It is so loud here.

The downside of living in a city? Traffic.

You’d think that living 35 floors up you would become immune to it – especially having spent most of my life living next to a busy road. However it’s constant in the evenings – ambulances, police and fire vehicles, wind (despite the real reason for the ‘Windy City’ getting its name I can testify that it is definitely windy!). Add to that the defending sound of the L and you can barely hear yourself think. 

Also car horns. Why do drivers think that hooting really loudly and repeatedly will sort things? Does that ever work? (Asking as a mom driver here).

Today we went in search of some more tranquil areas and ended up in the prairie district in the south of the city. It was very green and tree-lined – reminding me a lot of D.C., particularly Takoma. I would like to go back to D.C. at some point soon but until then this was a nice reminder!

We then headed down to Chinatown and went to get a quick snack – possibly choosing the least Chinese items in the shop…

Custard tart (Max)

Cream bun (me)

Back at home, we have chocolate chips, blueberries and maple syrup. It’s finally time for American pancakes! 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A photo diary of sorts (despite it only being one day…)

Cow shaped cheese – all of Wisconsin in one item…

A flight of ice cream – 4 ice creams for $6!

It wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without Bratwurst and a stein of beer, whilst listening to polka music…

The Veterans Park

The art institute (shaped like a ship)

 

The Best Doughnuts in Chicago

So here it is. What you’ve all been waiting for!

The definitive listings of Chicago doughnuts, in reverse order!

8. Donut Delight

Sorry guys – there has to be a last place. We ordered a pineapple old fashioned and couldn’t taste pineapple… 

7. Glazed and Infused

Similar to Donut Delight, there was just not enough flavor. We ordered a Nutella Old Fashioned and it was rather stodgy and though fine, it’s not somewhere I’d run back to.

6. Mariano’s 

The supermarket doughnut ranks higher than several other shops for two reasons – price and amount of bacon ( see image below). 

That is a bacon maple donut.

Also these doughnuts are $0.70. Bargain!

5. Scafuri’s Bakery

This is your childhood in a doughnut- it’s soft, tasty and includes sprinkles. All round, a very successful baked good.

4. Beaver’s Donuts

Doughnut holes covered in caramel sauce, chocolate sauce and crushed nuts. Out of the top four these were the softest, possibly most greasiest of the top ones, but still very tasty and good value at $3 for 4 holes (5 in our case!)

3. Doughnut Vault

These rightly earn third place due to three things:

1. Cuteness of shop
2. Size of donut
3. Actual fruit flavor (note the blueberry old fashioned which was the best fruit donut of the lot!

How cute is this? It is tiny inside as well – there is about room for 4 people!

2. Stan’s Donuts

Stan’s almost made it to the No. 1 spot and still does an amazing donut – the chocolate orange old fashioned and the Boston creme donut being of particular note. It also has a full display of Kitchenaids and makes milkshakes with a donut on top. 

And now we come to the top spot… 

1. Do-rite Donuts

We weren’t sure about the top spot – Stan’s was still pretty unbeatable and whilst we agreed that Do-Rite was close, it wasn’t an outright winner.

Until this.

The best donut in Chicago.

Do-Rite’s carrot cake donut. Amazing. 

Why is it so amazing you ask? I give you three reasons:

1. No raisins – the worst part of carrot cake
2. Great taste and amazing cream cheese frosting
3. Softest texture of any donut 

Oh, and coffee is only a dollar. Can’t beat it. 

If carrot cake isn’t your thing, there is also apple fritters:

and chocolate Valhrona donuts

The carrot cake has to be number 1 though!

I’m sorry for the lack of posts – I will try to get back to more consistent posting soon!