Pepple's Donuts via Mojo Cafe - San Francisco, CA

We decided to follow up last Saturday's Mojo session with an afternoon-motorcycle-ride-Mojo-birthday-doughnut-&-a-Gibraltar-extravaganza.  I don't know what it is, those Pepple's doughnuts always taste stale to me (even when they aren't a day old).  Let me again put out my plea for a blind taste test moderator: Pepple's vs. Bob's.  Who can help me out?

Coconut cake.  Tasted a little stale but maybe that's because Mojo leaves their doughnuts out on a plate, and it was four o'clock in the afternoon.  Or maybe "firm" is just the Pepple's way.  If you know me, you know I like to give the benefit of a doubt!

Pepple's Donuts via Mojo Cafe - San Francisco, CA

Team Bloughnut gave Pepple's's cinnamon-sugar cake doughnut another shake, not at Local 123 like last time but at my neighborhood cafe/bar/bike shop Mojo Bicycle Cafe.

Yep, that's right my dear readers.  Your eyes do not deceive you.  I went to People's Donuts' website today and their name has changed.

Whatever their reasoning for the switch, their doughnuts are still quite expensive and delicious.  However, side-by-side I would still go for a Bob's cake doughnut (currently looking for a volunteer to set up a blind taste test for me).  The Pepple's version was a little too dense for my liking.

Mojo is another great coffee & doughnut resource.  And they will tune up your bike while you snack.  They pulled a miracle with the city and installed a "parklet" in 3 parking spaces in front of their cafe on Divisadero.  Check it out!  It's packed with sun chasers and cyclists every time I roll by there.

Happy Donuts - San Francisco, CA

As if hanging out with 7 week old Joseph Aloysius Gottbrath IV wasn't all the invitation I needed, Joseph Aloysius Gottbrath III offered to bring along some afternoon offerings from Happy Donuts and meet in the Panhandle. The wee man clearly wasn't interested in the maple raised stuff so early in his game, but you gotta plant the seed..

Maple raised, chocolate old fashioned, plain glazed old fashioned, chocolate buttermilk. All just pretty alright like only Happy Donuts can do. Nothing epic, just solid offerings from the Bay Area stalwart. Look at the style of that old-fashioned!

 Dear readers: Don't forget about Old Hat's estate sale going on this weekend on Portola.  And pick up a doughnut on the way.

People's Donuts via Local 123 - Berkeley, CA

Today Team Bloughnut finds ourselves on San Pablo Ave at University so we popped into Local 123 for a cuppa.  A single lonely day old cinnamon-sugar cake doughnut from People's Donuts was sitting there looking at me funny.  For only one dollar, I had to "bite."  This is the first vegan doughnut Bloughnut has reviewed and it didn't disappoint---even a day later.  The cake was moist, the cinnamon and sugar dusted all fairy-like.

Local 123 might be the end-all spot: good coffee brewed one cup at a time, with 3 or 4 selections to choose from (Costa Rican? Ethiopian? Kenyan? Fully processed? Washed?...) on top of tasty locally-made (vegan) doughnuts.  Not to mention it always seems to be sunny on their back patio.  I will have to sample more of People's to give the definitive word, but since Arlo used to bring them in to the Crucible by the bagful I can tell you there's some good stuff going on there.

In addition to the do-do's and coffee I also sampled a day old "morning bun."  Though I didn't ask where it was from, it sure tasted a lot like my old dumpster diving days at Semifreddi's.  So sweet, just the kick I needed to finish those bar stools in time for the art show at the Crucible's Open House this weekend.

Update: Our memory served us incorrectly, we called Local 123 and were informed the morning bun was not from Semifreddi's  It came from a place we have not heard of but will surely check out: Hopkins Street Bakery in North Berkeley.  Check out the website, that ham & cheese croissant looks bangin'!

Dream Fluff Donuts - Berkeley, CA

We found ourselves in the neighborhood of College & Ashby today, just when we had a hankering for some fried sugar.  The old lady walking out of Dream Fluff on my way in said "Best doughnuts around" and that was enough for me. 

Apple fritter and maple french, both excellent.  The apple fritter was sweet but not sickly-so and even had the hint of apples that most don't.  The maple french was eggy and delicate; its maple frosting seemed a bit canned though.  There's always room for improvement! 

With doughnuts if the consistency is on I can deal with a sub-par frosting.  Aside from fresh dough-doughs this place also serves up sandwiches and fried chicken.  I'm lovin' the old sign.

In our next posting Team Bloughnut tries out his own Whirley-Pop home coffee roaster.....with extremely mixed results.