Gracious Bakery and Cafe
Web Site: http://graciousbakery.com/Address: 2854 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA
Rating:
We try to steer clear of businesses that are not dedicated
to donuts but, rather, include them in their broader offerings. However,
donuts are becoming the absolute craze and rage and sometimes we cannot
help ourselves. When a bakery that was
extraordinary in its own right begins to offer donuts “just because”, that
establishment has earned itself a spot on this blog. Such is the case with Gracious Bakery &
Café. We had visited in 2017 because it is a renowned breakfast spot.
Needless to say, we were quite excited to stroll over in 2018 and see
that donuts were featured in their display case. In their words:
“Gracious Donuts have arrived!
Grab 'em at one of our three locations or else order them as part of a catering
package through the Catering link above. We use real fruit in our glazes and
quality ingredients like Valrhona chocolate. But mostly, they are donuts.
What's not to love?”
The offerings were exquisite and the taste was the
same. I treated myself to a chocolate
glazed yeast donut with sprinkles and, must admit, even though it was outside
of my usual comfort tasting zone, it was sublime!
District Donuts
We go every year!Web site: District Donuts
Address: 2209 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
1126 S Clearview Pkwy D, Elmwood, LA 70123
Rating:
Yes, we do visit District during every visit to NOLA and, yes, their cake donut offerings are minimal. In 2018, we decided to expand our horizons and ordered a smoked salmon kolachke. Very delicious indeed and I understand what all the fuss is about in Texas donut shops. We also re-sampled their biscuits (couldn’t help it) and a brown butter drop (cake donut), a glazed, chocolate glazed, and berries and cream—along with a dozen to go for Emily’s office. They were incredible and a feast for the eyes.
We also did a more thorough photo journal of District. Guess
we have no choice but to keep returning.
Extraordinary donuts!
Blue Dot Donuts
Web Site: www.bluedotdonuts.com/Address: 4301 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Rating:
In 2018, we made a strategic decision to officially expand
our NOLA donut horizons beyond District and Café Du Monde (both exceptional
venues for donut lovers) to see what was out there. Blue Dot Donuts immediately popped up on our
list. Originally opened by several policemen (hence, the name), the
intent was to offer a wide array of donuts that are made fresh daily, in
house—no machines. They open early but we were not there until close to 9 and
many of the “unique” flavors (ex: bacon
maple) were gone, to our great disappointment.
However, we enjoyed the butter drop (NOLA’s answer to old-fashioned
donuts), the chocolate glazed cake with sprinkles, and chocolate glazed with
coconut. We also purchase a huge apple fritter for later.
The décor at Blue Dot was adorable—complete with a stuffed
pig/cop with a donut and a donut clock.
Even donuts!
Next time, we’ll have to arrive earlier for more of a
selection!
Apparently, there are Daddy’s Donuts all over the country. Not sure whether Daddy’s in NOLA is part of
that group or independent; but we knew we had to check it out. If you are
looking for a down home, no frills, authentic NOLA donuts experience (aside
from Café Du Monde) frequented by real people (as opposed to the tourists), Daddy’s
is your place.
I sampled a chocolate glazed cake—tasty but not the most memorable
donut ever. Benefit of the doubt, we visited on the late side for a donut place
(around noon on a Sunday). The selection
was somewhat picked over—but all the traditional flavors. The décor was a hoot—from their FaceBook
page, it looks like they have their Christmas tree up year round.
If a neighborhood donut is what you want, Daddy’s is your
place.
