Israel - December, 2016

Roladin (Tel Aviv and Jerusalem)
Web Site: Roladin
Address: שדרות ממילא, Jerusalem, Israel (in the Mamilla Mall nearest the Jaffa Gate)
               Dizengoff St 49, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6433221, Israel
Rating: 

My love for donuts was reinforced with an aptly-timed visit to Israel during Chanukah in December of 2016. I am Jewish and was well aware of the connection of fried dough (sufganiyot in Hebrew) to donuts.  Here’s some background from Wikipedia (for those desiring to be in the know):

“A sufganiyah (Hebrew: סופגנייה‎ or Hebrew: סופגניה‎;  plural,  sufganiyot: Hebrew: סופגניות‎

Pronounced [ˌsuf.ɡan.iˈah] SOOF-gah-nee-AH, [ˌsuf.ɡan.iˈot] SOOF-gah-nee-OHT) is a round jelly doughnut eaten in Israel and around the world on the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The doughnut is deep-fried, filled with jelly or custard, and then topped with powdered sugar.^[1] At Hanukkah, Jewish people observe the custom of eating fried foods in commemoration of the miracle associated with the Temple oil.”

But, I digress. A good friend gave me the heads up before our Israel trip that bakeries in Israel go all out with extravagantly and exquisitely decorated and extraordinarily tasty sufganiyot well in advance of the festival of Chanukah.  We took full advantage and particularly enjoyed the sufganiyot in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.  Sufganiyot, at their essence, are jelly donuts.  Traditional sufganiyot are sprinkled with powdered sugar and infused with fruit jam.  But, the sufganiyot at Roladin are deluxe.  These were infused with fancy fillings ranging from fudge to caramel and beyond.  Some even had an infusion tube with alcoholic fillings.  Beautiful to look at and delightful to eat.  An absolutely critical must-not-miss stop when you are in Israel in the six weeks leading up to Chanukah.

              

December 21 and December 23, 2016 

More traditional Sufganiyot

Typically, this blog identifies particular donut shops.  I will make an exception for sufganiyot in Israel during Chanukah.  They are everywhere!  Roladin carries non-traditional sufganiyot with extraordinary decorations and fillings (see my Roladin post). Yet, other shops also carry delicious sufganiyot but of a more traditional sort.  So, here, I provide some additional photos of donuts in and around the Mahane Yehuda Market (tastily traditional) and in the Orthodox neighborhood of Ramat Beit Shemesh.

I prefer the more upscale varieties but these are still very much worth sampling.

With our guide Yuval, who could match me donut for donut!

Donut Safari, Chicago - October, 2016

Stan's Donuts
Web Site: http://www.stansdonutschicago.com/
Address: 2800 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL (and other Chicago locations)
Rating: 

Stan’s has been around in Los Angeles since 1963 and only came to Chicago within the past several years.  We’re glad they did!  As written elsewhere, I am not a huge fan of chains but Stan’s is an exception.  Their locations are quite convenient (including one in the lobby of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago).  They have a broad range of old-fashioned donuts along with other flavors.  Their donuts are consistently delicious.  A must visit in Chicago (or LA). 

Doughnut Vault
Web Site: http://www.doughnutvault.com/
Address: 401 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Rating: 

This tiny gem of a doughnut spot, in the Financial District, offers delicious doughnuts but you better get there early or you will be out of luck.  At noon on a Saturday afternoon, there were only about six doughnuts left so I cannot provide a complete review but based on feedback from others, this is an important stop on any Chicago Donut Safari. 

San Francisco - September, 2016

Bob's Donuts

Web Site: Bobsdonutssf.com
Address:

1621 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Rating: 

Bob’s is a highly-acclaimed, no frills, down and dirty, neighborhood donut place in Polk Gulch.  The interior is bare bones but the donuts are old school and delicious.  I enjoyed an old fashioned (what else?).  Bob’s has a very interesting (not duplicated anywhere else to my knowledge) shtick.  They sell gigantic $10.95 each donuts (see photo) and have a donut eating challenge.  Specifically:

“Eat one donut within 3 minutes.  It’s as simple as that.

If you finish in 2 minutes, you get your $10.95 refunded, a free drink, a Bob’s Donut’s T-Shirt, and your name listed on the Hall of Fame.

If you finish in 3 minutes, you still win a Bob’s Donut’s T-Shirt and get your name listed on the Hall of Fame.”

Either way, if you really eat that huge donut, you are invariably in for a huge stomach ache. Worth trying; wish I’d done it!

Daylight Donuts, Traverse City, MI - August, 2016

Web Site: Daylight Donuts
Address: 2500 W South Airport Rd, Traverse City, MI 49684
Rating: 

Who knew that Daylight Donuts have been in business since 1954?  And that they have locations all over the country?  Our attraction to them was that they were located on our way home from Traverse City, MI.  While this is a chain, it was a likeable chain—clean with many delicious varieties.  Worth a stop—particularly on cross-country travels!

Yes...it started out as a gas station

St. Louis - June, 2016

Vincent Van Doughnut

Web Site: vincentvandoughnut.com/
Address: 40 N. Central Clayton, MO 63105
Rating: 
Yes, Alice, there is an artisan, small batch, “quality over quantity” donut purveyor in St. Louis—it’s Vincent Van Doughnut. Originally a doughnut truck (in 2013), VVD opened in mid 2015 in Clayton and has been serving up delectable treats ever since. They offer both yeast donuts (maple bacon, lemon lavender, French toast and beyond) and cake donuts (chocolate covered chocolate cake topped with ganache along with vanilla glazed, German chocolate, blueberry and more). Their donuts are beautiful and delicious. Worth a stop when you’re in the St Louis area.

DB3 Donuts, Evanston, IL - Since 2016

Web Site: DB3 Donuts
Address: 1704 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201
Rating: 

DB3 Donuts has a fascinating business model.  They are owned by the excellent neighborhood restaurant next door (Ten Mile House) but are only open on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  T’is a shame because their donuts are quite delicious.  They are small batch so when they sell out, alas, alack!  They have both cake and yeast donuts and feature a fantastic cinnamon donut—the cinnamon has a distinct Vietnamese cinnamon kick to it and when eaten warm, these are quite addictive.  The chocolate-glazed donuts are also favorites.  They also have the decadent maple-glazed bacon dounut.

DB3 do not bake old-fashioned donuts (apparently, these require special –quite expensive—old-fashioned donut making equipment),  but other than that, their donuts are quite splendid. Definitely worth a trip but do not forget their limited hours.

10/17