Portland’s “Voodoo Doughnut”: The Magic Is In The Hole

by Willy Volk on

Triple Chocolate Penetration. Cock-n-Balls. Butter Fingering. No, these aren’t the names of the movies your co-workers talk about in hushed voices. These are some of the doughnuts made by the whacked-out guys at Portland’s Voodoo Doughnut. They also feature a Vegan doughnut, an Apple Fritter doughnut “as big as your head,” and — my favorite — a voodoo doll doughnut, which is stuffed with berry filling. When you buy a voodoo doll doughnut, you’re also given pretzels, so you can stab the doll, and watch the “blood” ooze out. It’s better than being in the mafia…cuz you get to eat berry filling! Yummy!

Open 24 hours a day — except for real, real early on Monday mornings — the doughnut shop is very popular with the after-bar crowd. Yeah…I’ve always wanted a Tang doughnut after a night of heavy drinking. But evidently, it’s good. Voodoo Doughnut also features local bands, Swahili lessons, and bizarre contests; in fact, their schedule of events is as eclectic as their menu. Oh, and I almost forgot: they perform weddings.

If you want to learn about these delish-nuts, check out some of the press they’ve received; gawk at their Flickr-hosted cult following; or set your TiVo to record the Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain as he visits Voodoo Doughnut — tonight at 1am!

Mmm… Eat Japanese Food Out of a Human Carcass

by Justin Glow on

Okay, this is just sick sick sick, even if it’s not a real cadaver. Some clever (read: mentally disturbed) Japanese restaurateurs have developed a new way to serve their customers: by placing eatable things inside of a naked, human-like carcass, where you’re free to grab a knife and slice it open to retrieve your dinner.

This is like some sort of sick, twisted pinata for hungry adults. I mean, the thing actually bleeds when you cut into it! Just check out the picture; those people really shouldn’t be enjoying themselves as much as they are, even if they are drunk.

Note: link may be NSFW, if seminude mannequins count as obscene.

[via cynical-c]

$110 Hamburger? Try a $1,000 Brownie!

by Justin Glow on

Remember the $110 Indonesian hamburger I wrote about last weekend? The one I said I’d ask for a refund on if I bought it unless it was sprinkled in gold flakes and wrapped in a diamond tennis bracelet? Well, I ran across this $1,000 brownie at a restaurant called Brûlee in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and guess what? It actually has gold flakes sprinkled on it.

FoodTV Canada reports: “The ‘Brownie Extradordinaire with Saint Louis’ is a chocolate brownie made with Italian hazelnuts, dusted with edible gold powder and served with a very rare port. After each bite, the dessert captain squirts a mist of the vintage port on your tongue with a $750 atomizer, which incidentally is yours to keep.”

No way is any “dessert captain” squirting anything in my mouth — even if he does have credentials. Can you imagine telling your buddies back home how dinner was?

“And then we ordered this brownie that was really delicious and the dessert captain squirted me in the mouth after every bite!”

It reminds me of one of those Milwaukee’s Best commercials, where the guy does something unmanly and a gigantic can of beer falls from the sky, crushing him with a warning, “men should act like men.”

French Woman Wins Rare Three Stars in Latest Michelin Guide

by Neil Woodburn on

Despite the horribly sexist comment that a woman’s place is in the kitchen, there exists a disproportionate number of world class female chefs.

On Wednesday, the legendary Michelin Guide awarded its maximum three stars to its first woman chef in 50 years. Only three other women have ever earned this highest accolade.

The talented chef is Anne-Sophie Pic, a 37-year old who runs La Maison Pic in the French town of Valence. And, her specialty is fish. Yum!

The decision to award Pic with this top honor has caused a bit of controversy in France where male chefs dominate the gastronomic circles. So, three cheers for Pic for taking on the boys and kickin’ some butt! Next time I’m in France, I’m certainly seeking her restaurant out.

Dining Blind: It’s All The Rage In L.A.

by Jonathon Morgan on

Just when you thought you had eating and drinking all figured out, along comes Dining in the Dark — a new Los Angeles trend for the more adventurous food-lover.

Upon arriving at the Hyatt West Hollywood, you’re taken to a room where you eat a three-course meal — in pitch black. Despite the total darkness, waiters manage to get the food on your plate — but it’s up to you to figure out how to eat it. Cutlery is provided, but most give up and use their hands.

It’s not cheap, at $99 per person for chicken or fish, $105 for beef, but it sounds like a unique experience in letting go of your pre-conceptions about dining out.

Check it out for yourself, every Saturday night at the Hyatt West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd. Visit the company’s website or call 800.710.1270 for more information.