A Salacious Memory of Wild Foodie Abandon

Closing for the season! 

Those words conjured up an impossible longing, a salacious memory of wild abandon, and a desperate attempt to rationalize a 560 mile Saturday road trip.

What is this pleasure den I speak of?  That would be Britt’s Donuts on the boardwalk in Carolina Beach, NC, just a stone’s throw from the sandy beaches and salty waves.  The fond memories are those of steaming hot, burn-your-fingers-on-the-glaze donuts made in one, and only one, variety.

Regulars know to order at least ½ dozen – just one will never do.  Jason and I polished off the better part of a dozen in one heart-attack-be-damned, gloriously messy finger-licking sitting at the old-school counter with the requisite cup of plain jane coffee.

As a resident of Winston-Salem, I am of course a loyal lover of Krispy Kreme (it’s a prerequisite to live here), but I have to say that Britt’s is a mom and pop donut nirvana.  Combine that with a views of a wide sandy beach and a retro small town feel, and you’ve got the makings of a great weekend getaway (and gorge-a-thon.)

A Donut by any other name… (Gravy ring, anyone?)

A deep fried piece of dough or batter is the essence of a donut (or doughnut.)  Virtually every culture has some form of this sweet (or sometimes savory) treat. 

The most common types of donuts in the U.S. are ring donuts and filled donuts.  Donuts can be cake based or yeast-raised.    Donuts are primarily deep-fried, although there are baked versions.  Regional specialties abound, including crullers, Long Johns, old-fashioneds, etc.

Outside the U.S., the spelling “doughnut” is more traditional.  Some examples of what cultures outside the U.S. offer:

  
Sufganiyah (Israel):                          Jelly doughnut associated with Hanukkah

Jalebi (India):                                   Pretzel shaped deep-fried batter soaked in sugar syrup
     
Beignet (France):                             Square, French-style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar            

Loukoumades (Greece):                  Deep fried dough soaked in sugar syrup or honey, clove, and cinnamon

Zeppole (Italy):                                Deep fried balls of dough, can be filled or unfilled, often dusted with powdered sugar

Paczki (Poland):                               Dried fried flattened spheres of  rich eggy dough with a variety of fillings and toppings

Yum-Yums (Scotland):                    Doughnut in a twisted rope shape with a sugar glaze

  
Gravy Rings (N. Ireland):                Doughnut with a hold in the middle, a ring doughnut; due to the fact that a slang term for the frying oil is “gravy”      

Fabulous Foodie Find Faves:

Britts Donuts:

Yeast-raised hot glazed donuts, handmade in small batches

Carolina Beach Boardwalk #11

Open during the season only (approximately Apr – Sept.)

No Phone

Coffee An’ Donut Shop

Cake donuts – made from scratch, wonderful crusty exterior and moist interior

Try chocolate, cinnamon, and plain

343 Main Street

Westport, CT

203.227.3808

The Doughnut Plant

Doughnut Plant doughnuts are made with all natural ingredients, with the glazes made from seasonal fruits and using fresh roasted nuts.  They have no trans fats, preservatives, artificial flavorings, or eggs.

Try Tres Leches, Blackout, PB&J, Coconut Glaze w/Coconut Cream

379 Grand Street

New York, NY

www.doughnutplant.com

Café Du Monde

OK, it’s full of tourists, but that doesn’t stop the venerable Café Du Monde from dishing up the most delectable beignets around, piled high on a plate under an avalanche of powdered sugar, with a mug of rich chicory café au lait.  You are guaranteed to leave with a wide white-coated smile and a flurry of powdered sugar dust trailing behind you.

French Market

800 Decatur Street

New Orleans, LA

www.cafedumonde.com

Voodoo Doughnuts

Quirky wacky doughnut varieties & a wedding chapel to boot

Per Voodoo Doughnuts: “You can pay us more for our product which is locally made, locally owned, and an honest dream come true, or you can buy cheaper, megalacorp, machine cut, rebaked, defrozen, warehouse doughnuts and pastries.”

Try the Bacon-Maple Bar, the Voodoo Doughnut (a voodoo doll & doughnut in one)

2 Locations in Portland, OR

www.voodoodoughnut.com

Top Pot Doughnuts

Cake doughnuts with fabulous crunchy “crust”

Try Old-Fashioned or Chocolate Old-Fashioned

Numerous locations throughout Seattle

www.toppotdoughnuts.com

Krispy Kreme:

“Hot” 

Well, yes I am, but that’s beside the point.  The red glow of a Krispy Kreme “Hot” sign has the power to steer my car into their parking lot every time I see it.  I swear that they have a super high-powered magnet that comes on when the hot sign does.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it – oh wait, I’m sticking to the steering wheel now too (could it have been those 3 hot glazed I just wolfed down?)

Yes, yes for all of you screaming at the screen right now, this is a chain and we usually are all about indie places, but we feel the Krispy Kreme experience is iconic enough to warrant our recommendation. 

All varieties of donuts, but the real draw is the hot glazed.  DON’T buy a dozen of these unchaperoned, or you might make it home with nothing but an empty box.

Numerous locations worldwide.

www.krispykreme.com

What donuts do you desire?  What are your faves?  Let us know.

- Jodi