We mentioned in our last post that we were looking forward to Friday this week, since it brings the beginning of makers market Porter Flea. But there’s another good reason to get excited for the end of the week: Friday’s National Donut Day, too.
Yes, we’re talking a celebration of donuts, but the day actually has a pretty interesting history that goes well beyond a sugar rush — it traces back to World War I battlefields in France, where “donut lassies” shared donuts with soldiers on the front lines to raise spirits. So observing this particular holiday is delicious and just the respectful thing to do, too.
Generally National Donut Day brings some gifts from the national chains — you can snag free donuts at places like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts, which is nothing to complain about. But since Nashville has such a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Donut Day seemed like a good excuse to point you toward some Nashville food stops that serve great, uniquely Nashville donuts. Nearly 80 years since the launch of this celebration, these folks are continuing the tradition of raising spirits with a sugary circle:
Fox’s Donut Den
Thrillist recently listed off the top donut shops in America, and Fox’s in Green Hills was on there, for good reason — it’s a Nashville institution that excels at the classics, like glazed donuts and apple fritters.
Biscuit Love
New York has the cronut; Nashville has Bonuts. (And we win.) Head to Biscuit Love in The Gulch to try a perfectly modern-day-Nashville twist on the donut — fried biscuit dough with lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote.
Josephine
Josephine in 12 South serves “refined American farmhouse cuisine,” with upscale dishes like duck, asparagus and crimini mushroom risotto. They also make cinnamon sugar donuts for weekend brunch that may make you rethink how you usually start your day.
Burger Up
Upscale 12 South burger stop Burger Up doesn’t make their own donuts, but they do have a Krispy Kreme donut pudding with Grand Marnier Crème Anglaise…
Madeline
New East Nashville space Madeline is a combination cafe/laundromat, so if you’re behind on laundry day and need a good excuse to get on it: Savanah’s Donuts — house-made carrot cake donuts with cream cheese icing.
Itty Bitty Donuts
A local food truck that specializes in mini donuts, and turning those mini-donuts into Donut Sundaes (like a French Toast Sundae, with warm syrup and cinnamon powdered sugar). They’re not scheduled to be out on National Donut Day, but you can catch Itty Bitty Donuts at Franklin Kids Arts Festival of Tennessee in Franklin on Saturday. (Their website has the full Itty Bitty Donuts schedule.)
Where are you headed to celebrate National Donut Day? Anyplace that should’ve been on this list?