Local Donuts 'n' Coffee

I am new to Roadfood and this may be too "hi-brow" or out of the catagory, but to those of you who live in NYC. Have you ever tried the famous "Donut Plant"? I am very interested in their fruit glazes.

I also think that maybe the difference is between the fresh cooked KK donuts and the boxed ones in the store. I don't eat the boxed ones in the store. When I talk abou KK donuts, I mean the fresh, right off the cooking line ones. We have a store here in my town and the big red sign comes on outside when they are cooking a fresh batch of donuts ! That's when I go there, any other time, I would agree they are just another donut !

"Corporate Citizen"? Now, there's an expression that gets me panicky!... This is the sort of neologism that big companies have to come up with to describe their corporate records of being good guys to make up for all their bad-guy tactics.

A manufacturer moves its factories to the 'maquiladora' belt of northern Mexico, or on to SE Asia, and can make up for all those displaced workers by having a scholarship program that distributes $100,000 a year? Or a store chain (that got an enormous tax break from the locally-bought county politicians) can sponsor some local sports teams & children's programs while most of its profits leave the community entirely. Or maybe even a humble donut-maker gives deeply of its pockets (while being investigated for its accounting practices - like the Enron of fried sweets?) to help its community out. I'm sure that the donuts-for-grades can't make THAT much of a difference to early-onset obesity or diabetes, right? And it's not really a bribe if the kids like it so much - it's only just a reward, isn't it?

Maybe with fewer donuts my cranky pants wouldn't fit so tight....
Richard
Berkeley/SF, CA

P.S. to Paul: Sorry that I was so quick to judge - it just seemed a little...pushy...to have 3 (+2) of your posts talk about everyone getting compared to KK, how there's nothing like a KK [with which I totally agree], but not actually talking about what KK's products TASTE like. (There are lines everywhere for KK - and I agree with AndyNYC1 [yo, Andyyyy!] that people stand in line for the most banal stuff. Look at the Hard Rock Cafe - they could be serving deep-fried cardboard and people would STILL go on about how good they are.) I used to live near Ontario growing up, and there's very little that I remember about the region that was tasty [well, maybe a pie at Marie Calendar's, or some fried something or other at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona], so I'm sure the locals are grateful to have a place to go for some sort of nationwide food phenomenon.

Beach Donuts in Clinton, CT. makes a beautiful glazed cruller: crunchy outside, creamy, cakey interior. Oh, to have one right now!

Greenbush Kosher bakery in Madison WI is truely the best donut expereince of my life. It caters to the college crowd so it stays open til the wee hours of the morning. They don't sell bread they don't sell anything savory, mainly donuts and other hand held pastries. No birthday cakes or pies that I have seen. They sell a pumpkin donut in the fall that is the essence of the season. They also have a donut called a rabbi. It comes in a few different falvorings but my favorite is the chocolet rabbi witch has cherry filling and tastes like a cross between a donut and a ritch black forest cake. This is an independent store and my favorite donut expereince.

I'm Still curious about Donut Plant in NYC? Is there no spell check available here? If not you are all in for some serious decoding.

Lvw-- Indian doughnuts are made of chickpea flour or rice flour and are dunked in a spicy gravy served alongside -- really quite yummy once you get past a savory rather than a sweet doughnut! They are from the Southern Indian area.

kdiammond: Thanks! I have a good Indian restaurant across the street from my office. I'll see if they are on the menu. Is there any name by which they are known?
Lisa

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Brooks Alba

"Corporate Citizen"? Now, there's an expression that gets me panicky!... This is the sort of neologism that big companies have to come up with to describe their corporate records of being good guys to make up for all their bad-guy tactics.

A manufacturer moves its factories to the 'maquiladora' belt of northern Mexico, or on to SE Asia, and can make up for all those displaced workers by having a scholarship program that distributes $100,000 a year? Or a store chain (that got an enormous tax break from the locally-bought county politicians) can sponsor some local sports teams & children's programs while most of its profits leave the community entirely. Or maybe even a humble donut-maker gives deeply of its pockets (while being investigated for its accounting practices - like the Enron of fried sweets?) to help its community out. I'm sure that the donuts-for-grades can't make THAT much of a difference to early-onset obesity or diabetes, right? And it's not really a bribe if the kids like it so much - it's only just a reward, isn't it?

Maybe with fewer donuts my cranky pants wouldn't fit so tight....
Richard
Berkeley/SF, CA

P.S. to Paul: Sorry that I was so quick to judge - it just seemed a little...pushy...to have 3 (+2) of your posts talk about everyone getting compared to KK, how there's nothing like a KK [with which I totally agree], but not actually talking about what KK's products TASTE like. (There are lines everywhere for KK - and I agree with AndyNYC1 [yo, Andyyyy!] that people stand in line for the most banal stuff. Look at the Hard Rock Cafe - they could be serving deep-fried cardboard and people would STILL go on about how good they are.) I used to live near Ontario growing up, and there's very little that I remember about the region that was tasty [well, maybe a pie at Marie Calendar's, or some fried something or other at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona], so I'm sure the locals are grateful to have a place to go for some sort of nationwide food phenomenon.

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Ordinarily, I would agree with you. (see "Pigs at the Trough" by Arianna Huffington to see why....)...But in this case, KK really walks the walk. Durned few do.

Van Brocklyn's, Big Rapids, MI
Wright's Bakery, Reed City, MI

Here in Fresno, there are more mom and pop donut shops than you can shake a stick at..and more than a few "hamburger, donut, and chinese food" combination places, but the recognized leader of the non chain places is Judy's.. while technically it is a "chain" it's only a local one and people know it's the place to go for good donuts.

In addition to Mike's Donuts in Everett-which is great and should continue to be mentioned, how about the apple cider donuts at the farm stand at Ingaldsby Farms in West Boxford (off 133). They're available year round and are fresh and tasty with a nice cup of Green Mountain coffee...

quote:

Originally posted by HeidiB

In addition to Mike's Donuts in Everett-which is great and should continue to be mentioned, how about the apple cider donuts at the farm stand at Ingaldsby Farms in West Boxford (off 133). They're available year round and are fresh and tasty with a nice cup of Green Mountain coffee...

What is an apple cider donut?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Apple cider donuts are generally sold at apple orchards here in New England. I believe they're mildly flavored with apple cider-they taste freshly made. You can get them plain, sugar coated or cinamon and sugar-coated. Quite delicious

quote:

Originally posted by HeidiB

Apple cider donuts are generally sold at apple orchards here in New England. I believe they're mildly flavored with apple cider-they taste freshly made. You can get them plain, sugar coated or cinamon and sugar-coated. Quite delicious

Sounds like they are baked donuts and they sound good. I do not believe we have them in Tennessee. I wish I had a cup of Mello Joy coffee from Lafayette, La and a apple cider donut now!!!

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

They are definitely deep-fried and quite delicious and the coffee you mention sounds excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by HeidiB

They are definitely deep-fried and quite delicious and the coffee you mention sounds excellent.

Mello Joy is only available in Lafayette, LA. It is the oldest coffe in Louisiana. Every time I am there, I buy about a dozen bags of the dark roast. Real nutty taste and great. They also have a great coffee shop in downtown Lafayette. A friend of mine turned me on when he bought a portion of the company. It is available online.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

johnnym does not speak with a forked tongue. Atkins Farms cider donuts are the ne plus ultra of donutdom. I have spoken.

Also, I have been fortunate enough to take the Sterns' advice and get donuts from Butler's in Westport MA. They were fantastic (it was in the summer, so no longjohns). You walk in and there is a happy fat man making donuts right in front of you. It doesn't get any better.

I used to think I liked Krispy Kreme, but i have realized they don't taste right. The crumb is sticky and weird, and they don't seem to be made with flour, just Crisco and sugar. Ugh.

Just heard yesterday that the Travel Channel is having an hour-long special on Donut Shops around the country. It will air this coming Sunday (18th) at 10:00 pm Eastern.

Just want to add my vote for Mikes in Everett Ma. But my heart goes with Kanes in Saugus MA. All handmade and super yummy. Mom and Pop, very cozy. I could realy go for a Boston Cream right now!!!

lvw-- the Indian donuts are called Uppatham as I recal-- a close cousin are called Idilis which are like a rice flour English muffin (also dunked and also good) BTW they are generally a specialty of Southern Indian restaurants.

Also -- on a note to all, donuts are not hard to make at home (take note all you roadfooders with a turkey fryer!) You do not need holes either. Small rounds of dough are fried, dusted with sugar, and you use a pastry bag (or one of those basting needles) to pipe in a filling!

JuniorBurger: sounds like you're from MA or live there now? So when you (or any one else) goes to Cape Cod "Hole in One Donuts" are THE BEST!!!!! Right now they have 2 locations: one is in Orleans MA (on RTE 6A)(again Cape Cod)and Eastham MA (right on RTE 6)(also Cape Cod!)! I love lemon filled and they ae fantastic! My friends who love "jelly sticks" say they are the BEST! Coffee's very good too! But be sure to get there beefore 11 AM or you'll have very slim pickens on the goodies! Bon Appetite!

Krispy Kreme doghnuts will be opening its first Australian shop in Sydney mid-June,with a promise of more to come soon.American ex-pats will be at the head of the line!

Howdy; saw the post about apple cider doughnuts and wanted to recommend Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill, NJ http://www.springdalefarms.com/bakery.asp. It's what you'd call an upscale family farm stand lol; but ohhhh I remember those apple cider doughnuts in the wax paper bag. It's a trigger food for me, and I'm on Weight Watchers, so I have to stay away from them.

When I was little, we'd stop at Krispy Kreme on Route 1 in Langhorne on the way up to the business my dad owned, and it was like heaven for me then. Now they distribute them to Shop Rite supermarkets and I pick them up on the way to my brother's home which is ironically super-close to that old Krispy Kreme location.

quote:

Originally posted by shaynas_mom

Howdy; saw the post about apple cider doughnuts and wanted to recommend Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill, NJ http://www.springdalefarms.com/bakery.asp. It's what you'd call an upscale family farm stand lol; but ohhhh I remember those apple cider doughnuts in the wax paper bag. It's a trigger food for me, and I'm on Weight Watchers, so I have to stay away from them.

When I was little, we'd stop at Krispy Kreme on Route 1 in Langhorne on the way up to the business my dad owned, and it was like heaven for me then. Now they distribute them to Shop Rite supermarkets and I pick them up on the way to my brother's home which is ironically super-close to that old Krispy Kreme location.

If you get a chance stop by a Krispy Kreme store and if the RED light is on, that is an indicator that they are hot. Get a dozen and eat as many as you can instantly. Only problem with that is they tend to get bigger but they sure do taste great. Best I have ever had.

Paul E. smith
Knoxville, TN

Shayna's Mom, you're scaring me... first you talk about
Wolfie's Pennyland in Atlantic City (where I played and worked) on another thread about Hot Dogs, and now you happen to mention the first KK I'd ever been to, on Rte 1 in Langhorne PA just below the PA Tpke. My college roomate and I would drive up there (from Temple U. dorms) early on Saturday mornings and wait to meet my brother in front, then we'd drive to pick up fresh hot soft pretzels in Hatboro and drive to the Englishtown, NJ Farmer's Mkt. to sell 'em.

Funny thing is, we'd stare at that dripping, sugary, glazing machine and it didn't look good to us at ALL... now, I am a donut fan, raised on Dunkin's in Atlantic City (Bavarian Cream!) (also Mammy's, and Horn and Hardarts in Philly), etc.

We were never tempted to go into that KK, which my brother says is long gone.

Krispy Kremes are opening up here now in CA like crazy, but I don't know, they're not thrilling - people buy 'em by the box and bring them to work - sometimes I eat one, and remember... I keep remembering that glazing machine at 6am on Route 1...

Good donuts in CA: Yum Yum when they're fresh, Chinese donuts at Sam Wo's in SF Chinatown (thanks again to my brother for finding that place), and believe it or not, Miss Donuts, the little donut shop on Sherman Way (near Reseda Blvd.) in Reseda, CA that was used for the donut shop robbery scene (where Buck Swope (Don Cheadle) stops by in the middle of it) in the movie Boogie Nights.

quote:

Originally posted by shaynas_mom

Howdy; saw the post about apple cider doughnuts and wanted to recommend Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill, NJ http://www.springdalefarms.com/bakery.asp. It's what you'd call an upscale family farm stand lol; but ohhhh I remember those apple cider doughnuts in the wax paper bag. It's a trigger food for me, and I'm on Weight Watchers, so I have to stay away from them.

When I was little, we'd stop at Krispy Kreme on Route 1 in Langhorne on the way up to the business my dad owned, and it was like heaven for me then. Now they distribute them to Shop Rite supermarkets and I pick them up on the way to my brother's home which is ironically super-close to that old Krispy Kreme location.

There is a Krispy Kreme near where I work and sometimes when we hear sirens from police cars, we joke that the red light must be on at the Krispy Kreme.



*Note* .... We mean it in a light-hearted way, we in no way mean to insult or degrade police officers.

Great article in the USA today 5/27/03 regarding the growth of the donut industry. Although KK is growing fast with 70+ opening's this year, the article indicated that Drunken Donut was opening 300+. They mentioned some other chains that I was not aware of ie: "Tim Hortons". DD has 3,200 stores while KK has 218 and TH has 160 in the USA and 2000 in Canada

None of them claim to be a health food which should be obvious. Krispy Kreme claims its doughnuts have less calories than a bagel with cream cheese.

I did not realize that it was a 3.6 bil industry

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

If your ever in the Cleveland, OH area, look up JK Frost (formally called Jack Frost) donuts. The raised donuts literally melt in your mouth. If you ever have one of these donuts, you will think KK is garbage. My second favorite is Biagios in Lake county, OH.

Sundancer--Was that DRUNKEN Donut? The best donuts I ever had were at either a Jolly Pirate or a Dunkin' Donut (on a trip through Akron, OH) and one was both jelly and creme filled, the other was a cocoa-creme filled, both dusted with powdered sugar (no icing-too cloying!) And to add to the Krispy Kreme debate: I love them (the glazed creme-filled), but there isn't much to choose from where I live (out in the country). They are AVAILABLE and happen to be way better than the ones from the local grocery stores' bakeries. The local donut shop in a nearby town was nasty last time I was there, the other local shop was better, but has closed. We do have Tim Horton's (which IS affiliated with Wendy's--here in Ohio they often have Wendy's and Tim Hortons in the same building.) I like Tim Horton's and my husband doesn't. I think perhaps our standards change based on availability. (Before I found KK's, I was satisfied with the others from the store bakery!) Here in the boonies, a chain supermarket carries Krispy Kremes in its bakery. You can buy them out of the donut case, or by the box. Don't think I've seen a KK Store. What choice do you have if you live more than 15 minutes from a highway interchange or 35 minutes from a large city? (Yes, I've tried making my own, but would rather drive elsewhere - but not 35 minutes! - to get one!) --JulesF

Lou's in Santa Clara is a small place in a strip mall off of San Tomeo Parkway, but you can't beat seeing and smelling the aroma of freshly cooked bread donuts.