Restaurant Review: Demet's Donuts

 
 There is something so refreshing about eating from a tray.  In this crazy go-go world we are often encouraged to be constantly moving.  It is a rare occurrence when one is offered the chance to sit for a spell and just relax.  I recently had the opportunity at the excellent Demet's Donuts.  The Mrs. and I wandered into this wonderful little shop a little bit after noon on a Saturday.  Boy, were we lucky we got there when we did!  Demet's donut supply was nearly depleted!  Shelf after shelf sat empty, a few remaining crumbs all that was left of the splendor that had once occupied them.  My options being limited to a jelly, a honey glazed and a partially dismantled cruller I chose the first two.  The kind woman behind the counter asked if it was for there or to go.  I explained to her that I wished to eat them on the premises.  It was at that moment the tray made it's appearance.  Memories of school lunches came rushing back.  Of accidentally thrown away retainers and my beloved Taco Day Thursdays at my old high school.  Sitting down with a tray containing what was surely the last two whole donuts of the day, I was met with a feeling of elation.  A small victory had happened, it was clear to all who were present.  And the donut, you ask.  How were the donuts?  Heaven on earth!  They were both surprisingly fluffy on the inside.  The jelly one had easily a 3/4 of an inch of donut between the jelly center and the outer edge.  Demet's coffee made for an excellent counterpart to their fantastic donuts.  I can easily recommend either sitting for a spell at Demet's or if you a hosting a dinner party bringing some home as an after dinner treat!
 

















Address: 199 Mystic Ave,  Medford, MA 02155
Price Range: $1/2
Cuisine: Northern Atlantic Donut

"Read the TV Guide, You Don't Need a TV."

On a recent trip to visit the in-laws I picked up a few old issues of TV Guide. They range from the mid seventies to the early eighties, from somewhere in Florida. I had completely forgotten how much I used to love the TV Guide. I was reminded of doing the crossword puzzle with my grandmother as a kid. Between our two very different points of interests we usually finished them every week. Then there was always some movie my folks didn't want me watching I'd read about that would be on late at night. I'd set the trusty old VCR to record it and watch it when the folks were not home. Thanks TV Guide! Here are a few scans of the greatness these decades old magazines held. Travel back in time to when NBC was as proud as a peacock, ads were painted instead of badly photoshopped, and television in general was pretty bonkers.

Videos from the VHS Vault: Creepy Creatures

Restaraunt Review: Shipley's Do-Nuts

The South is a land of mystery to me. Despite my mother being of Tennessee stock I am a born and raised Yankee. I have been south of the Mason Dixon line on many different occasions. The thing that confounds me most about the south is why it is so hard to get an iced coffee. It is late July. It's Mississippi. It's hotter than the devil's tushy and all you want to do is drink something both cold and caffeinated. So you stop at a donut shop. Ask the nice lady for a few donuts and an iced coffee. And you get a look like you offered sodomy lessons or something. So you buy a hot coffee and have to wait a half hour to drink it. The only thing I can figure is that the sweet tea industry is so strong in the south that it has strangled any competition iced coffee may have had. I had to travel another day and a half before finding a great place in Austin Texas that would sell me an iced coffee.

Shipley's is an excellent place for donuts or as they call them "do-nuts". I had a lemon and apple filled. Delightful. Perfectly assembled pastries. But I had nothing to wash them down with. If it were wintertime this wouldn't have been a problem. When it's close to a hundred degrees out, the last thing you want is a hot coffee. I swear to goodness I almost had a case of the vapors. And that is not something this Northern gentleman can abide.

Address: 2151 S Lamar Blvd, Oxford, MS 38655
Price Range: $
Cuisine: Southern Do-Nut

Videos from the VHS Vault: Awesome Action

Restaraunt Review: Linda's Donuts

One fast and easy way to test the quality of a donut shop is to quickly count the number of older customers. If you walk in and see an ocean of white, gray and blue hair you know you have hit the mother lode. Which is exactly what happened when I stepped foot in Linda's. Every table was full of four or five retirement aged or greater individuals. I longed to cozy up with them, ask for some life lessons or tips on getting out grass stains. But I was there for one reason and one reason only- the donuts! Linda's sells fantastic hand crafted donuts. The jelly donut I purchased was sugar covered as opposed to the usual powder. I have heard negative reviews of their coffee from fellow food critics and I had a thermos of coffee in the car so I skipped the coffee. Plus it was standing room only, so I had to take my donuts to go. The seniors are right though, Linda makes a great donut. In the days since my visit the donuts have not been far from my mind. I may make the trip back to Linda's again, quite soon. And as I bound into my golden years I look forward to many more visits to this fine eatery.



Address: 247 Belmont Street, Belmont, MA 02478
Price Range: $$1/2
Cuisine: All Ages Donut