The plan
This National Donut Day, I turned it into a full research mission: a stop at four different donut shops, picking up a fresh box from each one. Before I even opened a lid, I asked my VIPs and followers one question first: what makes a donut perfect in your book? Call it a very important research project. I had a lineup, I had standards, and a real scoring sheet waiting back at the office.
The tasting
Back at the office, all four boxes went head to head: numbered tent cards, a one-at-a-time blind ranking, and that scoring sheet tracking every entry as it was judged. By my own account, I approached it "about the same way I approach everything else in my day: with a plan and slightly unreasonable attention to detail." No sponsors, no favorites picked in advance, just an honest score for every donut in the lineup.
The verdict
By that afternoon, the scores were in and I had a winner. Watch the three clips below to see the full lineup, the judging, and which shop actually took it. These little moments, the ones that have nothing to do with a listing or a closing, are genuinely my favorite part of a busy week.
