Like every chain hailing from a specific region, Dunkin' Donuts is especially dear to many New Englanders. Once upon a time before the dawning of Starbucks, it was the only place to go for a Sunday morning coffee-and-donuts run -- usually with a groan of "time to get the donuts." In Boston, directions to Logan Airport are given via its locations: "Turn left at the first Dunkin', right at the second."Although the chain has since gone national, it was no surprise to us that some folks -- probably New Englanders -- were furious when the Vanilla Bean Coolatta was discontinued over a year ago. It's a mysterious creation of ice and what DD's senior director of brand marketing, Scott Hudler, calls a "dairy-based cream" and the "taste of vanilla bean."
And although it's a "trade secret" as to whether there's actually vanilla bean in there, the thing has crazed fans. A quick Internet search reveals one enraged customer visited four separate shops the day the Coolattas were discontinued more than a year ago.
Happily enough, they're back, starting Wednesday.
At select Dunkin' Donuts nationwide, the drink will be $1.99 until June 24 (about a buck off its usual price). The press release trumpets that it's "new and improved," so you'll have to taste test and get back to us.
We've yet to try one, so let us know:
Americas Best Doughnuts
Bouchon Bakery
New York, N.Y., Las Vegas, Nev., Yountville, Calif.
Leave it to Super-Chef Thomas Keller to create one of the most rave-worthy doughnuts on the planet. His Boston Cream doughnut is a plus-sized hunk of fried dough, topped with chocolate and filled with rich cream. The Rice Krispy-like morsels sprinkled on top add a bit of crackle and fun to the pastry.
Deborah Jones
Chef Mavro
Honolulu, Hawaii
Chef George Mavrothalassitis (or "Mavro" for short) has re-interpreted and elevated Hawaiian cuisine to great acclaim. He also makes one fine doughnut-or, as they call it in Hawaii, a malassada, which, according to Sally Levitt Steinberg, was developed by Portuguese immigrants. "It's filled with passion-fruit curd and topped with a guava sauce and served with pineapple-coconut ice cream," says Levitt Steinberg, who counts it among her top doughnuts in the country.
Chef Mavro
Coffee an' Donut Shop
Westport, Conn.
This old-fashioned doughnut shop was a Westport secret favorite for years (local resident Paul Newman was a regular) until the 1990s when President Bill Clinton discovered these gratifying fried goodies and started having them shipped to the White House. "They're old fashioned doughnuts, but they taste wonderful," says Sally Levitt Steinberg. "And they're so good because of their particular recipe, which they don't give away."
Holly Moore, HollyEats.com
The Donut Man
Glendora, Calif.
Located on the historic Route 66 in the Los Angeles suburbs, this diminutive doughnut shop is helmed by Jim Nakano who ups the doughnut ante by stuffing his fried goodies with locally grown fruit. "He'll make a clam-shell yeasty doughnut and overstuff it with beautiful jewel-like fruit," says John T. Edge. "It looks like every other doughnut shop from 1950s America, but he does an outstanding job."
Wandering Chopsticks
Doughnut Plant
New York, N.Y.
Mark Israel, the man doughnut experts claim first created the gourmet doughnut, opened up the Doughnut Plant on New York's Lower East Side in 1994. "Mark's doughnuts are great big puffy, fluffy things and have pistachios and rose petals and other organic ingredients," says Sally Levitt Steinberg, who wrote The Donut Book. "He gets everything from the farmer's market and they're made with spring water." Flavors include: tres leches, peanut butter and banana, and a delicious take on the Mexican churro.
Doughnut Plant
Morning Call
Metairie, La.
Located in a suburb north of New Orleans (between the airport and the city), this old school café serves up some of the best beignets in the country. At least that's what our doughnut expert John T. Edge says. "The beignet here has more substance and chew to it," he says. Many people associate the beignet with the French Quarter's Café du Monde, but Edge thinks these are better. "Morning Call's beignets have a bit more tug and substance to them."
Film Forno.com
Randy's Donuts
Los Angeles, Calif.
This So-Cal doughnut shop from the early '50s is an icon, thanks to the 22-foot doughnut on the roof, which has made several appearances in movies and can even be seen when landing at LAX. But it's not novelty that makes Randy's some of the best doughnuts in the country. "They have an outstanding glazed doughnut," says TheBlognut.net founder, Bret Stetka. "It's nice and big, airy and light. The glaze-to-dough ratio is also nicely balanced."
Randy's Donuts
Spudnuts
Charlottesville, Va.
Once part of a nationwide chain (that still exists on the West Coast), this no-frills Charlottesville doughnut shop is now independent in more ways than one: Unlike the traditional doughnut, the dunkers here are made with potatoes. And they happen to be the all-time favorite of doughnut blogger, Paul Stetka. "The doughnuts are small and incredibly light and airy."
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Top Pot
Seattle, Wa.
With five shops throughout the Seattle area, this chainlet is a retro-chic place to munch quality doughnuts. Like New York's Doughnut Plant, the handmade doughnuts here have a gourmet accent. A fan favorite is the "Feather Boa," topped with pink-chocolate icing with shaved cocoanuts. "They use really solid good dough that's not too sweet and doesn't leave you with that greasy shortening taste you get from cheap doughnuts," says doughnut blogger Bret Stetka.
Spike Mafford
Zingerman's Bakehouse
Ann Arbor, Mich.
This Ann Arbor bakehouse does more than doughnuts, but they happen to fry up hunks of dough to near perfection. "The donut at Zingerman's is wonderfully dense and has a lot of chew to it," says John T. Edge who penned the book: Donuts: An American Passion. "It's got nutmeg in it and lemon zest." The bakery is located in a trailer next to a roadhouse. How's that for down-home doughnuts.
Zingerman's
6-03-2009 @1:53PM Meg said... These have actually been back for about 3 weeks at my local store. They were giving out samples for awhile now.
But my mom is an assistant manager so I got it when it came in. I love these. They kinda taste like the Wendy's Vanilla Bean milkshakes.
If you live near a Dunkin Donut's go try one.
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6-03-2009 @8:30PM Chris said... Bring back the LEMONADE COOLATTA!!!!
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6-04-2009 @1:56AM John said... Unfortunately for us New England to West Coast transplants, we don't get to enjoy the sweet sensations of Dunkin'. There are NO Dunkin' Donuts in the state of California, despite their claims of being a "national" chain. I cry unfair and un-American! Californians have a right to our Dunkin' D's just as much as our friends back east! Can Mr. Obama please do something to right this injustice!?
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6-04-2009 @3:48AM SxyBlondBny562 said... Oh that donut looks soo good oh and it has cream in it ..OH SO Many Calories so GOOD .. Oh they brought it back that coolata to make it have so more Spunk... MORE CALORIES ..... not good us girls have to watch our wasteline.. ..
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6-04-2009 @9:03AM Sally said... I hadn't been to a Dunkin' Donuts for years until recently. I was shocked to realize that my local grocery has donuts that are far superior to theirs and cheaper, though not as large a variety. I do like the Coolattas, though.
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6-07-2009 @8:46AM mjsjr52 said... Bring back both flavors of the Coolattas!
Overall, in my opinion, Dunkin' has done a good job of expanding their menu and kicking Starbuck's backside really hard. I'm sure both stores have their devoted fans.
I did tell my local Dunkin store to keep their pizzas, though. Couldn't bring myself to try them.
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6-07-2009 @12:49PM Gary said... To Sally,
About you finding a better dounut in your local super market or bakery, your probably right.
But that also depends on the paticular DD's one goes to, unfortunetly and I just LOVE their coffee.
I also like how easy they make it, to make a selection as apposed to Starbuck. As much, as I love my coffee fix in the morning, I dislike having to have to pronouce all their different choices. DD's has the same choices of coffee but it's much easier to just ask for the type of coffee that pleases you. I love X-mas becasuse I get a lot of DD's gift cards. Good for the winter mornings and hot summer afternoons.
Many Blessing,
Gary
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6-07-2009 @10:36AM dmh said... I used to enjoy Dunkin Donuts coffee when I was back east, I am from Connecticut, couldn't wait to get one, until now..I was there in April 09 and my relatives warned me that the coffee is made very weak like they are cutting back or changed blends, how true and disappointing. Their corn muffins are good, but to get that nice cup of coffee with it, well I wouldn't do it again. I did by a pound to take on the plane and bring home, that was good to drink but in CA the DD coffee you buy in the store is totally different from the ones in the shops on the east coast....please give us CA the same coffee that is sold by the pound in our stores and please change back to making your coffee the way it used to be when ordered in your stores on the east coast. I have tried several different stores so I know that your blend or way its made is way different than it used to be.
Thank You
D
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6-07-2009 @11:36AM Diane said... I'm a former employee. And these are great, I actually preferred it with out the cream. Just the the sugar base and the vanilla bean stuff. A small one is enuff for someone watching their weight. Plus the extra fat in the cream was not needed.Oh and skip the whipped cream
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6-07-2009 @12:50PM Gary said... D,
Here I go again, defending DD's. As you might have notice I am a huge fan of coffee, only mornings though. However, you mentioned that you were warned and proven right that DD's coffee is much lighter or not stong enough for your taste now.
Unfortunately your right, I think every coffee chain etc. are all cutting back, due to our economic situation. Not that that is a good practice but the one good thing about DD's is that if you find the coffee not strong enough for you taste, give it back and ask for a stronger cup of Jo or ask when you order and be stern. I also like my morning jo nice and strong and have noticed a slight change. But all I do now is tell them when I order " if it isn'r strong I am returning it. That ALWAYS works for me. Just a thought.
Many Blessings,
Gary
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6-07-2009 @2:41PM Deb said... Please, please, please bring back the Dunkachino!
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6-07-2009 @3:35PM emsbill said... Bring back the LEMONADE COOLATTA!!!!
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6-07-2009 @3:13PM Nancy said... I have bought a pound of coffee at DD, but it is nowhere as good as the coffee made at DD. Does anyone know why?
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6-07-2009 @4:38PM Kitten said... Try mixing chocolate and coconut with cream , sugar , and whipped cream with a drizzleof chocolate on top- Iced coffee --sounds terrible but is really dddeeeee licious. :)
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6-07-2009 @4:41PM Kitten said... By the way --really enjoyed and missed the vanilla bean coolata --so very glad it's back --I definatelywill be buying it .
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6-07-2009 @9:35PM shiru kitty said... i want the smoothies!! i work at a dunkin :P
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