Hubs and I don't get out much, but we used to (before the pandemic) take a few day trips. A few years ago, well more than a few as it was 2017! Lord, where has the time gone!?
Let's get to today's #marketfriday hosted by 
It was my birthday month!
I had been involved in this scheme with a couple friends to start a doughnut shop. It all fell apart as they lost interest with each step that led to a roadblock. Long story, short: it never happened.
BUT, in the meantime, I had to do some research!
Off to Providence, RI we went, Hubs and I.
We booked a weekend in this cute hotel I can't remember the name of and made plans to visit a couple of Providence's most popular doughnut shops: Knead and PVDonuts.
The hotel lobby served Knead doughnuts, as well.
First stop: Knead.
At the time we went, they had one shop. They currently have at least one other location.
This one is in a building that used to be an old bank.
Later, my friend and I would book a meeting with the owner, as a sort of 'insiders scoop' research trip.
Knead has classic doughnuts with great flavor. Soft and fluffy yeast doughnuts and 'crispy on the outside' cake doughnuts. All fried to perfection. I apologize if you like baked 'doughnuts' but to me...that's just an oddly shaped cake and does not actually count as a doughnut.
We picked out a couple. I honestly don't remember the actual nut on the nutty one (I'm pretty sure it was pecan) but the chocolate drizzled was the most amazing espresso doughnut, and the chocolate is obviously a chocolate sea salt.
Next up was PVDonuts
There (back in the day) was ALWAYS a line. We knew to expect it, and after about 45 minutes mostly just hoped it was worth the wait.
We did finally get close enough to look in the window, so we just kept waiting.
(Obviously a pre-pandemic line!)
Once we got in, we were completely overwhelmed by the selection!
These weren't classic pretty doughnuts. These were over-the-top crazy doughnuts! And after standing in line for an hour, I really hoped they'd be the best I ever had!
We didn't get the rice crispie one that basically came with it's own dessert. Instead, the now classic maple bacon, chocolate brownie kind of thing (I think fashioned after the Little Debbie cosmic brownie?, the oatmeal cream sandwich, and I think the chocolate swirly one was chocolate milk?
They were all very yummy. Again, you can just tell a freshly made doughnut compared to the places that buy, thaw and bake off the pre-made ones.
Their flavors tend to be modeled after other pastries and desserts, which I think is clever. But they are also basically a doughnut with another dessert on top. Some people love the novelty, but you can see by our choices, we just wanted a good tasting doughnut!
If you can't tell, I love doughnuts and still make them at home on occasion. But it's so much better going out and getting one fresh from the frier that someone else has to clean up!!