Salty Lemons

donut artworks
Chelsea, NY from my 2011 archive

pistachio, chocolate, and strawberry donuts plus coffees
Chelsea, NY from my 2011 archive

April 17, 2011

Donuts

Ohhh, nostalgia. When I was little, my Mom would occasionally take my sister and I to get donuts. She always encouraged us to get an "old fashioned" donut which she somehow thought was healthier. How she got rationalized that, I have no idea. We were permitted one each, so we had to choose carefully. I often went for a glazed donut which is not overly complex in taste, and lets the donut flavor come through.

Another memory from childhood of donuts...in the sixth grade, a friend and I gave a presentation on how to make them by first poking a hole in refrigerated Pillsbury biscuits, frying them in oil, then dusting them with sugar and cinnamon. Easy. A classmate went home to try it for herself and burnt down her parent's kitchen. Not a joke, real story.

Donuts can be as gratifying as any complicated sweet if they are made well. There are too many out there that are just not very good, they leave a film in your mouth. The Swede unfortunately had a few of those experiences when he first came to America. He participated in a challenge to consume a dozen donuts in one hour without being permitted to drink fluids. He was able to eat nine; he said after the fourth donut, the tongue becomes like sandpaper. The result, it has turned him off to them. But being the person that he is, he believes in trying everything twice.

My friend introduced us to the Donut Plant. Heavenly. Not heavenly in the way one swoons over rich and delectable treats. But heavenly in that the Donut Plant has not gone too far. I chose a yeast pistachio donut which had a mellow, nutty flavor and was not overly sweet. The Swede had a cake chocolate donut, and my friend chose the yeast strawberry donut. I consider myself a conscious eater, so when I go for a treat, I try to go to places that make things with quality ingredients.

In addition to embarrassing myself at galleries, I also like to wait outside restrooms for my turn when no one is inside. This happens to me way too often. Note: if you go to Donut Plant, ask them to buzz you in if you need to do your thing. Once inside, beware--a disco ball and walls covered in reflective tiles await you.

archives: Food