Tag Archives: Donuts

08.05.26
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Does Victoria Really Need A Lee’s Donuts?

Lees Donuts658 View Street
Victoria, BC (Old Town)

Just how many donut shops does this city need? I’m skeptical, mostly since my favorite donut shop isn’t actually a donut shop. It’s a cream puff shop, and yes, I’ll admit it, once upon a time Beard Papa’s was really good. But time hasn’t treated this operation kindly. Quality dropped, and so did this staple of every visit I make. It could benefit from coming to the island to “restart,” instead of Lee’s Donuts. But as this other operation opens its first location at 658 View Street, I do have to wonder: will the cream puff giant soon follow?

Although the signage was already up when I was downtown not too long ago, I’m not feeling particularly excited. There’s going to be huge competition over which creamy operation will taunt our taste buds. Even though it had humble, Asian-style beginnings as a mom-and-pop shop inside the Granville Island Public Market in 1979 I’m still not entirely sold. And I’m fairly sure founders Alan and Betty-Ann Lee’s “secret recipe” isn’t all that secret.

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06.01.22
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Victoria, BC Has Frickin’ Delights Donuts in Town!

20220521_161023632 Yates Street
Victoria BC

Hours: Tues to Sunday 9:00am to 3:00pm
Phone: (250) 353-2687

Frickin’ Delights Donuts is almost ready to unseat the mighty Empire Donuts, if the talk around downtown Victoria is any sign. But I see both can comfortably satisfy the city core. However, I should note other local makers also exist, and it’s tough to decide who is the king. Just where they rank is a separate article in itself. 

Barely a week since opening its doors, the lineups aren’t yet crazy. Their selection of tastes aren’t too different from other places, and as for their famous dill pickle soup–it’s intense! It took a while for my taste buds to adjust to the savoury concoction, but I was sold. I ended up using it as a dip for my roast beef sandwich over the included cornbread donut.

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06.29.16
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[Vancouver, BC] Cartems Donuterie’s Sweet Rise!

IMG_9214534 W Pender St.
Vancouver, BC 
(778) 708-0996

E: The next time James and I seek out a breakfast style place (or hunt for a quick bite), I’m recommending that we return to Cartems Donuterie. After feeling well-travelled to taste the donuts of the Pacific Northwest region (I’ve visited Top Pot in Seattle and Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland) I feel Cartems can put Top Pot to shame once word gets out. At home in Victoria, Empire Doughnuts is getting plenty of love in the nerd and downtown core community.

This Vancouver operation may not get as crazy as what Voodoo Doughnuts can offer, but I say it’s at a good start by offering a whiskey bacon doughnut to wet my appetite.

J: Better known as the bee sting, I was fearful of bees as I ate this doughnut. I’m sure I would give off a scent to attract the local population or one very hungry Pooh Bear. The entire shop has a rustic theme going on. I guess they want their customers to think of down home back country made doughnuts. And as long as there is no racoon scavenging through their garbage I am good with that image.

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03.26.16
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You Can Sate those Winter Blues with Cold Comfort!

cold-comfort1115 N Park St #2
Victoria, BC
(778) 433-5215

I miss being able to buy Cold Comfort Ice Cream at nearby outlets like The Root Cellar. This dessert is made in small batches and the unique flavour combinations are what makes this brand special. Ever since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency came in to say this product can not be sold elsewhere due to insufficient labelling (it did not conform to legislative standards), I have to visit the shop in the North Park neighbourhood of Downtown Victoria.

The issue came down last year in December and my craving for this local delicacy did not hit until recently. I discovered on their Facebook page photos showing rose water and lavender flavoured delights. I crossed my finger and hoped those were still available. I love the exotic flavours this local company offers! There’s a texture in their products not created by other brands. I love it when companies innovate. Ben and Jerry has competition!

The fact that Cold Comfort’s base of operations offers ice cream mashed in between cookies, graham crackers or a doughnut only cemented my need to visit sooner than later. I don’t want to wait for the Spring or Summer months to arrive to sate my taste buds.

Recently, they’ve been offering some unique flavours like Earl Grey and Blueberry Swirl. I wanted to savour every remaining bit off my plate. Anyone watching me would think I’m making love with the pottery. While those type of manners do not fly, is what I’m doing wrong? I ordered this cream sandwiched between a doughnut supplied by Empire Doughnuts.

On a cool night, even at the start of Spring, this company’s product certainly hits the spot. The store is open late on Fridays for the dating crowd, and who cares if I arrived alone. When I need to embrace Cold Comfort, I’m just there. With this place also selling Emile’s Organic Bread and Four Quarters Meats for sturdier meals, I may come here instead of hitting the grocery store for loading up on snacks for my trip to Seattle next month!

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03.06.13
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Getting on "Top" of Seattle’s Finest?

2124 5th Ave 
Seattle, WA
(206) 728-1966

I’ve been to Portland and had their best confectionery delight. In my opinion, the variety Voodoo Doughnuts offers is beyond compare. In Seattle, Top Pot is considered the best of Seattle because of its many endorsements. I had to challenge this claim.

I’ve had plenty of doughnuts from at least four different countries (two being from Asia) to know parts of what’s available. Even Homer might be eying me with envy, but I digress. In what I tasted early morning, when the product is at its freshest. I can certainly say they do rank up there in satisfaction. The quality can certainly be tasted.

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10.12.12
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Bubble Tea on the Run

Bubble Tea on the Run
Inner Harbour
Lower Causeway
Near Government St. & Humboldt St.
Victoria, B.C.

J: Sunday should be a lazy day, a time for relaxation and reflection, for watching what garbage they put on TV before changing my mind and renting a movie from Two Thumbs Up. But none of this occurred because I bused it to downtown Victoria for the International Chalk Festival (and any excuse to eat at another restaurant).

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