Sunday, April 30, 2006

Bluegrass Doughnuts and Bourbon

While on our way to Kentucky, Blognut stops off in the Civil War town of Lexington, Virginia. We grab some delicously-vinegary North Carolina-style pulled pork at Smokin' Jim's Firehouse Bar-B-Que and head down Main St. to the Second Hand Shop, where a few years ago we scored a beautiful 1971 Epiphone banjo. We didn't purchase any instruments this time, but we did talk Dylan, Memphis, and doughnuts with the owner. He knew of no good doughnuts in the area so we moved on.

The next morning, now in Lexington, Kentucky, we pull into Magee's Bakery in hopes of finding a Southern-Doughnut to relieve our bourbon woes. We walk in and spot a baking rack behind the counter housing scones, cinnamon rolls, and, to our relief, doughnuts. We order two small coffees, a yeast-raised chocolate-frosted, and a chocolate-frosted cake doughnut.

We were definitely most excited about our frosted cake - this breed of Nut is far more rare than frosted yeast doughnuts. The cake was very dense, similar in consistency to those found at Cupcake Cafe in NYC - perfect for dunking. The yeast-raised chocolate-frosted was slightly denser than the average yeast-raised Nut - somewhere in between the standard glazed consistency and that of a cake doughnut. Both had solid flavor and super-rich, chocolaty frosting. Blognut left Magee's happy.



































We were even happier after stopping by the Keeneland horse track that afternoon. In our first-ever bet on a horse race we won $142! The winning horse was named She's Roughin It.

6 comments:

beta said...

where you taking me for doughnuts?

Anonymous said...

If you ever come back to Lexington, you really really MUST try Spaldings donuts. People line up at 4AM just for their donuts..like NONE other.

bstetka said...

how did i miss Spalding? my research skills were questionable back in the day.

Anonymous said...

You stopped short of the best shop in Kentucky, Paducah is home to Reds doughnuts and in all my years i have never ate a doughnut that melts in your mouth the way theirs do!

Anonymous said...

Next time you are in KY, try Charles Heitzman's in Louisville. They've been around since the 1920's and their Chocolate Long Johns are the best!

Anonymous said...

If you want the best in Kentucky you need to come to Danville, to Burke's Bakery. There are stores in Lexington that drive down to Danville just to buy them to sell in their store for breakfast. I have waited on people who drive all the way from Cynthiana for our doughnuts!