Mikiko Donuts

Dear Liza,

There is a new donut place in Portland! We are already famous for the very sweet and silly Voodoo Donuts, and the adult flavored, organic, Blue Star Donuts. Coco’s Donuts, downtown, is a classic old fashioned donut shop, with maple bars and crullers.

But Mikiko Donuts are something altogether different. These donuts are made with rice flour instead of the familiar wheat flour. They are also dairy free.

But the big difference, to me, is that they are baked, not fried. This makes them healthier, because there isn’t extra fat in the donuts.

We visited Mikiko this past weekend. They are a very cheerful and welcoming shop. The fellow piping the donut pans welcomed conversation and gave me tips on how to do his job and avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. “Let gravity do the work,” he said.

The lady running the shop said she loved not having the hot oil and all the accompanying mess, fumes, and ventilation requirements. The shop did seem quieter, cleaner, and less smoky than most donut places. Just regular bakery equipment, ovens and work counters, filled the place.

Auntie Bridgett and I carried our order (a Horchata Pudding filled donut for me and a Yuzu Funfetti one for her) up a few blocks to Oregon Park, where we enjoyed our treats while watching dogs play under the tall trees. I found my Horchata donut to be a bit gummy, but the Yuzu one was lighter. They both had good flavor and I would easily recommend the Yuzu Funfetti to anyone trying their first gluten-free, dairy- free donut.

One of the many things I love about living in Portland is getting to try new things. Even gluten free, dairy free, baked donuts!

Love,

Grandma Judy