Canezees Donut - Fukuoka, Japan

"Healthy" Japanese Donuts from the Memory Bank
In the early days I'd blog immediately.  I find I'm getting slower and slower.  Take Canezees - I was there almost two months ago and am just posting.  It's not a comment on their donuts, more my laziness.  I remember being surprised by this funky donut shop, found along the railroad tracks in a forlorn section of Hakata.

Dough - Brooklyn

Bus Worthy in Bed-Stuy
As the B38 bus rumbled over potholes, I had a good feeling.  I suspected I'd be adding Dough to the "bus-worthy" list.  To be bus-worthy means I'm willing to ride a bus to eat at a place.  If you've never lived in NYC, the worst way to travel is by bus; they're crowded, slow and attract a high percentage of nutjobs.  To be bus-worthy is the highest compliment I can give.  Only Baked in Red Hook was on the list, but now they've got company.  Dough's donuts are so good I didn't even mind taking the bus back home.  They offer interesting flavors like hibiscus, passionfruit, chocolate earl grey and lemon poppy but being a coffee guy I picked one called "cafe au lait."  It was so big and puffy I could've used it for a pillow.

Queen Victoria Market - Melbourne

Breakfast of Champions
Queen Victoria Market is "the" market in Melbourne.  It's a combination flea market, butchers, bakers and food court that you're as likely to find boomerangs for sale as you are "Moreton Bay Bugs."  Those are the fellows in the middle to the right of the tiger prawns.  I don't think anyone consulted a reputable PR firm when they came up with the moniker "bay bug."  Not exactly appetizing.  Besides, we were there for something much more mainstream, though perhaps not "breakkie" mainstream.

Daddy Dough - Bangkok

Can't Help Myself
Yes, there are street vendors in Bangkok selling all types of sweets and goodies. So, why buy a donut in an air-conditioned mall? Simple - it's hot outside. I take my AC where I can get it. Then I see this donut staring at me, all choco and peanuty and everything. I'm weak.

Andonand - Tokyo

Jetlag Antidote Donut
I was really feeling the old jetlag this morning but Pingles found me the cure - an affogatto donut from Andonand. They're owned by Mr. Donut but take it up a notch. Some kind of evil genius works here and comes up with ideas like pouring a hot espresso shot over a sugar-laden pastry.

Polish G.I. Delicatessen - Manhattan

Friday Donut Day Goes Polish
Happenstance: the magical act of finding an unexpected donut while looking for a different donut. Puff and I were on our way to Abraco in the East Village for some ricotta fritters when something sugary registered in my peripheral. I stopped dead in my tracks and whirled around to a window full of treats. I stepped inside the little storefront and felt like I was in Warsaw. If you click on this pic you will see the old polish lady with the sour face sitting inside.

I got one of those powdery treats in the middle of the window. The proportion of dough to filling was a bit off - I like more filling.

Caffe Falai - Manhattan

Breakfast Bomboloni
My gut and I would like to thank Serious Eats for their "Best Donuts in NY" post. Ever since I read it my donut intake and waistline have been increasing. I had no clue that bomboloni existed and was perfectly content. Of course, their photo looked so delicious I HAD to have one, so off to Caffe Falai went the Puff and I. Very swanky place, whitewashed throughout, triple chandeliers over the counter and tables bedecked with linen. Not a place where pocket change is gonna cover it.

Cart Guy at 26th & Madison - Manhattan

Friday is Danish Day!
I know, I know - Friday is supposed to be Donut Day. I've been chomping my way through the Serious Eats donut list and needed a break. I went old-school this morning and hit up my favorite cart guy for a pecan danish. If you live in NYC, you know this type of cart guy. He always has a 20-person line at his cart but has your usual order ready without your saying a word. But if you skip his cart for a week, this type of cart guy also says something like "I thought you died!" or "I guess you like that crap McDonald's coffee more than mine, huh?"

I hadn't been to his cart for over two weeks! I looked at my shoe tops, mumbling something about having to travel for work lately, not half-believing the lie. He stared hard at me as he tossed the bag across. "NEXT in line, please step up!"

Donut Plant - Manhattan

You Gotta Get Up Early to BKF with the Kid
Friday is donut day, I've decided. Last night as I went to bed I had the Donut Plant on my mind so is it any surprise I woke up before dawn? This is not a shot of the Donut Plant, this is a shot of the moon. I am up early, get it? Ok, nevermind.

Donut Pub

Friday + Dress Down + Donuts = Happiness
Yes, it really is as simple as that. On the way to work I jumped out at the 14th St. stop on the 2 train and ducked into the Donut Pub. We're talking old-school donuts, propped up in the front window, drawing you in. Long counter on your left, old-timers stooped over on stools, muttering to themselves and wise-cracking with each other. These folks eating at Dunkins or Krispy Kreme? What kinda stupid question is that? Have you been paying attention?
We're talking 24 hours a day. We're talking fresh and warm at 8am. Just so happened, I arrived at 7:55am. Momma didn't raise no dummy.

Picked up two for the road: chocolate glazed and cream-filled. Back on the 2 train and guarding the bag like it was full of gold. Why does everyone bump you when you're carrying a fragile load? Hey, guess what, Momma sure didn't raise no photographer either. A pro woulda put the darker one on the right - gotta love that shadow on the chocolate glazed.

But forget all that. Now we're talking sweet, crumbly old-school deliciousness. Get in my belly!!

203 W. 14th St.
Manhattan

Map it!!