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.

It's The New York City Doughnut Map

This is something I've been waiting for--a map of the best donut spots in New York City.  This map of 35 shops is put out by a small Brooklyn press and costs $8. They had a launch party for the map last Thursday up at the Ace Hotel which I missed due to a late posting on Papermag.com.

Still I would like to check this guide out and see what I'm missing other than my go-to faves like Peter Pan, Donut Pub and Doughnut Plant. I wonder if someone would like to organize a "donut crawl" in the tradition of the "pub crawls" that are popular here in the Village? That would be awesome!

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 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.