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Daily Dozen Doughnut Company
Photograph of a stall with a display case at a market
The Daily Dozen Doughnut Company stall at Pike Place Market (2022)
Map
Restaurant information
Owner(s)Barbara Elza
Previous owner(s)Todd Collins
Street address93 Pike Street, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°36′31″N 122°20′25″W / 47.6087°N 122.3403°W / 47.6087; -122.3403

Daily Dozen Doughnut Company is a doughnut shop at Seattle's Pike Place Market, in the U.S. state of Washington. Operated by Barbara Elza since c. 1989, the stall in the Economy Market features a "Donut Robot", and is widely known for its hot, freshly made miniature doughnuts that are served in a paper bag. Daily Dozen has garnered a generally positive reception and has been included in several overviews of Seattle's best doughnuts.

Description

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Daily Dozen serves small doughnuts from a stall in the Economy Market building at Pike Place Market in Seattle's Central Waterfront district.[1] Varieties have included plain, cinnamon, sugar, maple bacon,[2] and chocolate with sprinkles,[3] as well as seasonal specials.[4] The doughnuts are typically doughnut holes, about the size of ping-pong balls, sold warm.[5] Fodor's says Daily Dozen offers "adorable, made-while-you-watch minidoughnuts dusted in powdered sugar".[6] The business' slogan is "Be a winner, have doughnuts for dinner".[7]

An automated Belshaw Brothers Mark II machine[8][9] invented in the 1930s called the "Donut Robot"[10][11] creates doughnuts in rows of four.[12] Described by the Chicago Tribune as a "mesmerizing contraption that plops rings of batter into oil", it sends the batter "down the oil river like the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland", and eventually flips the doughnuts "golden and bulbous onto cooling racks."[13] Store staff will mix the donuts and their toppings together on the spot, shaking them in paper bags, and often tossing them in the air and catching them for added showmanship.[14] Tourists often point their cameras through the glass,[13] and children can sometimes be seen crowding around the stall to watch.[12][15]

History

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Daily Dozen is owned by Barbara Elza, who has operated the shop since c. 1989.[10][16][17] Previously, the business was owned by Todd Collins.[18]

In 1997, the shop was processing 16 kilograms (approximately 35 pounds)[19] of flour daily.[12] In 2007, Gemma Alexander of ParentMap said the shop sold 40,000 doughnuts in a single day.[20] The Irish Examiner has said the business sells approximately 20,000 doughnuts per day on average.[21]

 
A rainbow flag and other colorful decorations displayed at the stall

In June 2009, Elza put up a rainbow flag behind the Daily Dozen counter for Pride Month, and received a call from her landlord a week later, asking her to take it down. The dispute was soon covered by The Stranger, and the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) was flooded with angry phone calls. Elza presented her case to the PDA and the Pike Place Market Historical Commission, and was given permission to display the flag each year in June. However, in July 2012, she decided to leave the flag up indefinitely, triggering further discussions with the authority.[17][22]

In April 2012, the shop applied to expand into an adjacent space, formerly rented by a dried-fruit company. The shop owners aimed to expand the business into selling quick breads, hand-held potpies, cider, and coffee.[23] In July 2012, the The Seattle Times noted that Daily Dozen did more than half of its business with locals rather than tourists.[24]

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the business received Paycheck Protection Program funding from the Small Business Administration, retaining seven employees.[25] In 2022, to commemorate Pike Place Market's 115th anniversary, the business gave free doughnuts and beverages to the first 115 guests on August 17.[26]

Reception

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Belshaw Brothers Mark II machine

In 2006, Seattle Weekly selected Daily Dozen for the "best place to pack on the pounds at a moment's notice" and said:

The hot, freshly made little gems are so deceptively nonthreatening and bite-sized that you tend to eat them like popcorn, which, in the ugly real world, can be the cause of a disturbing revelation when you look down into your paper bag and realize you've mowed your way through 12 doughnuts without so much as a burp. Powdered, chocolate-iced, sprinkled, or—our favorite—plain and golden, the goodies are a steal at a couple of bucks per dozen. But don't say we didn't warn you.[27]

Hsiao-Ching Chou of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer included Daily Dozen in a 2006 overview of "can't miss bites" and recommended, "Make sure to bring a friend or you might consume the whole bag."[28] The newspaper's Lynsi Burton included Daily Dozen in a 2016 overview of the city's best doughnuts.[15] Stuart Eskenazi of The Seattle Times included Daily Dozen in a 2007 overview of "favorites for kids" at Pike Place Market.[29] In 2008, Bon Appétit's Diane Chang wrote, "Enter Pike Place Market and you'll instantly be hit with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly fried batter... Their recipe hasn't changed for almost 20 years—nor have their lines gotten any shorter."[30]

Jess Thomson's book Pike Place Market Recipes (2012) says Daily Dozen makes doughnuts "to the pure thrill of kids and adults alike".[31] In 2013, KOMO-TV's Lindsay Cohen described the shop as "a Pike Place Market mainstay for nearly 30 years".[32] In The Donut: History, Recipes, and Lore from Boston to Berlin (2014), Michael Krondl said Daily Dozen "serves the freshest donuts you may ever buy", but also decided that they were "a little overhyped...after eating a half dozen of the plain and three or four of the bacon-topped variety".[8]

 
Paper bag of a dozen assorted doughnuts, 2022

In her book Food Lovers' Guide to Seattle (2015), American food writer Laurie Wolf wrote, "A doughnut shop that has been around for over 20 years and still has a line almost all day long, the charm of this place is in its simplicity: fresh, hot mini doughnuts, served in a brown paper bag, heating the roof of your mouth on a chilly day, the aroma taunting you as you wait in line."[33] In 100 Things to Do in Seattle Before You Die (2015), Athima Chansanchai said the doughnuts are "fun-sized, so go crazy with at least a half dozen" and recommended, "Better yet, make it a dozen, because when they're made in front of you, self-deprivation loses. And, they're cheap!"[34]

Thrillist says, "Perfectly fried-up and crispy, the mini donuts at Daily Dozen are a famous staple of Pike Place Market and ensure you'll be anything but mini after you've made them part of your morning routine."[35] The 2016–17 edition of Japanese guidebook Amerika Nishi-kaigan (West Coast U.S.A.) recommended the "famous" Daily Dozen Doughnuts as a "must", describing them as old-fashioned and simple.[36] Ed Levine of Serious Eats notes that the fact that the mini doughnuts are "actually plucked from the Donut Robot II conveyer belt" may mean they have "a little more oil, but we won't complain".[11] In Eater's 2019 overview of "the greateplaces to eat in Seattle's greatest tourist trap", Lesley Balla said, "Sharing a brown paper bag of sprinkle-topped or powdered sugar doughnuts with someone is cool, especially if the doughnuts are hot."[1]

In 2012, the business inspired entrepreneurs to open Beavers Coffee + Donuts, a food truck in Chicago, Illinois. The food truck also makes use of a "doughnut robot" machine to cook the doughnuts.[37]

Lists

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Menu display, 2022

Daily Dozen was not listed in Andrew Knowlton's 2010 overview of "America's best donuts" for Bon Appétit, but was subsequently included in his follow-up list of reader recommendations.[38]

Kristin Hunt included the business in Thrillist's 2015 list of the best doughnut shops in each U.S. state.[39] Daily Dozen was included in Thrillist's 2016 list of Seattle's best doughnut shops. The website said doughnuts are "served almost immediately, still hot and deliciously greasy" and "are so good you'll want at least... wait for it... a dozen!"[3] Naomi Tomky also included the business in Thrillist's 2016 list of the 50 "best things to eat and drink" at Pike Place Market.[40]

Daily Dozen topped KSTW's 2018 list of Seattle's top five doughnut shops.[41] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eater Seattle included Daily Dozen in a list of "where to get some delightful doughnuts for takeout in the Seattle area".[42] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer included the doughnuts in a 2021 list of 26 "iconic Seattle bites".[43] Eater Seattle's Mark Van Streefkerk included Daily Dozen in a 2022 list of "delightful" doughnuts in the Seattle metropolitan area.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Balla, Lesley (2019-06-05). "The Culinary Wonders of Seattle's Pike Place Market". Eater. Vox Media. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  2. ^ Collins, Simon (2019-10-22). "Market research". The West Australian. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  3. ^ a b "Seattle's Best Donut Shops". Thrillist. Vox Media. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  4. ^ a b Van Streefkerk, Mark (2016-02-15). "Delightful Doughnuts in the Seattle Area". Eater Seattle. Vox Media. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  5. ^ Medovoy, George (October 9, 2008). "To market, to market... - Seattle's Pike Place prides itself on being the 'real thing' for crowds of shoppers". The Davis Enterprise. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Fodor's Seattle. Fodor's. 2017-07-25. ISBN 978-0-14-754683-8.
  7. ^ Kossen, Bill (October 14, 2001). "A warm welcome for one red-hot treat: Local stores not worried by doughnut chain's debut". The Seattle Times. Ask Barbara Elza. She has run the tiny Daily Dozen Doughnut (slogan: "Be a winner, have doughnuts for dinner") in the Pike Place Market for 13 years.
  8. ^ a b Krondl, Michael (2014). The donut: history, recipes, and lore from Boston to Berlin (1st ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press. pp. X, 72. ISBN 978-1-61374-673-8. OCLC 879372163.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ CHOU, HSIAO-CHING (July 31, 2002). "DEEP-FRIED MEMORIES - HANDMADE DOUGHNUTS ARE REMINDERS OF SIMPLER DAYS". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D1. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Chynoweth, Kate (2004-09-22). "Hole-y-grail". Sunset. ISSN 0039-5404. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  11. ^ a b Levine, Ed (2011-11-01). Serious Eats: A Comprehensive Guide to Making and Eating Delicious Food Wherever You Are. Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. ISBN 978-0-307-95331-5.
  12. ^ a b c Polak, Monique; Shenker, Michael (September 16, 1997). "A market full of fresh experiences". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2022-11-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b Pang, Kevin (August 4, 2013). "The heart of Seattle: Pike Place Market brims with good food options". Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-12-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Don't Delay--Buy Doughnuts". The Seattle Examiner. July 26, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Burton, Lynsi (2016-04-11). "Seattle's best doughnuts". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Communications. ISSN 0745-970X. OCLC 3734418. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  16. ^ Muldoon, Katy (August 18, 2007). "To market, to market". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. p. B01 August 18, 2007. ISSN 8750-1317.
  17. ^ a b Whitely, James (October 26, 2012). "Our flag at the Market: Doughnut vendor ruffles feathers displaying pride banner". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved 2022-11-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Susskind, Jonathan (July 31, 1991). "Seattle Pair's Espresso Gets Hotter In N.Y." Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved December 13, 2022. Collins, 27, a graduate of Roosevelt High and the University of Washington, owned Daily Dozen Doughnuts in the Pike Place Market.
  19. ^ Polak, Monique; Shenker, Michael (August 16, 1997). "Pike Market merchants have theatrical flair: Much to the delight of Seattle shoppers". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. p. H6. Originally the stable for farmers' horses, the Economy Market Building earned its name because it was the discount or day-old section of the market. Today, it's home to such venerable establishments as the Daily Dozen Doughnut Co., where owner Barbara Elza processes 35 pounds of flour daily in her doughnut robot. Children crowd round Elza's booth to watch as the tiny doughnuts travel along an oily road in rows of four before plopping down at their destination - a tin display plate.
  20. ^ Alexander, Gemma (June 1, 2017). "Prepare for a New Pike Place This Summer". ParentMap. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  21. ^ "Washington and Oregon offer everything you could want and more in the US's Northwest". Irish Examiner. August 27, 2016. As the oldest continuously open farmers market in the US and home to more than 200 stall operators, the market is the epicentre of the Seattle food scene and attracts 10 million visitors per year, or more than 20,000 a day on average. The market's Daily Dozen Doughnut Company sells about as many doughnuts each day.
  22. ^ Brown, Alexander P. (June 29, 2004). "No Pride At Pike Place Market". The Stranger. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  23. ^ "Longtime Pike Place Market restaurant to close". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. April 16, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  24. ^ Denn, Rebekah (July 10, 2012). "Five things you didn't know about Pike Place Market (and a cookbook!)". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  25. ^ Giegerich, Andy (July 7, 2020). "Here are the Washington companies approved for at least $5M in PPP loans". Puget Sound Business Journal.
  26. ^ Baume, Matt (2022-08-15). "Happy 115th Birthday to Pike Place! Here's a Doughnut". The Stranger. ISSN 1935-9004. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  27. ^ "Best Cholesterol Fix: What's the most fat-filled, calorie-laden, artery-busting food in the world?". Seattle Weekly. Sound Publishing. 2006-10-09. ISSN 0898-0845. OCLC 17527271. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  28. ^ CHOU, HSIAO-CHING (March 29, 2006). "YOU GOTTA TRY THIS BITE-SIZE SEATTLE EXPERIENCES THAT NO LOVER OF TASTY TREATS SHOULD MISS". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C1.
  29. ^ Eskenazi, Stuart (July 23, 2007). "High on sugar & silly string, loose at the market; Pike Place at 100 - My Market: "The Kids"". The Seattle Times. p. A1.
  30. ^ Chang, Diane (October 2008). "Local Flavor". Bon Appétit.
  31. ^ Thomson, Jess (2012-05-08). Pike Place Market Recipes: 130 Delicious Ways to Bring Home Seattle's Famous Market. Sasquatch Books. ISBN 978-1-57061-799-7.
  32. ^ Cohen, Lindsay (2013-02-06). "Report: Microsoft, Boeing stash money offshore to dodge tax bills". KOMO-TV. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  33. ^ Wolf, Laurie (2015-01-20). Food Lovers' Guide to® Seattle: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4930-1662-4.
  34. ^ Chansanchai, Athima (2015-01-29). 100 Things to Do in Seattle Before You Die. Reedy Press LLC. ISBN 978-1-935806-91-2.
  35. ^ "Daily Dozen Doughnut Co". Thrillist. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  36. ^ アメリカ西海岸 [West Coast U.S.A.] (in Japanese) (2016–17 ed.). Tōkyō: Daiyamondo·Biggu-sha. 2015. p. 343.
  37. ^ Pang, Kevin (February 16, 2012). "Eat this!". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  38. ^ Knowlton, Andrew (2010-03-12). "America's Best Donuts, Part 2". Bon Appétit. Condé Nast. ISSN 0006-6990. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  39. ^ Hunt, Kristin (2015-10-25). "The Best Donut Shop in Every State". Thrillist. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  40. ^ Tomky, Naomi (2016-09-15). "The 50 Best Things to Eat and Drink at Pike Place Market". Thrillist. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  41. ^ "Sweet Treats: Check Out The Top 5 Doughnut Shops In Seattle". KSTW. 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  42. ^ "Where to Get Some Delightful Doughnuts for Takeout in the Seattle Area". Eater Seattle. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  43. ^ "Have you tried all 26 of these iconic Seattle bites?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
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Category:Central Waterfront, Seattle Category:Doughnut shops in the United States Category:Pike Place Market Category:Restaurants in Seattle