Sunday, July 5, 2009

The donut-as-hamburger bun meme

As you may have concluded from this blog, I have a reputation for loving donuts. So I get sent a lot of donut-related articles, books, well-wishes on National Donut Day and Fastnacht Day -- you name it.

The most striking theme of late? Donuts as hamburger buns.

I first heard about this on the radio, when Peter Segal of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me interviewed southern comfort-food diva Paula Deen. Her most infamous recipe was the "Ladies Brunch Burger" (watch her Food Network segment in full glory here): a bacon-and-egg-topped hamburger ensconced by two Krispy Kreme glazed donuts. "No you didn't," marvels Paula's guest. "Yes I did!" Paula retorts, with a devilish smile. The two then unhinge their jaws and chomp into the monstrosity, squealing like schoolgirls at a slumber party.

Paula Deen's Ladies' Brunch Burger.


Now it looks like Voodoo Doughnuts of Portland has teamed up with a local burger joint to offer the "Voodoo Doughnut Burger".



Will the meme fade away, or permeate our collective food consciousness? Only time will tell. Frankly, I'm a little scared to make one of these things at home at eat it. But if I'm ever in Portland, you know where I'll be....