Hello, Portland! Unbelievably after about a year of imagining this trip to Vida Vegan Con, the time is here at last!
In preparation David and I watched every episode of Portlandia. For local color, who needs Rick Steves and Samantha Brown when you have Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein?
As we were sitting in the airport about to head this way, we happened to run into a friend of ours who was heading to Europe. When she heard where we were going, her face lit up. She said, "Have you heard of Voodoo Doughnuts?"
Oh, yes. We have.
Voodoo Doughnuts
Raised yeast doughnuts like glazed donuts, bismarcks, and cream filled long johns have always been favorites of mine. However, after going vegan I discovered that vegan raised yeast doughnuts are hard to find.
In fact, the last one that I had was about three years ago at Ronald's Donuts in Las Vegas. It's been a while!
So on our first morning in Oregon, we trekked to Voodoo Doughnuts in downtown Portland.
From a block away, the experience began, as I could smell the scent of freshly baked doughnuts wafting in the air.
It was a cold, drizzly day (as it's forecasted to be the whole time we're here). There was a small line formed inside.
There are two rotating displays of doughnuts. The top tier is devoted to vegan doughnuts.
We were overwhelmed with choices as we got closer and closer to the front of the line. So when our turn arrived, we ordered a dozen of a variety of vegan doughnuts.
Generously, they put fifteen doughnuts in the box instead of twelve!
(We're going to need to make some friends here fast.)
Luckily, they included quite a few cake doughnuts, which hold no appeal for me. So I should be able to keep my sugary indulgences to a minimum.
We sat down on a bench inside of Voodoo Doughnuts since it was raining on the outdoor seating area.
I opted for a cream filled doughnut with Boston cream inside, while David feasted on a glazed. The doughnuts were so light and airy. It tasted like they'd come right out of the oven, they were so fresh.
So begins a sweet start to what is sure to be an incredible week!
Kristy
It’s almost a week later and our Voodoo Doughnuts box is still in our fridge. We only got 4 and we weren’t able to finish them all. The ones we did have were pretty dang great though! Totally worth the 45 minute wait. 🙂
Cadry
I’m surprised that you flew back with the whole box! I guess the twins will get the opportunity to try them after all! We abandoned ours. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach. In total, I had 2 1/2 donuts. If I had it to do over again, I would just order exactly the kinds of donuts I wanted to sample and just have one or two while they were fresh. Still, vegan donuts! I was overcome with excitement!
luminousvegans
It was so great to meet you both!! Your talk was truly awesome and inspiring. We weren’t patient enough to go to Voodoo 🙁 because every single time we went by there was a long line even late at night. Now I’m wishing we had.
Cadry
I’m so glad that I got to meet you! I was really looking forward to it, and I would have been disappointed if the weekend passed with us missing each other. Thank you for the kind words about my presentation!! I’m really glad that you enjoyed it! I guess that we lucked out only having to wait ten minutes or so for Voodoo Donuts. It gives you something to look forward to for next time!
Laloofah
Being not a donut fan (though I always made an exception for Boston Cremes!), I’m not that jealous of your haul from Voodoo Doughnuts, but I’m GREEEEEEEEEN over your getting to go to Portland, never mind for Vida Vegan Con! But I’m really glad you did, and even forgive you for forgetting to tell your pilot to land here and pick me up along the way. 🙂
I already know your presentation went splendidly (no surprise) because I read about it on Andrea’s blog, where she describes it as, “very lively and creative” and “the perfect way to end the day’s sessions on a high note.” Again, no surprise! Congratulations!! 🙂
Cadry
I’m sure we’ll meet up someday, Laurie! If not at VVC3, it will be somewhere else! Although, now that you’ve confessed you’re not a donut fan, I’m not as sure that we’ll hit it off… 😉 If you ever get a chance, Vida Vegan Con should be on your list of must-do’s. It’s an experience worth having!
It was delightful getting to meet Andrea! I’ve been following her blog for so long, it felt like I already knew her. That’s sweet that she had such nice things to say about my presentation. It’s lovely to hear.
Laloofah
I have the same feeling! And that’ll be a lot of fun! And hey, my indifference to donuts makes me BFF material, because it means you can have them all to yourself! (But can I have just a weensie bite of your Boston Creme one??) 🙂
I’ve gotten to hang out with Andrea and her husband a couple of times as their annual trip to Mad City has taken them through Sheridan, and am hoping to get to do so again, either in Seattle or when they pass through here on their way back home later this summer. Glad you enjoyed getting to meet her! And I’ll definitely keep a trip to VVC on my Bucket List. 🙂
Cadry
You make a good point about food preferences & friendship. Perhaps we should hedge our bets and you should just continue to stay away from taco pizza and reubens… You know, just in case. (Yes, I am conveniently ignoring your request for a taste of my Boston Creme. La da da, I can’t hear you…) 😉
Dianne @ VeggieGirl
So jealous you got to go to Voodoo Donuts! I wanted to go but there was an hour wait!
Cadry
Oh, that’s too bad! We lucked out the morning we went. We got there around 8 am, and the wait was less than ten minutes. You’ll have something to look forward to for next time!
Alanna
P.S. I didn’t see you were teaching a class until after the fact. I would have attended if I’d known!
Cadry
Oh, too bad! I should have mentioned that in a recent post! I wrote about it a long while ago, but I should have said something as the conference was getting closer.
Alanna
I seriously cannot believe I didn’t meet you at VVC last weekend! I even purposefully looked for you at breakfast and lunch. Haha. But I was also occupied meeting lots of new friends, enjoying amazing food and processing the landslide of incredible information from classes. 🙂
Thank you for being so kind to me before the conference though. I was a bit intimidated to go without knowing anyone else and your welcoming attitude was very helpful.
Meet you at VVC3?
Cadry
Yes, I’ll see you at VVC3! I’m glad that you had such a great time and made lots of new friends. It seems that all of us are coming away with some fabulous friendships from the conference. The whole experience exceeded my expectations in every way! 🙂 The only downside is that there were so many awesome people like yourself that I still missed out on meeting. Next time for sure!
Caitlin
wow, these look phenomenal! i haven’t had a doughnut in ages. any chance they do gf vegan ones?
Cadry
They don’t do gluten-free doughnuts currently, but maybe someday! Portland was brimming with gluten free options, and so it seems like a natural fit for the area!
Joey
Another jealous right here! Those donuts look beyond amazing!
Cadry
Looks do not deceive! 🙂
burbankvegan
Wow, those doughnuts look amazing!!
Cadry
They were incredibly delicious! It’s simultaneously sad & good that I don’t have a location where I live! 🙂
FoodFeud
JEALOUS. We have Dunwell here in Brooklyn, though, so I oughta take advantage of that first. Boston cream used to be my favorite too.
Cadry
My favorite of the cream fillings was always the whipped one actually, as opposed to Boston cream. However, I’ve never seen a vegan version of that. Maybe they’ll have it at Dunwell! Then I’d have yet another reason to head to New York!
Mel
I hope you have a wonderful time in Portland Cadry! I would love to be there to meet you and other bloggers and indulge in all the wonderful food. My husband’s eyes would pop out of his head if he entered Voodoo Donuts.
Good luck with your VVC talk, I’m sure you don’t need it!
Cadry
I hope you’ll be able to make the trip in the future, Mel! I’d love to meet you, and I know you would just have a marvelous time. What they say about it being vegan summer camp really is true. It was such a love fest!
Thank you for your well wishes on my talk!
Caitlin Galer-Unti
I went there today, it was my first stop in Portland too after arriving from London! I loved the Boston creme doughnut. Later I’m going to eat the maple glazed, creme filled one I also bought on the recommendation of the woman working there. So looking forward to the next few days at Vida Vegan Con! 🙂 Will see you around. Btw, I only just realised (when I was on the Google doc of VVC attendees) that you’re based on Iowa City. I went to Grinnell College and used to go to Iowa City on the bus sometimes. Mainly to go to Fair Grounds and buy their vegan nacho cheese and drink their blended coffees (I loved all the amazing flavour combos they had!).
Cadry
I’m bummed that I never ran into you at the conference, Caitlin! The weekend went by so quickly in a rush of activities, that it seems there were lots of people that I missed. I hope you had a great time!
I remember that you went to Grinnell! Sadly, Fair Grounds doesn’t offer their vegan nacho cheese anymore. The original owner sold the restaurant, and it’s no longer a vegetarian coffee shop. They still have several vegan options, but they sell meat too now unfortunately. 🙁 After they changed their menu, they took the nacho sauce off. It’s something that’s easy to make at home, but it was nice to have the option of getting it on occasion.
Caitlin Galer-Unti
Yeah, I’m disappointed too, it’s too bad we didn’t meet! Next time! Or if you’re ever in London let me know! 🙂 It was a crazy weekend, I had a great time though. Hope you did too! I am already looking forward to the next VVC.
Oh no, really? That’s too bad! It was the first vegan nacho cheese I ever had, I remember being so excited to discover it! I know how to make it myself now, but it was still nice to have so many vegan options in a coffee shop, especially in Iowa, which can be meat and potatoes country. It’s good they retained some vegan options though.
Cadry
Yes, I’ll let you know the next time we’re in London! It’s one of my absolute favorite cities.
SnarkyVegan
I am so jealous! VooDoo is the one place I didn’t get to during VVC2011 and I can’t be there this year. Have fun while you’re there. Be sure to try the deep fried oreos at Homegrown Smoker ;-P
Cadry
I’m sorry you weren’t able to go this year! Sadly, I missed the deep fried Oreo’s. However, I did eat at Homegrown Smoker twice, and it was my favorite “restaurant” of the trip. I’ll be posting about it later this week! 🙂
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete}
I’m just going to go ahead and echo what Abby said because she pretty much nailed my feelings/thoughts right on the head!
Have an excellent trip and loads of fun at VVC! Maybe one day I will make it to one…
Cadry
Vida Vegan Con exceeded my expectations in every way. It was a marvelous trip. If you ever get the opportunity to go in the future, definitely take it! 🙂
melodyfairitale
Aah, I can just join others and fangirl about Portland&Voodoo doughnuts!
I don’t even care much about America, but Portland is high on my travel list (when I get enough money to fly over the ocean, haha).
Cadry
It’s a great city for sure! Even though I was just there, I’m ready to go back. With so much time spent at the conference itself, there’s still loads of Portland left to see!
Andrea
I’m jealous, too, because you’re already there and I won’t be there until tonight. Have fun and remember, Portlandia is all true. 🙂
Cadry
I’m relieved to hear that Portlandia is all true. Perhaps instead of giving away the last layer of donuts I should pickle them!
Will I be seeing you at the unofficial meet and greet, or do you get in later? So looking forward to finally meeting you in person!
Barb@ThatWasVegan?
I’m way jealous!! I’ve never been to Portland, but we are getting a Voodoo here in Denver this fall…
Cadry
I saw that! You’re so lucky! I read an article about it, and they said one reason they picked Denver is because of their health-conscious citizens. That’s hilarious considering they’re a donut shop! 🙂
Melissa @ Food and Loathing
Maybe because they hate health-conscious people and want to sabotage them? I kid, I kid.
Cadry
You know, if they have to take us down, at least there will be doughnuts involved! I can think of worse ways to go! 😉
Shell
Cad – this looks like so much fun!!! I look forward to more post about Portland.
Cadry
I’ll keep you posted, Shell! We’re having a wonderful time so far!
An Unrefined Vegan
Oh gosh those look wonderful!
I have to kinda echo Abby in her comments – last year Vida Vegan Con mostly went by without my notice, but this year I’m bummed that I’m not there!! Have a wonderful time and give those of us at home a full report!
Cadry
I wish you were here too!! It would be great to meet you. Someday! Until then, I’ll selflessly eat as many delicious things as I can, you know, for photo opportunities… 😉
An Unrefined Vegan
You’re a trooper!!
Cadry
Yeah, it’s pretty much Mother Teresa and then me… 😉
Abby
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I kind of hate you a little. Not because I like donuts–I really don’t–but because you’re in Portland and at VVC and having such a fabulous adventure! Portland is TOPS on my list of a place I would actually travel to visit (and by “visit,” I mean “move to and find some type of hippie job.”)
I can’t wait for the rest of your recap. Have fun! 🙂
Cadry
Don’t mince words, Abby! Tell me what you really think! 😉
I so know how you feel. When the first Vida Vegan Con happened, I watched it go down from my computer screen and wished I was there. If it makes you feel better, I’ll try to have a terrible time, but it may be a lost cause… 😉
The next one is going to take place in Chicago, which will be closer to your neck of the woods. Hopefully we can meet that time around!