A Policeman's Snack: Doughnuts and Coffee

Just another Saturday trodding around the city and helping out the economy when Mr. Broad and I were looking for a good coffee place. But we got sidetracked. OH don't we always.

The Doughnut Plant
379 Grand Street

If you have watched Bobby Flay's Throwdown challenges on the Food Network you may have caught the doughnut challenge a year or so ago. While I can't remember the winner, the reaction of the competitor- Marc Israel, was priceless. If you are going to be challenged by Bobby Flay wouldn't you consider it, oh I don't know flattering?? Marc Israel on the other hand was not in the best mood. It was severly entertaingly awesome.

(If you are able to find the video online of Israel's reaction- please send!!)

But the doughnuts.
(Sidebar: is it donut or doughnut? I'm going doughnuts.)

There were so many different flavors of doughnuts Mr. Broad and I didn't know where to begin. Cake vs. Yeast. Peanut Butter Glaze? Tres Leches?! Black Out chocolate?

In a panic I chose a Meyer Lemon donught.

I blew up the picture so you can see the lemon bits on the glaze.

Mr. Broad went with a glazed Strawberry jam filled.

Where's the jam? Ooh, it's around the hole!

Ah.some. There was a line out the door when we arrived so we knew they were going to be good. We just didn't realize HOW good. You could tell the strawberry jam was actually real homemade jam and not that sweet, sugary kind. My meyer lemon had bits of lemon pieces around the glaze and yet wasn't the pucker-up kind. The negative of c0urse is the price- at $2.50 or so a doughnut it is a bit pricy considering, but they are plenty large and obviously a nice treat. And so worth it.

Also, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the specialty doughnuts shops are going to pop up soon similar to cupcakes. And if not they should. Cause we'd be there. We've been told this is one of the NYC's must go-to places. Check!

The Roasting Plant

81 Orchard Street (also at 75 Greenwich St.)

And a short walk from the doughnut plant is yet another plant. Not your normal, hang out, sit down and read a newspaper coffeeshop; this one actually revolves around the (gasp!) coffee! Numerous flavors to chose from, it's a small shop with friendly staff. Plus you can buy your own coffee similar to getting M&Ms at the M&M store. An overpriced scam I've fallen for-- Note: M&Ms ALL taste the same no matter the color. Just because you put pink, purple, blue and orange in the same bag- they all tastes the same. You're just out $8. The coffee here, however, is pretty reasonable yet your per pound may cost a bit more than your M&Ms. And Mr. Broad couldn't stop exclaiming, "Wow, this coffee kicks the crap out of Starbucks!"

Their picture is much better here. But you get the point. It's good coffee and does something with technology to make the coffee fresh. Every now and then you'll see beans flying through the pipes. It's cool. Oh yeah, and tastes good.