Moving from NYC to San Diego - Part 2: Donuts in Dollars Review

Morning!

Last night, Hive account@nutinbutdatruth and I went to Petco Stadium to see a Mets/Padres game. It was our first time, and we were amazed at it was integrated into the city. Apartment buildings jutting out into the park, people watching from the rooftops and terraces. Nothing like Shea Stadium - in the middle of nowhere, Queens. NO WAY would you get away with watching anything for free there! After the Mets were down 10-0, we decided to head home early....but not without stopping at the Donut Bar, first! This is exactly the thing I've been asking the universe about lately. Why are there no PM donut shops? Donuts are not just for the morning. In fact, they shouldn't be - those poor bakers getting up at 3am so we can have a disgustingly sweet breakfast that provides zero nutrition? It doesn't make any sense! So you can imagine my delight when I tapped in "donuts" into google maps and this gem popped up. I was grumpy about not getting any kettle corn at the game because I suffer from food swings. Its like a mood swing, but determined by food. (I just made that up. Don't try to search for the term. It's not a real thing). So, we made a trip around a few blocks to find this place that is ranked as the #1 donut shop on a bunch of lists. Who is in charge of said lists, I couldn't tell you. But I had to see for myself if the ratings were real, or if this was another place that relied on celebrity brands to boost its popularity.

I can get a little lost sometimes when looking at all the different flavors, and since Alfredo was waiting around the corner, illegally parked, I quickly scanned the case and picked out two pretty decadent choices for donuts - PB&J and Creme Brulee. The giant pink forbidden donut was a last minute addition while I was being rung up. I couldn't resist. Of course, my money anxious mind said no way, that thing probably costs $10. It's as big as your face! But the practical side of me said we drove an hour to get to the heart of San Diego, if I have to make a separate trip here for donuts, you'll be pissed. Gas money, time. Yeah, this is how my brain thinks when I'm standing in front of a donut case, with a line of people behind me waiting their turn. QUICK! Calculate the cost per gallon and how many gallons it'll take to get back and forth. What the fuck is wrong with me?

[Photo taken at Dough, New York City]

So anyways, I decide its fine, and nervously wait for the total.
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Cashier: That'll be $8, please!
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Me: (Internal struggle. Do I ask if he saw all three donuts and charged me correctly, or do I slink away, possibly with a free donut? No, there is no way he couldn't NOT see that pink one. But it's pretty dark in here....no, what the fuck.) Um, did you charge me right? I have three donuts. Two SPECIAL ones.

I guess he must have been used to drunk customers or something, as he didn't skip a beat and told me yes, thats it. Guys, that pink donut that I'll probably be eating for days was $3. Which means the fancy ones were only $2.50?! Yup, I was calculating as I rushed out the door, down the sidewalk and around the corner with a sweater-sized gift box where a group of people laughed and commented at my clutching the box to my chest. They knew exactly what was in there! But I think I can walk next time - there wasn't anyone around to make Alfredo circle the block.

So, here's my haul:

Let's get started - since I'm trying to take photos at the same time, I'm using a knife to cut the donuts. Please don't make fun of me. It's shameful enough. First up was the PB&J.

I loved the peanut butter topping, and the chewiness of the donut was just right. It was filled to perfection, but with something that was not quite there. The jam tasted too sweet with just a tang of artificial to it. Perhaps a tad more peanut butter would have rounded it out better but overall, for $2.50, not bad. It should be noted that I am super biased when it comes to PB&J donuts, though. My absolute favorite, at a whopping $4.50 plus tax, is the one from Doughnut Plant in NYC. Its square, covered in crunchy peanut butter and filled to every corner with house-made jam. They even sell it on the side, jarred, its so good! Worth every penny and then some, because you need a cup of coffee to go with it, obviously.

[Photo taken at Doughnut Plant, New York City]

Next was the Creme Brulee.

As you can see, it has a really nice, thick and crunchy sugar top like creme brulee is supposed to have. However, it was severely lacking in filling, which in my opinion, is the best part. My first bite tasted only of burnt sugar and really needed that creaminess to balance it out.

The Homer Donut (actual name, shown in the first photo) was everything I expected it to be and more. Sweet but not sickly frosting, just the right amount of sprinkles and a perfect chew to the dough. This was my favorite, by far.

So, bottom line, Donut Bar is pretty decent. The best part is that they're open late and affordable. BUT. Its a chain. Or a franchise, if you want one. So to balance things out, I wanted to go back to this infamous, local donut shop in Oceanside. I read about its possible closing when we were visiting last January, and made Alfredo bring us there to help out a slowly dying business. Not his fault, the strip mall where the shop was located was all vacant with the exception of this guy and maybe one or two other stores.

I scoured my photos for this one picture since I'm terrible with remembering names. I googled Chow's to find the address and was met with the news that July 16, 2017 was his last day, and is now being replaced by a Dunkin Donuts. UGH. As an east-coaster, I don't know how to feel about this! Sure, dunks is watered down coffee tasting water, but I started on that caffeine train at the young at of 13 and there is just something about the taste that reminds me of home. And they're the only ones besides Starbucks that lets me put milk in my coffee! (Seriously, SoCal, why isn't this a thing? Cream is so thick and grosssssss.) And the only one near me right now is located on base, so that doesn't count since I can't go there. First world dilemmas, I know. I'm done.

Hope you guys have a great Sunday filled with lots of donuts! And who was I kidding. It took me so long to write this 5 minute post, I finished the Homer already.

Current Score -

NYC: 2 (one point for Doughnut Plant and the other for being able to order milk in my coffee)
San Diego: 2 (one point for being nice and sharing ballgames with the city)

xo
Christie

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