This one really hit home! When I lived in Brooklyn, I’d usually get my morning coffee from these vendors. Sometimes I’d get a donut too. This post addressed so many questions that had gone unspoken. Also, the line “When you go for the donut, you go for the donut!” is something I’m going to say whenever someone goes big on dessert. There’s real wisdom from that street vendor.
Great story. I’m headed to North Dakota in a month to try bagels that were featured in Wine and Food. No other reason to visit ND. One of two states I haven’t been two. ( Arkansas is the other).
Apr 18, 2022·edited Apr 18, 2022Liked by Anne Kadet
Awesome as usual! This story of doughnuts was so entertaining. Haven't seen the word crullers for MANY YEARS but saw it on the order form. Every culture fries dough and gives stuff different names like beignets & faschnauts. I don't go for doughnuts much but this has me thinking it is time again. When you take the tour please ask the owner what is the famous donut of Tajikistan. Everybody has one it seems :) I figured as I was reading that a reporter on a bicycle talking donuts would be met with some resistance. Regarding the trash pile, here is a theory. Someone in the nieghborhood has a side hustle doing YouTube unboxing videos for phone cases and keeps their costs down by dumping on the street. Still imagining a donut the diameter of a salad plate...yikes
It's been a minute since I've lived in NY but I've always wondered about this and about the folks who sell the candied and honey roasted pecans and other nuts from carts. I've seen vendors selling roasted nuts here in Tokyo but not the breakfast carts - I've only seen that in the states. There is a "NY inspired" donut shop out here called DUMBO doughnuts after the neighborhood in Brooklyn that has pretty good donuts... all this talk about donuts, I guess I'm getting donuts today. Anyway, thanks for providing the answers! This is the third article I've read and enjoyed. Finally subscribed. Looking forward to reading more 🍩 😄
out of all the things about living in NYC, street cart culture is one of the things i miss the most - gotta try a donut next time i'm back in town. newly subscribed!
Loved this article! I do my laundry at Soft Bubbles every week, and live in one of the "limestone tenements" you speak of- had no idea there was such an influential bakery here for all this time!
Such a great combination of joy ("Stupid Russia) and despair ("I told my friend, ‘We’re going to drop dead here I think!"). I wonder what are the other languages Mr. Parliament speaks (guessing English/Russian/Tajik)?
I love this, thank you! I do love yeasted donuts, but they don't hold up as well. In my opinion, as far as cart donuts go, the marble cruller can't be beat. My old breakfast cart (haven't seen him since the pandemic :( ), however, had better chocolate glazed donuts. Perhaps they were from the now defunct bakery. NYC is not really a donut town (go to SF sometime!), but I appreciate the cart donuts, and that I'm supporting the guys in the carts and a family business in the donut bakery!
This one really hit home! When I lived in Brooklyn, I’d usually get my morning coffee from these vendors. Sometimes I’d get a donut too. This post addressed so many questions that had gone unspoken. Also, the line “When you go for the donut, you go for the donut!” is something I’m going to say whenever someone goes big on dessert. There’s real wisdom from that street vendor.
Great story. I’m headed to North Dakota in a month to try bagels that were featured in Wine and Food. No other reason to visit ND. One of two states I haven’t been two. ( Arkansas is the other).
Awesome as usual! This story of doughnuts was so entertaining. Haven't seen the word crullers for MANY YEARS but saw it on the order form. Every culture fries dough and gives stuff different names like beignets & faschnauts. I don't go for doughnuts much but this has me thinking it is time again. When you take the tour please ask the owner what is the famous donut of Tajikistan. Everybody has one it seems :) I figured as I was reading that a reporter on a bicycle talking donuts would be met with some resistance. Regarding the trash pile, here is a theory. Someone in the nieghborhood has a side hustle doing YouTube unboxing videos for phone cases and keeps their costs down by dumping on the street. Still imagining a donut the diameter of a salad plate...yikes
What a fantastic journey to the heart of NY’s donut cabal
love this! especially the vendor awaiting death and "Stupid Russia!"
It's been a minute since I've lived in NY but I've always wondered about this and about the folks who sell the candied and honey roasted pecans and other nuts from carts. I've seen vendors selling roasted nuts here in Tokyo but not the breakfast carts - I've only seen that in the states. There is a "NY inspired" donut shop out here called DUMBO doughnuts after the neighborhood in Brooklyn that has pretty good donuts... all this talk about donuts, I guess I'm getting donuts today. Anyway, thanks for providing the answers! This is the third article I've read and enjoyed. Finally subscribed. Looking forward to reading more 🍩 😄
out of all the things about living in NYC, street cart culture is one of the things i miss the most - gotta try a donut next time i'm back in town. newly subscribed!
Loved this article! I do my laundry at Soft Bubbles every week, and live in one of the "limestone tenements" you speak of- had no idea there was such an influential bakery here for all this time!
Such a great combination of joy ("Stupid Russia) and despair ("I told my friend, ‘We’re going to drop dead here I think!"). I wonder what are the other languages Mr. Parliament speaks (guessing English/Russian/Tajik)?
I love this, thank you! I do love yeasted donuts, but they don't hold up as well. In my opinion, as far as cart donuts go, the marble cruller can't be beat. My old breakfast cart (haven't seen him since the pandemic :( ), however, had better chocolate glazed donuts. Perhaps they were from the now defunct bakery. NYC is not really a donut town (go to SF sometime!), but I appreciate the cart donuts, and that I'm supporting the guys in the carts and a family business in the donut bakery!
After reading this investigative piece, I feel like "The Sopranos" missed out on whole donut cart story line that could have been *fabulous*.
You are a super sleuth! So Nancy Drew & The Donut Mystery.