Sep. 28, 2011 - Issue #832: Jennifer Castle
Provenance
Six facts about donuts
Though every culture has at some point discovered that fried dough can be delicious, modern doughnuts were likely brought to North America by Dutch settlers in the 18th century in the form of olykoek, a fried dough ball that translates as "oil cake." By the mid-19th century, doughnuts had evolved into their well-known shape and were considered a quintessential American food.
Wide variety
Nearly every country has a version of fried dough similar to a donut. In Israel, jelly donuts called sufganiyah are traditionally served during Hanukkah. Throughout much of Asia, donuts filled with red bean paste are popular. In France, beignets—deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar, sometimes with a fruit filling—are available. Beignets are also popular in New Orleans, and are Louisiana's official state doughnut.
Mmmm, Salty
A savoury donut, called a vada, is served in South India. One of the only savoury doughnuts, vadas are made of dal, lentil or potato, seasoned with black mustard seeds, onion and curry leaves, then served alongside a variety of dips such as Sambar or chutney. Variations on vada exist all over the Indian subcontinent.
No doot a-boot it
Canadians eat more donuts per capita than anywhere else in the world. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever stepped foot in Canada that the country also has the most donut stores per capita—led by Tim Hortons, Canada's largest fast food chain with over 3000 stores across the country.
Best day ever
Despite the doughnut's enduring popularity in Canada, this country has no holiday celebrating it. In the US, however, National Donut Day is celebrated the first Friday of June each year. Begun in 1938 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army—who were celebrating the group's First World War "Lassies" who served doughnuts to soldiers—the holiday eventually evolved into a celebration of the doughnut itself, with shops across the country offering free doughnuts.
Lies, damned lies, and doughnut holes
Doughnut holes aren't actually from the middle of the doughnut—they're just blobs of dough dropped into hot oil and mixed with a clever marketing campaign. V vueweekly.com comments: powered by Disqus
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