When I started this Donut blog almost two years ago I may have mentioned that I planned on visiting every Donut shop in the US. And I stand by this statement.

But for various reasons - one being this day job thing I have, and another being the fact that this country has so many frikkin’ states! - I haven’t been able to achieve this goal as fast as I would’ve liked. So in the meantime I’ve created that suggestion box over there on the right where readers can comment on their favorite local Donuts and Donut shops, getting them the exposure they deserve. Just click the link and comment away, and I’ll do my best to stop by ASAP.

Blognut would like to introduce our new and improved 5-Nut rating scale. In an effort to cram as many Doughnuts onto our site as possible, we’re doing away with the 10 point scale and replacing it with five delicious, miniature plain glazed Nuts. We will be assigning all previously-eaten Doughnuts a new rating in the coming weeks, so bear with us (and yes, we’ll be using half-Nuts).

5-Nut Rating Scale:

Don’t Eat This Nut -

Better Than No Nut -

OK Nut -

Choice Nut -

A Nut Among Nuts -

So Blognut will be traveling for a week or so. But think of it as a business trip since we’ll definitely be downing some fat Beignets in Paris and then, to ensure that we’re adequately jet-lagged, dabbling with VooDoo in Portland. In the meantime check these out:

The New Yorker reports on the political role of the Donut…

…and Timeout NY features an international donut roundup (Of which we’ve only had one!! The orange-infused Indian fritters from Tabla - I guess this means we’ve got a lot of work to do when we get back).

Blognut is off to Hawaii until August 4th so posts will be light for a bit. We hope to devour a ridiculous number of malassadas while on the islands and should have plenty to report when we get back.

Blognut would like to invite its readers to check out our new sister-site, Clean Plate Club. CPC is a collection of writers chattering about NYC eating, drinking, and snacking (and occasionaly eating like a child) while occasionally sending foodie frou frou back to the kitchen.

http://www.cleanplateclubnyc.com/

So Blognut’s going away this weekend to Toronto. In planning our trip we naturally investigated the donut shops in the area - we came to the conclusion that Canadians must love donuts.

A search on Toronto.com for “donuts” turns up a whopping 514 results in and around Toronto! Now we know what you’re thinking - most of the hits must be Pop-Nuts, right? Nope. While the most common findings on the list are, as expected, the three major donut chains in Ontario - Coffee Time, Country Style, and Tim Horton’s (the Dunkin Donuts of Canada, named after the famed Toronto Maple Leaf) - nearly half the listings are independents. Blognut was left feeling a little overwhelmed. Unsure of where to even begin - but reassured of our decision to focus Blognut’s coverage on US-based donuts - we’ve decided not to plan on hitting any specific Donut-Locations. Odds are we’ll find some.

Back on Monday.

Blognut will be on the road for the next week or so but will try and update whenever possible. Check back early next week for the first leg of our Southern Donut Adventure (a hint: it will involve potatoes).

To tide you over until the next post…