Friday, June 4 is National Doughnut Day. The doughnut is so good, so popular, that it gets its own day. I thought this was a creation of the snack food industry to promote themselves, but actually it started in 1938 as as fund-raiser for the Salvation Army. Women of that organization started America's love affair with the doughnut during World War 1. As part of their effort to bring a little bit of home to the American troops in France, the Salvation Army served coffee and doughnuts.
Who actually invented the doughnut? This is still being debated, but most cultures have a variety of fried bread. Dutch immigrants are often credited with creating the first American doughnuts, called "olykosks" (oily cakes). By the 1920's machines had been invented to mass produce doughnuts. The Chicago World's Fair in 1934 declared the doughnut "the food hit of the Century of Progress,"
Some of today's popular chains were around for the first National Doughnut Day. LaMar's (from the Midwest) opened in 1933, Krispy Kremed started in 1937, and Dunkin' Donuts opened their doors in 1950.
Both Krispy Kreme (free without any other purchase) and Dunkin' Donuts (free with purchase of a drink) will be handing out free doughnuts today. Recently the doughnut has been pushed aside by the bagel by thoses concerned with sugar and fat. I'd just like to point out that a glazed doughnut is LESS calories than a plain bagel.
For me, the best doughnut is still VG's in Cardiff. I haven't been eating them recently, but my mouth is watering thinking about how Ron and I used to stop in around 8pm, just before closing. The doughnuts were being prepared for the next day, the smell was intense and the taste of warm doughnuts actually melting in your mouth, well, there is just nothing better. So go pick up a free doughnut tomorrow, or better yet, stop by VG's when they're fresh and warm.
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