I love those donuts like McAdams loves Gosling

How do I choose?! They all scream: "Take me home!" It's a good thing I have high doughnut tolerance.

Once upon a time, in a rainy city far away lived a donut sanctuary for people who feared Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme and the other scary grease ladden shops nearby laundromats. This place is called Top Pot Doughnuts and is a piece of fried heaven served on a little plate.

I don't know whose phantom foot that is.

My ultimate favorite: The Raised Glaze.
Soft, fluffly clouds of melt in your mouth goodness. This picture does this no justice.

I never order Apple Fritters myself but they are even more delicious off someone else's plate.

Even the world's fattest pigeon can't say no. Lucky bastard.

Typically I'm not much of a doughnut enthusiast. Grocery stores, 7-11's and miscellaneous doughnut and hamburger joints terrify me. Top Pot is different and sadly nowhere near Los Angeles. It is a lovely coffee and doughnut shop nestled downtown. In Seattle, there isn't too much to do but embrace the dismal weather and hide out in great spots like this. Top Pot is a beautifully done two-story vintage hangout spot with free Wi-fi and sleek ceiling-high bookcases. They open at the ass crack of dawn which means their doughnuts are freshly made from scratch every morning (I just love it when things are made from scratch). They also roast and grind their own beans; you can tell when you walk in. Not only is the coffee piping hot, it's the doughnuts that really get you. They taste the way real doughnuts should: thick, cakey, perfectly frosted. They are made with care and good ingredients (no Crisco, New York would be so proud). I'm always tempted to snatch the box of dozen from the happy, unassuming customer walking out of the door, good morning to me.

Holy shit, are those trees? This shot is from Thanksgiving. Didn't you see Monday Night Football? It snowed!

Last combo shot.
If you're ever in Seattle, I highly recommend it.

Top Pot Doughnuts
2124 5th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 728-1966
http://www.toppotdoughnuts.com/

Happy Friday Bitches!

I don't have a camera with me so this will have to do. I should post something sweet as well.

Meet Hootie: a lovely cat who resides in Seattle (the Eastside actually but I won't hold it against her) and wears a mink coat everyday (c'est vrai). Don't even ask about the name, it's not her Christian name. And though you can't tell from looking at this picture, she is a full figured girl. But don't mention her size. She knows when you're talking about her. She can also tell when you're full of shit.

Unfortunately Hootie is not smiling in this picture; she doesn't know how to hold a smile...kind of like me. Hootie, I miss you. Please try and eat smaller amounts and get more exercise. I know it's hard during the holidays though.

I may never order bacon from a restaurant again. Really?

Nueske's corny pictures versus
The more elegant stylings of Niman Ranch

Yes! Why you ask? Because I'm ordering thick cut bacon from the Nueske's website. I don't live or ever plan to live in Wisconsin so thank god that Al Gore invented the internet. The same heavenly bacon from BLD, Hungry Cat, etc. It's just so hard to decide which to get because they sell 2 lbs for $19.95, 3 lbs for $25.50 and 5 lbs for $39.95. Damn it. And if you spend $85 you get a free 1/2 lb of bacon! They're just giving it away.

It's so sad, I wish J & I had friends in LA we could barter with. "We're going to the Farmers' Market on Wed/Sat/Sun, do you want to split some herbs?" or "We're going to order 5 lbs of Nueske's bacon, do you want to put 5 (or similar monetary unit) on it?" You get my drift. We haven't lived here too long and sadly do not live in an apartment full of gourmands. With all this beautiful produce in California, it's a shame I'm not eating beautiful fruits and vegetables every night. The packets of organic herbs they sell at Whole Foods taste like sand compare to what you get from the lovely organic farmers at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market. If you are not a serial killer and want to share herbs, holla. If you are a serial killer that dabbles on the side as an excellent cook and/or are charming beyond belief then maybe we'll talk.

There is so much material I've been wanting to post put have been so tired and busy these days. Some days I even fall asleep before 9 pm. Talk about lame. The other night I quietly chuckled to myself while dozing to the Colbert Report. One of these days I will put up a few of my ranting posts. Isn't there a career out there with my name on it that involves writing, perks and glorious food? Oh wait, Anthony Bourdain's got it. Grrr.....

Anyhow, back to the topic at hand. I'm sure I've mentioned this before but if you haven't tried Nueske's bacon, run skip run to the nearest restaurant and order you some. I feel like I'm cheating on my beloved Niman Ranch but Nueske's is the best bacon I've had!

I can't wait for the order to arrive. I hope they really do cook up nice and thick at home, the same as they do when I order it at BLD. I'm crossing my fingers that they won't shrink. What are you waitin' for?

Check out the difference between Niman Ranch's website and Nueske's. Can you say hick? Someone needs a new webpage. I guess with bacon this fine no one cares about their fugly website.

Surprise

At the moment am eating a baby spring mix or mesclun greens salad (often when I refer to mesclun people start looking confused and scratching their heads) with my favorite vinegrette (olive oil, balsamic, garlic, etc.) and large slices of green onions. Am surprised because it is fantastically delicious. Actually why am I surprised? I heart green onions with hot fiery passione. Just wanted to share that. There. I've done it. Wish I could share a picture of this but a.) do not have camera on me b.) don't know if picture would load c.) there is one model bite left. I've polished the whole thing off in a matter of minutes. Note to self: need to chew more.

Haven't flogged for the past trip due to travel, illness, sheer laziness and work. I hate this thing called work at the moment (right now I'm stuck in a day job that I don't love). Would much rather be flogging and reading. Or in bed, under the sheets...sigh. Have lots of things that will be posted this weekend: my recent trip to Seattle where it snowed (!!!) and my planned Saturday trip to the Santa Monica Farmers Market to pick up beautiful herbs, vegetables and fruit to cook with this weekend. After being sick and eating so much restaurant food, am looking forward to staying in and cooking. Plus we just turned on the heat in the apartment. I thought we wouldn't ever have to turn on the heat in LA but have felt a little chilly these days and it feels nice being so toasty in the apartment.

More to come this weekend. Friday! Hurrah! Exclamation points!