It has been a whirlwind weekend in the windy city. With two kids at Wheaton College, we feel strong ties and try to visit as often as we are able. The occasion for this trip was the Wheaton Women's Tennis Team's family/senior weekend. We cheered on the team for two winning home matches (Go Thunder!) and helped host an Italian dinner for the team, their families and friends. We saw our son, Derek, briefly before he was off to St. Louis for an a cappella singing competition with the Wheaton Thunder Tones. And we loved spending time with Lauren's wonderful roomies; they have dubbed themselves, "MELA", for Marlee, Emilee, Lauren and Andrea (we missed you Marlee!).
Sunday morning, Lauren insisted on a detour to Chicago's North Side before we made our way to O'Hare. Being our partner in crime with food adventures, we wisely trusted Lauren's judgement. We arrived at the nondescript Doughnut Vault half an hour before they opened, but already a line had formed out into the cold, snowy street. The sign says "doughnuts until sold out", and obviously the locals know something about this place. Last summer when she lived in Chicago, Lauren had eaten these delectable treats, and her memory was jogged a few days ago by a spot on the Cooking Channel. Some polls crown these edible jewels as not only the best doughnuts in Chicago, but the best in the country. When the door opened, we made our way in single file to the counter where one lonely girl took orders, filled them and manned the money. Giddy with excitement and the thought of the sugar rush, we made our selections, each got a $1 cup of coffee, and headed back to the car to taste. Oh My! There was the signature giant, yeasty, doughnut, glazed with a shiny, hazelnut frosting. We tried the gorgeous filled one, with at least a half a cup of mixed berry goodness oozing out with each bite. The simple buttermilk cake pastry was properly crispy on the outside and cakey inside. There were glazed doughnut holes, like golf balls on steroids, with birthday cake sprinkles. And when he finished his personal favorite, the powdered sugar doughnut, Larry looked like he had been in a snow storm, with a dusting of white all over him. We pulled off bites of everything for a true sampling, comparing and contrasting the flavors and textures. Several times we looked at each other, with telltale traces of filling and frosting and sugar on our faces, and burst out laughing; what an unhealthy, decadent, delicious adventure! When we arrived at the airport, we brushed ourselves off, hugged our girl good bye, and staggered through security, on a sugar high. What a sweet ending to a wonderful weekend! We will definitely be working out today and eating our veggies. :)
