Kat's 9 Lives

The Doughnut Plant has been a coveted place in my heart since my first trip out to NYC. From the first time Ms. Lin told me about how the owner bested Bobby Flay on his show with his infamous Tres Leches Doughnut, we were hooked after one bite. That was many years ago and now they have expanded leaps and bounds with a new location near Chelsea.
This new location is super hip with funky doughnut decors that will knock your socks off. I simply fell in love with all the doughnut pillows on the wall. In my mind I can see a picture of Homer Simpson standing there with his mouth wide open and drooling! Oh wait, that was me! =) I'd be on cloud nine dreaming about doughnuts if I slept on those cute pillows!
Here you have space to grab a nice cup of coffee or a huge glass of milk to go along with your tasty doughnuts!
Of course my favorite doughnut is the Tres Leches, hands down! They are so moist and flavorful! Even if you bring them back to California for friends and family. They hold up pretty well and taste almost as great. Locked inside the sugared shell is a heavenly moist cake doughnut. I am not sure what magic he uses or what kind of drugs are inserted inside the doughnut to maintain the flavor, moisture, and tastiness! So addictive that it will keep you coming back for more!
Once you start, you can't stop! I have Ms. Lin bring it for me every time she goes to NYC. She has even frozen the doughnut in the freezer until I come up for a visit to finish them off. They might not taste as wonderful as a fresh made doughnut by then, but I'd gladly eat them! Yup, they are that tasty. Those in the know, really know! ^_-
From my previous trips, I have always liked the Pumpkin Doughnut. It's not quite as moist as their signature doughnut but I love the pumpkin seasoning. The little pumpkin seeds add a nice crunch to each bite. They only have it around certain seasons, so be sure to pick it up while you can.
They have a new treat called the Salty Peanut Doughnut that looked tasty. Sadly, I made the mistake of giving the doughnut to friends before I got to try it. So I will have to return again to sink my teeth into that tasty morsel!
Another new item they had was the Crème Brûlée Doughnut that I was intrigued by and high hopes for because of my devoted passion to the Tres Leches. There was a nice caramelized shell on the top, but I felt that for the price it was a bit tiny and that the flavor of the doughnut was not there. I say stick with what they are known for. It's fun that they are trying new things but this fell a little bit short for me.
All in all, I still LOVE and ADORE the Doughnut Plant! I just wish that he would open up one here and I'd visit it every day! That man really knows how to make one fantastic doughnut that will keep you dreaming and fantasizing about it. No wonder there are so many doughnut pillows on their wall. He knows what you will be thinking about in your sleep. lol

P.S. Someone send me or make me those doughnut pillows!! Nom Nom!!

Doughnut Plant
220 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 675-9100

A brand new Mitsuwa has opened up in Irvine off of Culver today. Not that the nearest Mitsuwa is that far away, but at least more of them are popping up and this one is a little bit closer to home! Yay! I can pick up fresh sashimi every day now! It is clean and brand new with a different feel. They do have a food court with Santouka Ramen and more.
Today I went in and scoped out for some Grand Opening deals. They were completely out of the special deal for gyozas but they do have different deals every day. Word to the wise, come early if there is something you really want.
Instead of Miyabi-Tei, this Mitsuwa has Misasa that offers almost the same menu. For the Grand Opening they offered a special deal of Pork or Chicken Cutlet Curry with Rice and Salad for only $3.50! What a deal! They seemed to be the only place to offer a Grand Opening deal, which was nice. By the time I got there they were out of chicken, which was fine since I only wanted pork. The cutlets were nicely coated and fried. The curry sauce was a little thin, but still flavorful. Even though they were busy, the food came out actually pretty fast.
It seems that the regular price for this dish was $7.25, which is a bit on the pricier side, but the food was solid today and at a great rate. I'd definitely come back another night for a meal since this location is a little bit closer and convenient for me. Now if only Mitsuwa would open up in Mission Viejo then I'd be golden!

Misasa