The Best Donuts In New York

As the temps fall, my interest in donuts always seems to rise. Maybe it's those pumpkin donuts that start showing up on the rack at Dunkin' and Starbucks. Or maybe, now that the layering has started up again, I have less concerns about over-donuting.

Well, I don't think I'm on the only one whose interest perks up this time of year. Over at NY Daily Photo, there's a great photo (reposted here) and feature today about The Doughnut Plant (their spelling) on the LES. I've mentioned them on the blog before but his post offers a little more detail and history too. Basically, they make exquisite donuts with mad crazy real ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup in the mix. They are a little pricey at 2-3 a pop but this is New York, dammit...what isn't?

In other donut news, there is even a new play on Broadway this fall about donuts. Sorta. No, it's not the musical version of The Simpsons. It's a serious, straight play called "Superior Donuts" which comes from the same writer who brought us last seasons' "August: Osage County". Just like it's name, this new work by Tracy Letts, which chronicles life in a Chicago donut shop, is supposed to be a bit lighter, fluffier and sweeter, with reviews comparing it to a genial 70's sitcom. And there's certainly nothing wrong with that! It sounds a bit like a white "What's Happening" or "Archie Bunker's Place" with cream-filled concoctions instead of cocktails. Either way, I plan to check it out this fall, if only to see if donuts are on sale in the lobby.

Peter Pan Bakery Has Best Donuts In New York

One of the recurrent themes of my blog (and my life!) is donuts. So this weekend, I was out in Greenpoint and finally got a chance to visit the Peter Pan Bakery, which I had heard a lot about (and had even mentioned here before) but never made the trek out.  I can honestly say that these are easily the best donuts in New York City....yes, even better than the my local fave The Donut Pub.

They are truly kicking it old school at Peter Pan and you know it the minute you walk in the door. It smells heavenly and kinda like the 70s. That is, it smells like the 70's at the old Montgomery Donuts I used to frequent as a kid. Peter Pan has been in operation for decades and has a great zig-zag counter with stools too which looks pretty retro too. But what sets Peter Pan apart from say The Pub is a) the sheer variety of donuts (I counted about 20) and b) just a fresher crisper old-time donutty taste.  A favorite was the Apple Crumb donut which had a healthy dose of cinnamon crumbs piled on top.  There was also the basic chocolate ring that was awesome and a white cream filled creation that was delicious.

I would be there ever day if it weren't roughly 3 trains away from me in the city. But that is probably a good thing too.  Too many donuts=Homer Simpson.

DONUT SHOWDOWN Is An Awesome Competition Show About Donuts

I was recently informed by a good friend who knows me well of a newish show on the Cooking Channel called DONUT SHOWDOWN. It's actually a Canadian show in which a bunch of "donut chefs" come on and compete in the somewhat redonkculous manner that has become common on these crazy cooking shows (see CUPCAKE WARS).  But still, it was very entertaining to watch the finalists try to create the ulimate Japanese themed donuts. Wait--what? Let's just say rice and donuts are not two great tastes that go great together!

The show was so absurd that at times it played almost like a comic parody of a cooking show, ala SNL. This was not hard to do as when you take something like donuts dead seriously--it's just going to be funny when you start talking about the texture or mouth feel of a donut. The real revelation of the show was one of the contestants, Dan Dunbar who was not only super-cute but made some killer donuts.  He happened to be from Brooklyn too where, along with business partner Patrick Holliwell, he runs a vegan donut shop in Bushwick called Dun-Well Donuts. How is it I did not hear of this artisanal donut wonderland? Oh yeah--it is vegan. But I'm willing to give it a shot as many are calling it the best donut in the city, including the NY Daily News. Maybe even this weekend as i'm sure they've got a killer apple cider flavor just for fall.

Homegrown Donuts

Yesterday, I was feeling the need for some serious donuts (shocker!). And as much as I love The Dunkin', a chain was not going to cut it. So me and my roommate hopped on the F train to the Lower East Side to score some of the best, freshest donuts in NYC at the Doughnut Plant.

Yeah, I know....they don't exactly use the spelling of donut that I prefer but I am not going to quibble when they make such extraordinary round, glazed treats. They are fresh and warm and downright delicious. I got a double chocolate cake donut and a glazed cashew (pictured) while my roommate ordered a strawberry cake one. Man, I'm getting hungry again just describing them!

Along with their good/cheap coffee (only a dollar!) we had a moveable yeast-feast and snacked on our donuts while strolling up Clinton Street on a nice Spring afternoon. If you are ever looking for a good Lazy Sunday activity, this is it. Well, if you like donuts, of course :)

Rejoice--It's National Donut Day 2013

As I've posted on here a few times before, I like donuts. It's true. So since today is officially National Donut Day, it's like a national holiday for me. You can celebrate, as I did this morning, by going to Dunkin Donuts and actually getting a free donut (w/purchase of a small beverage). Not a bad deal and a great way to promote the awesomeness of donuts. And they're not the only donut specialist celebrating this momentous occasion.

Yesterday, while walking down 23rd street, there was a commotion in front of the Flatiron Building. A large blue and white food truck was parked with a mob around it. It turns out Entenmann's was giving out free donuts to anyone walking past. Fortunately, I had two Trade Joe's shopping bags and, from two different Entenmann's folks, got two donuts dropped in each bag. Score!

So when I got this reminder from them about National Donut Day, I was under the mistaken belief that it was actually on the 6th. (Donut Day varies as its the first friday of June. Like Ash Wednesday but sweeter!) So I then stopped by The Donut Pub on 14th to see if they had a special but when I asked the counter guy told me it Donut Day was Friday.  Ah well...since I was already there, I had to get something anyway (one chocolate sprinkle, one vanilla creme). So this year my Donut Day has turned into a Donut double day! Yeah--I'm not complaining.

Fonuts Are Hot In L.A.

I'm always on the lookout for the latest in donuts news and/or trends.  Recently, it has come to my attention that something called fonuts (as in faux donuts) has created a feeding frenzy in Los Angeles, especially among skinny celebrities.  Fonuts are basically fake donuts without all the unhealthy fat, sugar, calories and stuff.  Oh yeah, and they are gluten-free of course.

I haven't tasted them but I will say I am a little skeptical of the concept of faux donuts.  The basic idea of a donut is that of total, unadulterated indulgence so what's the point if it's actually healthy?  Maybe in L.A. everything fun has to be made healthy (see Pinkberry and soft ice cream).  I will definitely do a taste test next time I'm out on the Left Coast.

Donuts Of The Week

Well, after many posts about my interest in donuts, it appears the NY TIMES is jumping on the bandwagon.  Just another example of Hi-Fi Bri being a bellweather of cultural taste...or donut trends. :)

The main focus of the TIMES piece is a new joint in Bed-Stuy called "Dough".  It sounds slightly ridiculous in it's creation of somewhat artisanal donuts, with dulce de leche, cacoa bit toppings and "a vivd magenta hibiscus".  Seriously?!  The Nutella filled creme donut sounds a little more my speed though so I will have to make the trek and check it out.

They also give mention to a place that sounds more to my liking in The Point called the Peter Pan Donut Shop.  It's offerings look closer to my favorite joint, the Donut Pub on 14th Street (which was ignored).  It's got the traditional cruellers and chocolate topped creations, as well as jam filled treats that sound delicious. And there were also a few paragraphs on the new Doughnut Plant on 23rd Street that recently opened.  Their Chocolate Blackout is a personal fave and the PBJ concoction an NYC classic.

Dunkin' Donuts Turns 60

Dunkin' Donuts is celebrating their 60th anniversary this month with a cool, special edition coffee cup (pictured here) which features all their logos over the past six decades.  The first store opened in 1950 in Quincy, MA. Dunkin' was a northeast regional chain starting in 1955, when the first franchise was licensed.  Now it's empire includes more than 8,000 stores that are spread across the US and the world with $5.5 billion in sales annually.  And that is a lot of donuts.  :)  Happy B-Day DD!  

OMG--It's Brian's Blog

Hi all and a hearty welcome to my little corner of the blog-o-sphere. After years of being told by many of my friends that I know way too much about way too many random things and should probably find a more creative outlet for my interests than their ears, I've decided to do something about it and start up a blog. The name Hi-Fi Bri is childhood nickname that is still popular in some circles. The donuts come from Dunkin' and don't they look delicious!

So-what inspired me to finally take action? As I work on both a new book and my next film, I figured I might have a lot to report about those things as they develop. I used to have an Amazon blog but that was just about book stuff and (I can admit it!) was kinda boring. This blog will be more dynamic, informal and interesting and funny. :) Also, I realized having a blog would be an awesome way to procrastinate! Now, whenever I'm on the internets, I can say I'm just doing "research". Sounds much better that way, right?

So, other than my own stuff, what will I be writing about? Pretty much what it says at the top. Things that interest me, like good indie movies and noisy studio pix, roller coasters and the subway, television and a healthy serving of pop culture, all things New York and, of course, occasional items about donuts. Seriously. And whatever the hell else strikes my fancy. . . because it's my blog and it's freakin' me out! If you can name that film reference, you should subscribe to Hi-Fi Bri immediately. If you can't, you should still subscribe because, well, you've got a lot to learn. :)

Donut of The Weak

As many of you know, I have a weakness for donuts.  And when I am really feeling the craving for warm, sugary, deep fried dough, I head to the Donut Pub.  Despite its name, the Pub does not sell beer or any other alocholic beverages.  But it does have a long bar which stretches the length of the joint, with old fashion spinning stools like you would have found at the Woolworth's lunch counter.  


A trip to the Donut Pub is something of a time warp.  It opened in the 1960s' and, despite a renovation in 2005 that brought it out of the 70's, it still has its old-timey charm.  It's open 24 hours and harbors some real New York characters.  When I first started going there in the early 90's, there was often an interesting mix of club kids and nuns on any given night (there was a convent nearby that has since relocated).  Now, like all of Manhattan, things have blanded out a bit.  But the donuts are still amazing.  


They have all the favorites from my childhood: chocolate w/sprinkles, cinnamon dusted, even crullers and the amazing creme-filled delight.  There are even some industrial sized brownies and muffins too as well as a black and white cookie that gets raves.  You can also have lunch sitting at the bar for under 10 dollars--an amazing feat on the border of Chelsea and the Village. The pub is located at 203 W. 14th Street, just west of Seventh Ave....now and hopefully forever.

Dunkin's Next Donut...You Decide

Back in April, I posted about Dunkin' Donuts design your own donut contest. Well, they have announced the finalists and, just like IDOL, America can now vote for their favorite. Though my "Double Nutter Surprise" creation (picture above) did not make the final dozen there is a suspiciously similar entry called "A Nutter One" from the mysterious Carol D. in Palm Beach, FL. Damn--bitch stole my donut! I think I'm voting for the Oreo one, currently holding a healthy lead. Which is your favorite? The finalists will meet up for bake-off in Braintree, MA (home of Dunkin') on May 28th. Maybe I should take the Chinatown Bus up for that....think of the free donuts!

Cake Wrecks

As some of you know, my sweet tooth does not only apply to donuts. I enjoy cupcakes, cakes, brownies, cookies....basically any sort of baked good with chocolate somewhere in the mix.

I sometimes check in on the blog Cake Wrecks, which specializes in disasterously decorated professionally made cakes. Now there is a Cake Wrecks book out with some hilarious pictures of various cake mishaps. Spelling mistakes are very common, of course, as is writing "nothing" and "leave space blank" when the decorator was told to write nothing. Classic. However, even though they are made of sugar, some of these cakes would even give me pause to actually eat them: a current trend has pregnant bellies with feet poking out of them made for baby showers!

Today's TIMES features an article about all these crazy cakes and the woman behind the blog, Jen Yates, as well as a great slide show of various cakey-disasters she's discovered over the years. I loved these pics because not only does all that icing make me hungry, it also makes me laugh. That's certainly a sweet combo to get the day started right.

Time To Make Your Donut

Look at that--barely a week into my blog and already a donut post! Seems that Dunkin' Donuts is throwing a little contest on their website where you can literally make your own donut. This is the funnest interactive thing I've done on the internets since playing German lady or Lesbian....and that was like 10 years ago.

If for some unfathomable reason you're still skeptical about the thrill of making your own donut how 'bout this? Whoever comes up with the best friggin' donut of all-time wins 12 grand! I already did one myself (pictured above), the Double Nutter Surprise....it is a peanut butter, chocolate, Reese's cup and donut lover's dream. For my next creation I am aiming for some sorta over-the-top, sugar-coma inducing madness. Unless, that is, you beat me to it....the donut challenge is ON!

Chanukah Goes Viral With The Maccabeats

What happens when you put a bunch of cute Jewish college students together to sing an a capella version of "Dynamite" with new lyrics celebrating Chanukah?  You get the hottest holiday viral video since Dick In A Box.  Though this one is a bit more clean scrubbed for sure the guys are all pretty adorkable too. :)  I like their Partridge Family-meets-Brady Bunch styling with the graphics too.

So...to celebrate the end of the festival of lights this week, here are the Maccabeats from NYC's Yeshiva University (in my neighborhood!) singing their song.  Have a great weekend and enjoy some jelly donuts, y'all.  Oh...and coming on Monday, photos of my night at the White House Christmas Party!!!

It's National Donut Day....OH YEAH!

Today is National Donut Day and to celebrate, Dunkin' Donuts has been doing at trivia contest on Twitter this afternoon.  I just sent in my reply to the question: what is the top selling donut in the US?  Chocolate frosted, chocolate glazed, or glazed. My answer--Glazed.  I found this one easy because whatever the rest of America likes, I usually don't like so with my personal fave being chocolate frosted, I'm sure the big ol' USA prefers bland glazed.  Not that I would turn down a glazed if offered....

Anyway, not to be outdone in celebrating this national semi-holiday, sugary rival Krispy Kreme is just giving them away. Literally. If you stop by your local KK today, you can get one free donut.  I would do this but I think the only outlet in Manhattan is up at Penn Station and I'm feeling a bit downtown today (i.e. at home and not going anywhere).  But maybe that $50 gift card will come through with Dukin'...that would be sweet!  LOLz

Breakfast All The Time

I love cereal almost as much as donuts. And even though I've switched to whole grain goodness and don't eat the crazy sugary kid stuff anymore, I'm still secretly fond of it.

Over the weekend, I posted this old photo on my Facebook and got some interesting responses and queries. Some friends wanted to know where this delicious looking cereal treat is available. Unfortunately, it's not...it was only on the market for about a year, from 1964-1965. In fact, some boxes of this stuff have sold on eBay for as high as $2000!

I found all this info at a wonderful website called mrbreakfast.com, which has a whole section devoted to cereal. The Cereal Project, as it's called, has an incredibly comprehensive listing of cereal over the last 40 plus years. You can also vote on the Top 100 Cereals of all time and there are even some coupons available for free cereal.

You can even watch old TV commercials for extinct cereals like Vanilly Crunch, a 70's incarnation of Cap'N Crunch that I loved. Basically, the idea was to create a cereal that tasted like vanilla cupcake batter. Ah...the cereals of my youth.