Sugar Plum

Sugar Plum

Chicago Donuts

I was reading a blog on someone who lives in Chicago. One of her stories was all about Chicago donuts. I thought I would share some of the pictures here.

from Sugarplum blog-I’m going to tell you about a few doughnut shops I visited, all of which are located downtown Chicago in River North and the Loop.  The first place I went to is a new shop called Firecakes.  I love that name!  It’s a really cute, small shop that sells a variety of yeast and cake doughnuts, and coffee.  The shop is so small that there’s nowhere to sit, so I guess when you buy your doughnuts you’ll have to take them elsewhere to enjoy them.  

her next stop: Glazed and Infused

There are several locations in Chicago; I went to the one in Streeterville, inside the Raffaello Hotel.  It wasn’t much of a store… just a little breakfast nook in the corner of the hotel lobby.  The variety of doughnuts was picked over when I arrived, so I missed out on their most popular flavors: Maple Bacon Long John  and Crème Brûlée.  

This is another shop where there’s nowhere to sit.  There’s a little booth where you order your doughnuts, and that’s it.  And you better have brought cash to pay for them because that’s all they accept.

I went on cold, windy Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM.  I had missed the crowds, so I didn’t have to wait in line.  Score.  Disadvantage: they only had one type of doughnut left.  It was an apricot jelly filled doughnut with vanilla bean glaze.  It was pretty good, but not as good as Firecakes and Glazed & Infused.  There was too much sugary sweet filling, and the glaze was a little sweet.

I have to go back to try other flavors, though.  I can’t make up my mind about Doughnut Vault without trying more of their doughnuts… preferably a simple, glazed yeast doughnut.  I think that’s the best way to determine whether a shop makes good doughnuts or not.  

The last place I visited was Do-Rite Donuts.I guess they opened up about a year ago.

Acids and Sweetness

When you are trying to find a good balance between a sauce that has acid and sweetness combination try one of these preparations ~

Preparation #1

Approximate amounts

• 1 tsp finely diced scotch bonnet chili
• 3/4 tsp. Shredded chopped ginger
• 1 Tbsp Soy
• 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce
• 2-3 Tbsp Avocado
• 2-3? Tbsp Tangerine gastrique taste
• Add squeeze of fresh tangerine

Preparation #2

• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 2 tsp lime
• 1 1/2 tsp sweet chili sauce
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 3 Tbsp Coconut Fat

Preparation #3

• 1 Tbsp Apple Cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp Lemon Gastrique
• 1/2 tsp Horseradish
• 1 tsp Mustard Oil
• 1 tbsp diced apples
• 1/2 Tbsp Olive oil

Preparation #4

• 3 Tbsp Almond Oil
• 1 tsp Harissa
• 2 Tbsp Harissa Aïoli
• 1 Tbsp Lemon Gastrique