toast" is dipped in maple glaze and then topped with cinnamon sugar. "Chocolate Covered Cherry" has cherry glaze covered in mini chocolate chips that quickly melt into the cherry topping.

As this satisfied mini-customer can testify, Fractured Prune donuts make for hazardous eating but are well worth the trip.

Halloween Photos!! (or) A Chance to Consider Other Career Options

2008-11-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

I must say that when the Christy costume arrived on the doorstep and popped out of her Amazon box, my first reaction was that she was a wee bit trampsterish. With a skirt up to here and a bodice down to there, I rued the day I let voters decide not to go with Happy Sprinkles. But I needn't have fretted. As you will see from the photographs, my skimpy-skampy outfit was gosh, almost out of place on Halloween night. Next year I might need to go with the Britney get-up.

Cops love donuts! Thank you for your public service LAPD!

These ladies were in the military (not sure which branch). Thank you for serving our country, ladies!

Another service worker. I was suprised that so many nurses had to work the night shift on Halloween. They were everywhere!

She said she was a witch but she was actually very nice.

I think this may be what my nieces refer to as "an awkward turtle moment."

This poor girl told me a shocking story about how her necktie shrank in the dryer.

Bacon 'N Eggs tried to muscle Donuts out of a balanced breakfast, but Christy held her ground.

This caveman was simply delicious. He wants me to switch to Geico car insurance. I told him to call me so we could discuss rates!

Election 2008: Let the Donuts Decide

2008-10-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Do-Ho travels to the Mile-High State to visit LaMar's Donuts

It seems like donuts and politics make great bedfellows. Lamar's Donuts is leaving the 2008 Presidential race up to its patrons. Democrats can choose a glazed "Doughbama" while red-state donut lovers get out the vote with McCandy Cain. My nieces aren't old enough to vote yet, but I let them sample the ballots. As of today, the LaMar's exit poll is showing 52% to 48% in favor of Doughbama. Who says one vote won't make a difference? This race is closer than the one between Christy Creams and Happy Sprinkles!

Election Results: Christy Creams Wins Big

2008-10-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

I'm going to go out on a limb here and call this election early. Thanks to all who voted, and have a safe and happy Halloween. I, apparently, will be freezing my cream puffs off in that handkerchief-sized costume. I mean really, people--what was wrong with the giant donut?

Oh yeah--don't forget to turn out for the "other" history-making election on November 4.

Late-Breaking Election Coverage

2008-10-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Since the polls opened two days ago, the Race for Donuts has been neck-and-neck. Pundits who predicted a Christy Creams landslide at the outset have had to eat their words.

Happy Sprinkles has kept Christy's lead to a slim margin with a campaign of positive goodness.

But the whole race was thrown into chaos today as a last-minute candidate threw its donut into the ring. Submitted by an art director I had dinner with last night, it rests on a platform of high heels, boy shorts and a scandal-tainted midriff expose.

You Want a Piece of Me

Will pandering to the Britney crowd prove to be a sweet strategy, or a crumb-y misstep?

Election bylaws: Due to the late entry, the third candidate cannot be added to the official ballot. To vote for You Want a Piece of Me or change your earlier vote, you must cast a write-in vote in the Comments below.

Good-Donut Bad-Donut

2008-10-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Should I be this for Halloween?

Happy Sprinkles

Or this?

Christy Creams

Choose a costume for me by answering the poll on the right.

If you're having trouble deciding, give me commentary below instead.

Donut Excursion: Randy's Donuts

2008-10-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

This morning the girls and I went on an excursion to Randy's Donuts. A 24-hour drive-in bakery, it has appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, books and music videos. It can be easily spotted from space due to the 22-foot donut bolted to the roof.

We were surprised by the long line outside:

so we killed a little time posing for photos...

until finally it was our turn. Here we are tailgating in the parking lot:

Thumbs up to the sweet goodness of the chocolate-frosted cake donut and the buttermilk bar straight from the oven. The coffee was delicious too. By unanimous vote, we'll be repeat customers at Randy's!

'Tis the Season

2008-10-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

Fall is the perfect season for donuts, isn't it? When you wake up in the morning and feel that cool crispness in the air, is there any better way to start the day than with a freshly made donut and a hot cup of coffee? Sort of like the first time of the year that you dive into bed with your flannel sheets. Or that heavenly feeling at the end of a long day on the slopes when you finally pull off your ski boots.

There is a coffee shop in my neighborhood that sells homemade donuts (pictured) on Saturday mornings. I am not alone in thinking that these are hands-down the best donuts known to man. At a dollar a piece you might expect something special, and trust me when I tell you they're worth every penny. They are served with a fork due to their unusually large size. The light dusting of sugar that hits your tongue just as your teeth dive into the thick dough is enough to make you forget that sprinkles or chocolate frosting ever existed.

You may have noticed that I didn't write the name of the coffee shop. Did I tell you that the donuts are only on Saturdays? And that they sometimes sell out? In the interests of self-preservation, I cannot post the name of this establishment on the World Wide Web lest it be overwhelmed with patrons who wake up earlier than me and deprive me of my weekly pleasure: Do-Ho is no dodo. But in the interest of making the world a happier place, if you write to me nicely I will send you the location in an email--as long as you promise not to arrive before 9:30 am so that I can get my fix.

They Eat Donuts in Thailand, Don't They?

2008-10-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

They eat donuts in Thailand, don't they?

Fortunately I did not have to wait long for my answer the last time I found myself waylaid in Bangkok. A myriad of Dunkin' Donuts shops (including the nifty open-air walk-up style, above), is one way in which residents of Thailand enjoy more freedom than Californians.