Doughnuts | Dessert Darling

Archive for Doughnuts

Buttermilk Donut at Tasty Donuts

By Dessert Darling · January 21st, 2013

My friend B-side Ben once declared the buttermilk donut from Tasty Donuts to be, quite possibly, the “best donut in Los Angeles.” Wow, that was a bold statement and required a joint venture follow-up.

Ben came over with donuts in hand, yet panic on his face. Apparently, Tasty Donuts was out of the original Buttermilk donut, but they did have the same version, rolled in cinnamon sugar crumbs. No problemo Ben, your Dessert Darling can still detect if these donuts are winners or not!

Mmmmm, I completely see where Ben was coming from! The FLAVOR, the buttermilk FLAVOR is the secret ingredient to success here. The slightly sour and creamy ingredient helps balance the intense sweetness that’s intrinsic in a glazed donut. It’s such a soothing, sweet, and buttery taste, that you can’t help but continue monching on the thing, no matter how large or dense it is!

Which leads me to, Yes, these are large and dense donuts, but the glaze seeps through, keeping them joyfully moist and delightful for every bite. Your best plan is to share with a friend!

Tasty Donuts

8120 Santa Monica Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 650-1325

Wonderful Pastries from the Little Next Door on 3rd Street

By Dessert Darling · April 22nd, 2012

For years I have lived down the street from a darling French bistro that had the most lamentable French pastries. I mean, really- how can a Parisan cafe go wrong with the desserts?! Thankfully, The Little Next Door has hired a new pastry chef and wow, what a difference! These sweet coffee and pistachio eclairs literally had my eyes rolling back into my head.

Just look at that creamy, pistachio filling!

And while this flaky Napoleon was a little hard to eat, it’s gentle hand on the sugar made for a lovely and mild alternative to the eclairs.

Even the macarons, for which I wrote this unfavorable review in 2010, are significantly better.

I’m so delighted that The Little Next Door has stepped it up with their desserts! Now I can officialy call it one of my favorite neighborhood joints.

For more info on The Little Next Door, click here.

The Simpsons 500th Episode Party! Desserts and All ;)

By Dessert Darling · February 21st, 2012

Woohoo! I was so thrilled and honored to have an invite to the party for the 500th episode of The Simpsons at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Naturally, there were a ton of desserts, including… Dooonuts.

The cake donuts were ok, but what tickled me more was this tray of lovely options.

Which up close, each dessert (minus the cake pops) looked like this:

The S’mores Bar was insanely delicious, sweet, and buttery. Hands down, it was the winner. That said, the unassuming Chocolate Torte bar there had a surprising layer of peanut butter inside that made me giddy.

And see that head honcho in the tall director’s chair?

Yep- that’s just my buddy Matt Groening hanging with my friend and me. We go waaaaaay back (to 40 secs before this photo was taken).

Of course, my night wouldn’t be complete without dancing with the Simpsons themselves!

DOH! I ate too many desserts that night. Like, at least two of everything (mediocre donuts included). Awe well, it was an awesome night and well worth it. CONGRATS to everyone at FOX and The Simpsons for such tremendous success throughout the years! I remember when my family gathered around the TV for the very first episode together. It was an event for us that I’ll never forget!

Low-Cal Doughnuts from Starbucks

By Dessert Darling · January 25th, 2012

Today I dropped into Starbucks and sampled the 130 cal, mini-doughnuts. They never looked that appealing to me, but thought it my duty to at least try them and report back. Verdict is: they taste just like they look.. dry and uneventful. That said, the glaze on top is still nice and sweet if you want a quick, low-cal fix, and eat just the top off like I ended up doing.

In Search of the Best Desserts in Chiang Mai, Thailand- a Vlog!

By Dessert Darling · October 27th, 2011

Hi all! As you may know, I recently got back from my honeymoon in Thailand and Bali. While I was away, I made certain to not neglect you, my fellow Dessert Darlings! I kept my eyes and ears open for any and every delicious treat that I could find. Without further ado, here’s a Video Blog of me finding some goodies. That ROTI at the end is TO. DIE FOR!!!

Ps: There have been terrible floods in Thailand that have left the beautiful people of this magical country with absolutely nothing. If you have anything to spare, please donate to the Red Cross here. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

XOXO

Fōnuts, So Good You Could Go Nuts?

By Dessert Darling · September 2nd, 2011

I was really excited to see a new little bakery open up on 3rd Street where “Kiss My Bundt” used to be. This wasn’t just any bakery, however, it was a Faux-Doughnut and coffee shop.

Faux-Doughnuts, you wonder?! Yea, everyone else in line was scratching their head over that one too. So these donuts are baked, not fried… doesn’t that just make them ring shaped cakes? Anything else “healthier” about them? Oh, ok, some are gluten-free (almond meal), some are vegan, and some don’t use white-sugar (errr, but they use brown sugar, which, pardonne-moi, is the same idea). Ok, so I tried a Gluten Free Chocolate Hazelnut and a Gluten Free, Vegan Lemon fōnut.

The chocolate selection was a complete waste-of-space that reminded me of Snackwells Devil Food Cake cookies. Bummer. The Lemon fōnut though, was far tastier… and heavier. This super dense dessert surely had even more calories than a real donut! Hmm, sorry guys, I’m not sure I’m really on board here!

If you need Vegan or Gluten Free desserts, or a sense of adventure, then by all means, check out Fōnuts. The two fōnuts that I had were so wildly different in desirability, that who knows, maybe there’s an amazing option there that I never even tried. At the end of the day though, if you really want a donut? Why go faux?

For more info on Fōnuts, click here.

XOXO

Churros at Cobras and Matadors on Beverly Blvd

By Dessert Darling · August 19th, 2011

Wow, the Spanish donuts at Cobras and Matadors were pretty excellent poofs of fried dough with soft warm centers and a slight dusting of cinnamon-sugar. The “churros” were not your traditional Mexican donut sticks that you’d find at a fair, all firm and crispy and sometimes cold and stale. While this difference let down one of my girlfriends, I found the fresh warmth and bubbling softness of dough inside to be a total delight.

What befuddled me was the dark chocolate pairing. While the chocolate itself was delicious, it’s strength completely drowned out the cinnamon-sugared flavor of the donut (which the churro could have used more of to begin with). A much better dipping sauce would have been caramel, butterscotch or even an icing-glaze to harmonize with the subtle flavors of the fried deliciousness before us.

For more info on Cobras and Matadors, click here.

XOXO

Fried Oreos with Malted Vanilla Milkshake dipping Sauce- Insanity Courtesy of LAVO Restaurant in NY

By Dessert Darling · May 23rd, 2011

Oh wow- Wow wow wow wow wow.

Ok, first off: I do not like Fried Food. Also, I do not like Oreos.
But Fried Oreos?! Insane.

: Photo from the20somethingsociety.com

Normally Oreos are too crispy, bland, and lardy for my liking (yes, I’ve made up the word Lardy and I think it’s brilliant). However, when deep fried inside a doughnut bubble, Oreos soften into a warm, magical filling with their soothing double cream stuffing and mild cocoa flavoring. As if fried Oreos weren’t enough, Lavo Restaurant in New York serves their Oreo Zeppole with two sides of Malted Vanilla milkshake for dipping purposes. I might have put on 5 lbs in NY.

Worth it? I think so- indeed, I do.

XOXO

Yum Yum Donuts

By Dessert Darling · June 2nd, 2010

If you live in Los Angeles, you've probably driven by Yum Yum Donuts about a thousand times heading up Highland or La Cienega by the 10. You see a happy face licking his lips and wonder…just how Yum Yum are Yum Yum Donuts really? Probably pretty gross..

Actually, surprisingly Yummy! This weekend friends delighted us by bringing over a large box of beautiful doughnuts and, as is my job, I had one of each. Over all, the doughnuts are fresh and fluffy, with the exception of the old-fashion glazed, which was appropriately saturated, sweet, and dense. I would have enjoyed custard filling in the maple glazed bar (which is an all-time fave from childhood) and I felt a bit ill after eating them, which made me want to dock points. Alas, I decided that would be unfair since it's not the doughnuts' fault that I ate so many.

So congrats to the Yum Yum Donut chain! You earned yourself a solid 4-Cherry rating :-9

Tasty Donuts

By Dessert Darling · May 28th, 2010

Ben from B-side Blog is hilarious. I normally drop in on his site to check out his laugh-out-loud reviews on intellectually stimulating shows like, you know, The Real Housewives series on BRAVO (Ha). Today though, I was pleasantly surprised to find a dessert review!

I have driven past Tasty Donuts on Santa Monica Blvd. myself, Lord knows how many times, and always wondered if it was worth making the stop. It looks like the kinda joint that would use recycled oil and thus have mediocre donuts. But according to Ben, they might possibly have the best donut in LA! Well who knew?! Guess I'll have to make a stop there after all and give you the scoop myself someday! In the meantime, check out Ben's thoughts on these donuts here!

Archive for Doughnuts

Buttermilk Donut at Tasty Donuts

Wonderful Pastries from the Little Next Door on 3rd Street

The Simpsons 500th Episode Party! Desserts and All ;)

Low-Cal Doughnuts from Starbucks

In Search of the Best Desserts in Chiang Mai, Thailand- a Vlog!

Fōnuts, So Good You Could Go Nuts?

Churros at Cobras and Matadors on Beverly Blvd

Fried Oreos with Malted Vanilla Milkshake dipping Sauce- Insanity Courtesy of LAVO Restaurant in NY

Yum Yum Donuts

Tasty Donuts

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