The Latest Dispatch in Local Doughnut Wars

Results are in from partly-local food blog The Ethicurean's recent doughnut taste-off. They pitted doughnuts from Top Pot, Mighty-O, and Krispy Kreme against each other. You should read the entire taste-off account -- very entertaining -- but we'll spoil the results now:

We quickly decide on our favorites. For the Butter Bitch, Top Pot’s old-fashioned is the best because it has a consistent flavor but isn’t sickeningly fake. The cake is nice and moist. Mighty-O’s raspberry chocolate donut is her second favorite. “It’s a close call between the two,” she admits. When I raise a miniature cinnamon donut, she shrugs and says, “I just love those.” The cinnamon minis are in a class of their own.

I prefer the raspberry chocolate donut above all of the others. The bittersweetness of the chocolate goes very well with the sharp raspberry flavor. I tend to prefer bitter flavors over vanilla-y sweet ones, taking my coffee and beer black when possible. Top Pot’s old-fashioned is my second favorite only because their chocolate donut tasted awful.

They're far harsher on Krispy Kreme ("Calling Krispy Kreme a donut shop is like calling a Boeing plant a workshop.") than Ellen Forney's tasting squad from earlier this year.

We admit we're Top Pot partisans, but we have to confess: we just don't see the big deal about Mighty-O. There's nothing wrong with 'em -- they're better than Krispy Kreme, by far -- but consider them more "perfectly serviceable" than "exciting." We're glad our vegan friends have a fairly tasty option, though.

We're waiting for the logical follow-up: Cupcake Royale getting their heads (or muffin tops) handed to 'em by the doughnuts.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By James in Food, News on July 26, 2006 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

x-new yorker

Winchells Donuts in Wallingford are pretty tasty. I admit I've never tried top pot or mighty o's, but I know they beat the hell out of krispy kreme.

s

WTF - a doughnut off

HEY MAN - Get a life!

Try a beer off of something less further down

on the 'waste of time' ladder.

http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/

Robin

Mighty-O is wonderful and deserves all the raves because:

The doughnuts are not too greasy like Top Pot's

They are vegan, organic, all natural, have no trans-fats AND are still as good or better than other doughnuts when it comes to taste, texture, and variety.

If only they had maple bars. Sigh.

maggie

I agree, I want to see a rematch with the mini doughnuts from that stand in Pike Place Market included. I LOVE those little guys! Especially the cinnamon ones. They are always piping hot and you get to watch them be created on machine called the DONUT ROBOT. And it is more fun to eat a bag of mini doughnuts than just one doughnut, I think.

kirsten

Tim Horton honey crullers. That my friend, is manna from heaven.

I think there needs to be a rematch with more shops thrown in the mix.

rev. tom

I, too, admit to being a Top Pot snob; however, they are not as accessible as I would like. Nor are the other donut shops accessible, actually. I'd like to see an escalation of donut options in this waterside shanty-town of ours. At the risk of shameless self-promotion, I propose a Tim Horton's invasion.