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Volume CXXXII, Number 8 |
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Donuts for Jesus
KERRY ELSON
COLUMNIST
A donut shop that has a religious affiliation?! But aren't donuts pure SIN? As she walked towards Frosty's Donut Shop, the Foodie contemplated the existence of this oxymoronic establishment on Maine Street.
Having gradually grown comfortable with such an antithetical eatery, the Foodie entered the shop and proceeded to order. Display cases house at least ten different kinds of donuts: plain (perhaps the most appropriate for this puritan place), honey-dipped, chocolate honey-dipped, powdered, chocolate powdered, chocolate glazed, plain chocolate, and a few others that fill out the neutral color spectrum. Unlike its non-sectarian cousin down the street, Dunkin Donuts, Frosty's sweets have neither sprinkles nor bubblegum-colored glazes.
The Foodie had missed the crunch of a homemade donut; Dunkin's donuts are cushy but provide no resistance. The delicate crisp of Frosty's donuts, therefore, was refreshing; the chocolate powdered donuts have a particularly nice crust. Contrary to her expectation, the Foodie found that the chocolate glaze on the chocolate glazed donut did not taste synthetic.
Despite the Foodie's gastronomic pleasure, deep, philosophical questions plagued her as she chowed. What exactly would happen after she died? How did she know for sure if she was going to Heaven? And had she hugged Jesus that day?
Lucky for her, pamphlets concerning such spiritual matters were available at every Frosty's booth. She ravenously devoured both the literature and her sugar-frosted confections. Muppet-like sounds of consumption emanated from the pea-green vinyl nook.
Frosty's Christian affiliation is not evident in its storefront. Red wood paneling foregrounds plain white block letters that proudly spell the shop's name. Poster-size Dennis the Menace cartoons plaster the large windows, hinting that this café is geared towards Baby Boom, or rather, Depression-era patronage.
Even if the slightly religious nineteen-year-old Foodie felt out of place amidst the Christian paraphernalia and elderly folk dining in, the homemade essence of Frosty's donuts made her feel welcome.