A good yeast doughnut is all about lightness, flavor, and that perfect balance between airy and chewy. It should have a soft, pillowy interior with a slight bounce when you bite in—never dense or doughy. The outside should be golden and lightly crisp, offering just enough resistance before giving way to the tender crumb inside. A subtle sweetness in the dough, enriched with real butter and a hint of vanilla, adds depth without overwhelming. The best yeast doughnuts are fried fresh and evenly, absorbing minimal oil while achieving a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Whether glazed, sugared, or filled, the topping should enhance—not overshadow—the dough’s naturally delicate flavor and soft structure. In short, a great yeast doughnut feels almost weightless but delivers rich satisfaction with every bite.

Gourmet toppings can take a classic yeast doughnut to the next level, transforming it from a simple treat into an indulgent experience. Think beyond basic glaze—gourmet doughnuts might feature brûléed sugar, crushed pistachios, edible flowers, or hand-whipped cream fillings. Artisan glazes made with real fruit, maple syrup, or dark chocolate ganache add layers of flavor and sophistication. Seasonal ingredients, like spiced apple compote in the fall or lemon-lavender glaze in the spring, offer fresh and creative twists. While the base doughnut must still shine, thoughtfully chosen toppings and fillings elevate the final product, turning it into a dessert worth savoring.

Rsapberry Lime

Passionfruit White Chocolate

Yums should definitely be on your list of donut shops to try the next time you’re in the Sapperton area of New Westminster. With their airy, perfectly fried yeast doughnuts and ever-changing lineup of gourmet flavors, they offer a level of creativity and quality that’s hard to beat. Whether you’re a classic glazed fan or someone seeking something more adventurous, Yums delivers a next-level donut experience that’s well worth the visit.

10/10

Check out their Facebook page here

If you are in Prince George you can find good doughnuts here

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Even with the $13 fee Mello donuts are worth forking out for delivery once in a while.

But wouldn’t you know it, the strawberry cream version wasn’t on the menu today. Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t go all the way there.

The donut craving still called though.

Unfortunately Gourmet Donuts isn’t on Uber Eats.

But then I noticed La Miel Bakery and Cafe under the “donut” query, and wouldn’t you know it they also have a strawberry cream donut that looks very similar to the Mello offering.

That got my interest piqued. So like a kid in a candy store (that may be a more literal analogy than I care to admit) I ordered up a few treats.

And they all sucked in one way or another

Strawberry cream donut

The whole reason I ordered from La Miel Bakery and Cafe was this donut.

What a disappointment.

First the exterior.

I can’t quite figure out what coating the donut is dipped in. But whatever, it is is terrible

Sugar, Cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar:these are acceptable coatings.

Whatever it is imparted a soggy feeling to the donut overall. The cream filling was decent enough. But doesn’t make for the rest of it.

As I was expecting better, I had also ordered the mango version to try.

It wasn’t any better. Same terrible coating, same soggy feeling. The mango cream I scooped out had a nice flavour, but that didn’t make up for the overall unpleasantness of the donut.

There is no picture for it but I also got the Pistachio cream donut. Not gooing to bother trying it due to the last two varieties.

A Blueberry Buttercream Bun.

While it is a fresh, soft brioche style bun, I found the flavour of the fillings off-putting.

The blueberry filling they used is a commercial filling I know well from my years in the industry. Too artificial for my liking. Thats a Venetian creme decor on top, which isn’t the worst of the commercial fillings, but doesn’t compare to real custard at all. Best thing I can say about it – it was fresh. One in my life will do.

Then I had a chocolate covered Madeline.

I had high hopes for this. I love Madelines.

A Madeline is a small lemon flavored cake, light and airy.

Well it supposed to be anyways.

This was dry and crumbly with no lemon flavour at all. Clearly stale. I don’t know, maybe I’m just too picky after 36 years in bakeries. I wouldn’t send that out myself. But the chocolate was good.

So that was $36 dollars well wasted.

And one bakery I know I don’t need to visit again

1/10

Shoukd you want to try some of their products yourself you can find their website here:

https://le-miel-bakery-cafe-mr-paris-fresh-bakery.menu-world.com/

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In my search to find the restaurants that I wanted to try In PG during my short stay I was rather surprised to find a shop that claims to have quality donuts.

Of course I am not talking about the hockey pucks Tim Hortons serves up. God awful shite that they are.

No I’m talking about Daydream Donuts.

So first coffee at Ritual, then off to get me some good old fried dough deliciousness.

When we walked in it certainly appeared like they have a good variety.

Later I found out it’s a bit of a sham.

I ordered a dozen donuts with 7 different flavours

Mango, espresso, lemon, blue shark bite, root beer , Pina Colada, and a fruity thing, for pride I would imagine.

My general take away is that while they were all decent in one way or another they were all pretty much the same thing.

A glazed donut with a variety of flavored fondants.

I didn’t see any fritters or long johns or bismarcks on the day I was there. But I have seen them in pictures from other sources.

As for the flavours, some were definitely better than other.

Heres a quick comment on each:

The espresso had great essence of coffee

The mango not too sweet.

The lemon had a nice zing to it.

The Root Beer flavour was quite soda like.

The Pina Colada did have coconut. Unfortunately I’m not a huge fan of the stuff.

The Blue Shark Bite was just too sweet, sickly sweet. That one’s not for me.

So while Daydream Doughnuts are tasty and the quality is definitely there,they just don’t offer a big enough variety. They were all the same glazed doughnuts with slightly modified fondants.

Finding a donut of this quality, in Prince George no less, was a nice surprise

Conclusion: Get a couple of your favorite flavours and enjoy.

8/10

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So let’s talk doughnuts.

Gourmet ones.

Are Gourmet Doughnuts gourmet?

In a word, no.

Are they excellent?

Very much so.

Freshly made, light and fluffy. Everything a good donut should be. Not like the dried out cardboard found at grocery stores or Tim Hortons these days.

But what really surprised me the most was the selection.

A huge variety.

But not what I would call gourmet.

“Gourmet” doughnut shops, like Yums and Cartems, rest in peace, offer more than just your garden variety flavours.

Yum’s has a Lemon Zinger doughnut with real meringue on top.

Cartems had Watermelon Cucumber doughnut that blew my mind.

The strawberry cream with mascarpone cheese at Mello is the best donut I’ve ever had. Period.

And while Gourmet doughnuts does live up to the name, it is however an excellent doughnut.

A honey dip, mango bismarck, cinnamon sugar twist and sour cream glazed.

Including these 4 varieties I was also able to try the peach Bismark and the chocolate dip.

The only thing I didn’t care for in any of the doughnuts was the actual mango filling. It didn’t taste much like mango and left a bad aftertaste.

Everything was very good.

All very fresh, all light and fluufy.

Just not what I would call gourmet. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Yes I miss Cartem’s.

Yes I go to Mello every chance I get. And it’s not exactly just down the street from me.

Yes I love Yum’s. Always have something unique to try.

But a fresh and delicious honey dip of chocolate Long John always hits the spot. And unlike the $5 price tag at those other spots you can get a donut here for half that.

It’s great seeing the fresh donut making a comeback again.

9/10

Update 07/29/25

Had the craving for doughnuts again.

Old Fashioned Glazed

Cinnamon Sugar Twist

Chocolate glaze with sprinkles

All three were fresh and delicious.

9/10

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I was walking through Brentwood today and I ran into a donut shop I haven’t seen before.

Well outside Granville Island anyways

I’ve only had a chance to try Lee’s once or twice and it was long enough ago I don’t have much recollection of the quality. Which may say a lot about the quality considering I am a donut expert, having been a baker for 36 years

It seems most of their offerings are from the cake donut family, my least favorite type of donut. So I’m going with a fritter and a Bavarian creme.

First thing to note is the size of the fritter.

Unfortunatley that was to be the only impressive thing about it.

Tbe donut itself was fine, the raspberry jelly inside it was very disappointing.

I’ve made quite a few varieties of fritters over the years. Apple of course. But add to that blueberry, banana, peach and corn, just to name a few.

One thing they all have in common. Real fruit. Or veg.

That fake jelly crap is such a turn off. I know exactly what that stuff is. No one should be eating it. But just imagine what it could be like if it had real raspberries in it? It’s a shame really.

As for the Bavarian, it wasn’t even worth taking a picture of.

They couldn’t even be bothered putting chocolate on top like it’s traditionally done. Just rolled it in granulated sugar.

One bite, you know the rules. Then straight into the bin.

After that disappointment all I want to do now is head to Mello downtown.

3/10

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I loved that latte at Propoganda so much and I love Mello donuts so much that I’m going to go back this week.

I think this is probably the best latte I’ve had in Vancouver.

it has a perfect balance.

At Starbucks I can’t drink a regular latte. I have to add vanilla to cover the often burnt espresso. I can taste that in Merilynn’s drinks as she doesn’t have flavoring.

Here though you don’t need any flavor to cover up the beautiful taste of perfectly roasted and drawn espresso and seen milk that is actually done by hand. Not buy a machine.

Yes Starbucks I’m talking to you. You’re automatic machines suck. It may make wait times lower but it makes worse coffee.

and it happens to be just right beside Mello donuts. Isn’t that handy?

And yes the donuts were as great as usual. Sorry no picture. I was eating them too quickly

What a perfect treat.

10/10

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This is suck a good donut.

It has a Mascarpone cheese cream filling and fresh strawberries.

Absolutely brilliant.

10/10

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Strawberry Cream.

It’s a mascarpone and cream filled jelly donut coated and granulated sugar and it does have fresh strawberries.

Absolutely incredible.

10/10

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Raspberry lime

Very fresh and good flavour but put off a little by the dried fruit. Today they seemed a bit more dense than usual.

Strawberry Vanilla

Again a little dense but good flavour. The dried fruit put me off a little on this one too. The cream was oil based as well. I understand why they did but real cream would be better.

Mello can do it.

Maybe time to up your game a bit Yum.

My preference would be a little smaller too.

I mean there’s decent value here, they are huge. One is really too much to eat comfortably though.

7/10

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In hindsight probably would have been better if I had.

Take a look at this ridiculous thing.

I think I got entranced by the chocolate mousse and all that fresh fruit.

This is the Alexis.

It’s a yeast donut with chocolate mousse, more chocolate mousse, strawberry compote and fresh fruit.

The donut itself was okay and the fresh fruit of course was great. However that chocolate mousse left much to be desired.

I suspect for the American market it does really well but not for my somewhat advanced palette.

It was heavy and oily. Very much reminded me of a product we use at my work that I don’t care for.

Unfortunately it was a complete turn off.

I should have stuck with one of these other doughnuts. They look great.

On top of all that it was $11. USD mind you

Definitely not worth the price.

The latte was good though.

I would have liked a chance to come back and try another but unfortunately I ran out of time this trip. I’m sure I’ll be back in Vegas again.

4/10

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