Remember how a couple of weeks back I was sharing my cravings with all of you? In fact, I shared the healthiest craving ever, my undying love for acai bowls, and how you can get a really dang good one at a local (to me) spot, Pure Raw Juice. Yeah, remember that? Well, today I think I'm going polar opposite, and want to talk about the insane craving I had last week for doughnuts.
Yes, doughnuts. But not just any doughnut would do. I had visions of gourmet, fancy doughnuts, and these visions wouldn't leave me, no matter how hard I tried to make them go away. I'm not even really a doughnut lover. But, doughnuts were the only thing that could satisfy. But not just any doughnut... No. What I craved could only come from a place with an old-school, small-batch vision, and a creative and rebellious spirit. So no, I wouldn't find what i was looking for in my neighborhood Dunkin', or anywhere else in walking distance, according to Google.
But I did find a place in Fells Point with exactly what my heart desired: gourmet, small-batch doughnuts, and I found them at a place called Diablo Doughnuts. If you've already been on the Diablo Doughnuts bandwagon, I'm jealous. I wish I'd known of this place sooner. At least I got on board when I did.
Apparently, back in 2011, Diablo Doughnuts owner, former tattoo artist Michael Roslan, was facing a major life change due to motorcycle accident. He didn't know what to do since tattooing and piercing was no longer something that was in the cards, so he decided to make doughnuts. He was good. Really good. And making doughnuts became his new passion.
He took his creative outlet via tasty treat to local farmer's markets, where he attracted, gained and sustained quite a following. At the prompting of friends - both new and old - he decided to take the leap and open a doughnut shop of his very own.
So he found a pizza shop - Hot Tomatoes - in Fells Point that only operates at night, struck a deal and now sells his addictive and glorious creations during the daylight hours in the same shop at 717 S. Broadway.
They're open 6 days a week, closed Mondays. On the days they're open, you need to get there early. Yes, the sign may say Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but they sell out. I'm not playing. The place has been known to have lines of eager doughnut lovers streaming out the door, wrapped down the street, especially on weekends.
My first visit to Diablo Doughnuts was around 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, and I couldn't get there fast enough. I'd found out about this place on a Sunday after 1 p.m., so I had to wait 2 whole days before getting the chance to get out there. I strapped Jack in his seat, and the two of us were ready to go, doughnut bound. I couldn't wait.
I'd done some recon on Diablo's Facebook page, and had a pretty good idea of what to expect in terms of flavors, and they were wild. Unicorn Fart (glaze with Fruity Pebbles), Samoa (like the Girl Scout cookie I so love), S'mores (duh) and Captain Chesapeake (caramel glaze with Old Bay seasoning) caught my attention from photos, but once we arrived, I needed more than a moment to take in the assortment that stood before me.
It was a thing of beauty. There were so many beautiful doughnuts, and each one was so creative, so forward thinking, so out of the box and SO needed to get in my belly. But I didn't need to be purchasing every flavor. That's a lot of doughnuts. I decided to stick with 6; 2 for Michael, 2 for me, 1 for Major and 1 for Jack. Perfect, right?
Now comes the hard part, which 6?!
I called Michael as I stood with the case before me, rattling off all of the options he had to choose from. He ended up going with a Unicorn Fart, and a Marshmallow stuffed chocolate doughnut. Beautiful. Jack was insistent upon getting the chocolate with sprinkles, and for Major, I chose for him the Cookies and Cream, which reminded me of dirt pudding, with crushed up Oreo cookies as a topping with some marshmallow cream and a gummy worm. For me? I chose a blueberry basil, and Samoa. I couldn't resist the coconut-chocolate goodness.
I couldn't get home fast enough, and as soon as I did, Michael, Jack and I opened the box, admired the glory that was inside. It was as though a beacon of light shone bright as the sun as we lifted the inside-out pizza box lid.
We divvied the doughnuts up, and I put Major's away safely, ready for him when he returned from school that day. Michael took his up to his office to enjoy while working, and Jack and I put on some Ghostbusters cartoons as a backdrop to our breakfast treats.
Enough with all the noise right? Get to it already! How were they? Were they good? Were they great?
Yes, they were GREAT. The doughnuts themselves were light and airy, but still substantial. They were sweet, but not TOO sweet. They were chewy and sugary and absolutely what I was craving. Hands down, some of the best, most inventive doughnuts I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying, that's for sure.
Michael couldn't stop raving about the Unicorn Fart doughnut, but said that the marshmallow cream filled chocolate glazed doughnut was his favorite of the two, though it was a very tough decision. He talked on about them for easily 10 minutes, so I know he liked them. A lot.
Jack preferred my Samoa doughnut to his chocolate sprinkle doughnut, however, he wouldn't share at all with me. I thought that was kind of rude, but hey, he's 2. What's mine is his, and what's his... is his.
The Samoa doughnut was fantastic. I loved the coconut and chocolate combo, and they didn't skimp on either. The blueberry basil was interesting, and while I liked it, I don't think I'd get it again, only because it was too strong on basil for MY taste, but like I said, it was still wonderful.
Major came home from school with no idea he had the surprise waiting for him, and when he saw it, he about fainted. He came back with rave reviews as well. He still, a week later, goes on and on over the marshmallow cream that was used as part of the decor for the "dirt" topping. It was really good, I did take a sneaky taste.
With doughnuts this good, you can't expect me to stay away for long, can you? A few days later, Jack and I went down to Fells to visit my mom and go for a walk. We ended up down by Broadway, just steps away from Diablo Doughnuts.
"Can we please make a quick pitstop?"
She agreed and I practically ran to the pizza spot/doughnut heaven, where while most of their selection had been depleted since it was close to lunch time, there were still enough yummy goodies to choose from.
I got Michael another one of the marshmallow cream filled chocolate glazed since he was so in love with it, and for Major, I went with the S'more, a chocolate glazed doughnut with graham cracker dust and toasted marshmallows. It just looked SO cool! I decided to get myself the Captain Chesapeake, a caramel glazed doughnut with Old Bay seasoning.
I mean, why? I'm not sure it sounded that good, but I had to. I just did.
I'm such a weirdo when it comes to this kind of stuff. I always try the strangest things on the menu, and sometimes I truly regret my decisions, but not this time. The caramel and Old Bay worked together really well together.
It was salty and sweet. I really enjoyed it, but I think next time, I'll get something a bit LESS daring, like creme brulee.
Major, once again, couldn't stop raving about the selection I made for him, and when asked which was better the cookies and cream or the s'more, he couldn't make a decision.
They were both - in his words - " just SOOOO good! "
Have you had the chance to visit Diablo Doughnuts at their Fells Point location, or at a Farmer's Market? What's YOUR favorite flavor?