The Donut Queen by Josué Menjivar

So I’ve been craving donuts. Good donuts – not the thawed out frozen bread pucks they try and pass off at Tim Hortons. Donuts used to be a thing. I remember the Donut Queen in Fairview mall with folks planted at the counter enjoying a coffee, donut and cigarette. The real deal; fresh pastries laced with second-hand nicotine.

Those days are gone – but good old school donuts can still be found. Turns out Zehrs still makes donuts fresh daily. And they’re real good. Dangerously soft and pillowy sugar bombs. Their glazed croissant drizzled with chocolate is my new jam.

Twitter advocated strongly in Norris Bakery’s favor and I made the trip a couple times but I call it a draw. Zehr’s wins by the simple fact I can wander over instead of hopping in the car. In less time than it takes to make a coffee I can be there and back with a blueberry fritter. If you’re looking for strudels, coffee cakes and eclairs then by all means hit the Norris. And both have the oft forgotten Long John. Frankly that much sugar puts my teeth on edge but I’m somehow reassured by their presence. Here be real donuts.

I still miss the original glazed Krispy Kremes but only if they’re still warm out the factory. I just don’t know why they diluted the brand by offering boxes of glazed at Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire. I don’t want donuts where I get tires.

The fritters at Fritter Co. in the Farmer’s Market also need to be warm. If you let them cool down too much the mouthfeel goes all wonky. The apple devolves into something like finding a giant piece of sashimi in your donut. And I love that they need to be shared. You can’t just wait in the always present line for just one, so you get a box. Now share.

The Crazy Canuck SnowShoe

And finally, though not technically a donut, the Beaver Tail (sorry “Snowshoe” – BeaverTails Canada Inc. frowns on the misappropriation of their storied brand and actually sent the Canucks a firmly worded cease and desist) at the fantastic Crazy Canuck is awesome. Fried dough sprinkled with sugar and topped with a fruit compote and vanilla ice cream. I’m all about the Killaloe Sunrise when we’re in Ottawa but the Snowshoe is an awesome local indulgence.