By Blake Matson Becker, a writer and consumer of all things Asheville. You’re likely to find him galavanting around town with his two kittens.
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Asheville has a knack for flipping my opinion on certain foods. I’m always seeking to expand my comfort zone, and the word “picky” isn’t even in my vocabulary, but some foods just don’t do it for me. Doughnuts, for example, were once an afterthought of my culinary cognizance, now I can’t get enough...and Hole Doughnuts is to blame.
The doughnuts at Hole are truly unlike any doughnut you’ve had before. In fact, I almost hesitate to call them “doughnuts” at all. Something about that word doesn’t quite do justice to these beauties. Hand-rolled, hand-cut, and precisely-weighed, each doughnut originates from a simple yeast dough comprised of organic stone-ground flour, unrefined organic cane sugar, sea salt, cage-free eggs, and whole butter. Once formed and shaped, the ivory innertubes are lowered into a vat of non-GMO rice bran oil the SECOND AFTER you order them, not a moment sooner.
The end result is perfectly imperfect: misshapen in all the right ways, with personality for days…or at least the 30 hedonistic seconds it’ll take you to devour them down. Hot and crispy on the outside, supremely fluffy on the interior, each bite will have even the most reserved patrons rolling their eyes back in unabashed bliss. Vanilla glazed serves as an introduction to your doughnut’s flavor possibilities but make no mistake, you will seek that re-introduction time and time again. “Standard” flavors also include the toasted almond sesame cinnamon, with its balletic balance of subtle sweetness and nutty crunch, as well as the pleasantly-powered cocoa rub and cinnamon sugar options. If that wasn’t enough for you, the brilliant confectioners at Hole flex their pastry prowess each week with featured, seasonal flavors like molasses-bourbon, wineberry, or honeysuckle glaze.
After reaching nirvana, wash each delicacy down with an always-fresh cup of PennyCup Coffee, Nitro Cold Brew from Heartsome Coffee, Panther Moon Tea, Farm to Home Milk, or organic, ultralow-pasteurized orange juice to ensure your state of enlightenment. Your occasional indulgence just became a weekly tradition. Tell Laurie and the gang I sent you!
