stevez wrote:That's a good tip. I rarely make it past eating my "catch" on the 95th Street Bridge next to Calumet (a really great view down the river), but I'll have to check out the park next time.

Which is what I normally do (or picnic on the grass in front of that little building just to the west of them), but given how nice the park is, and that it's less than a mile east, totally worth it.

-Dan

dansch wrote:

BR wrote:In the future, call in advance and they'll reserve them. I always call the day before my visit.

Good call - I didn't know that was an option.

stevez wrote:It's waiting in a 60 minute line to order an overpriced donut that's already sitting in a display case that I find out of the question.

Agreed.

As long as we're exchanging OFD tips, I usually make a one-two punch with a fritter and some fish from Calumet Fisheries. I recently stumbled on Calumet State Park, which is an awesome place to hop off your bicycle (or park your car), sit by the lake, and nosh on fish and donuts. Check out the 1-2-3 map

-Dan

Like stevez, I sat in my car just east of the bridge eating my bounty from Calumet Fisheries.

dansch wrote:I recently stumbled on Calumet State Park, which is an awesome place to hop off your bicycle (or park your car), sit by the lake, and nosh on fish and donuts. [/url]

You, sir, have greatly enhanced future South Side trips.

I'll gladly take a side of green grass with my smoked shrimp and fried smelt.

dansch wrote:
As long as we're exchanging OFD tips, I usually make a one-two punch with a fritter and some fish from Calumet Fisheries. -Dan

Or, you could follow in the footsteps of Ronnie and do a full blown crawl through the South Side!

I made a map of the grand tour and added a few more neighborhood favorites http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... 76346&z=11

gastro gnome wrote:

dansch wrote:I recently stumbled on Calumet State Park, which is an awesome place to hop off your bicycle (or park your car), sit by the lake, and nosh on fish and donuts. [/url]

You, sir, have greatly enhanced future South Side trips.

I'll gladly take a side of green grass with my smoked shrimp and fried smelt.

I'm just slightly concerned that dansch is creating his own version of the luther burger -i.e., a luther fishwich - fried or smoked fish sandwiched between two doughnuts.

I've decided my favorites at The Doughnut Vault are the buttermilk old fashioned and the gingerbread stack. The chestnut is also up there. This morning, the lady said they're hoping to have the chestnut glazed back sometime in July. "The chestnuts are literally on a ship from Italy. I don't know why they can't fly them over to us!" The past three Saturdays I've gotten there before 9am and walked out with my doughnuts in less than 45 minutes.


Old fashioned buttermilk.


Old fashioned buttermilk.


Gingerbread stack.


Gingerbread stack.

The other day I tried a gingerbread stack, choc. glazed and pistachio. The gingerbread stack was far and away the best. Worth a 20 minute wait. Three small donuts and good coffee for $4 is fair enough.

Has anyone been to Dirty Betty's yet?

Their website is really obnoxious - http://dirtybettys.com/ - but I hear their doughnuts are pretty great.

I agree. That music on their site is awful. But I went there on Saturday and had awesome donuts. They have an orange donut that's crazy good. They call it the Popsicle or something. Will definitely go back for more.

The Doughnut Vault, known for its long lines and off-the-wall flavors, is branching out from its River North home to feed the masses.

Chicago restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff said he plans to open eight to 12 more gourmet doughnut locations in Chicago, starting later this year.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ore-stores