A maple bar is a perfectly respectable reason to pull over. In Portland’s Hollywood District, though, a stop at Doe Donuts can lead to a much longer conversation about what belongs in a donut case. Earl Grey tea, Oregon berries, and a changing assortment of sweet and savory creations all have a place here. The hardest part of the visit may be deciding whether to stick with the flavor that brought you through the door or try the one you had never imagined ordering.
This woman-owned Portland shop makes vegan donuts and ice cream, with a menu that has room for both familiar comforts and some wonderfully unexpected ideas. You can come for a straightforward chocolate donut, bring a friend who likes anything involving fruit, or let the seasonal selection make the decision for you. There is no need to organize the group around separate vegan and nonvegan orders, either. Doe’s kitchen is entirely plant-based, which makes choosing something together refreshingly simple.
For an Oregon food outing, that combination has plenty of appeal. A neighborhood bakery can give you a reason to explore a part of Portland that might otherwise fall between the bigger stops on your itinerary. It can also turn an ordinary errand into a small occasion, especially when the pastry box contains something you will want to talk about later. Doe is a good candidate for either kind of morning, with enough variety to reward a little curiosity…