Do A Donut

Today is National Doughnut Day.  Or National Donut Day.  Your call.

Donuts, or something very much like them, have been around at least a couple hundred years.  The holiday was started 80 years ago by the Salvation Army to honor WWI veterans.  I believe many donut outlets offer their wares free today, but I don't have a list, so don't expect anything.

What do you think of when you think of donuts?  Dunkin'? Krispy Kreme?  Cops?  Homer Simpson?

Perhaps the biggest local donutery in Los Angeles is Winchell's.  It's got 170 locations in six western states, including one just up the block from where I live.

One of the most famous L. A. landmarks is the giant donut at Randy's Donuts.  I've never been to a Randy's franchise, though it's donuts we're talking about, so I'm sure they're fine.

The best local donuts I've encountered are Stan's Donuts--a hole-in-the-wall place in Westwood with surprisingly good products--and SK's donuts, in a cheap little mini-mall in Hollywood.

All the stuff at Stan's is good, but I like their peanut butter donuts the best.  SK's (which has been closed a few months for rebuilding) makes great specialty donuts, including Nutella walnut, Oreos with cream cheese, and the latest rage, cronuts.