American Eats: North Carolina. Duck Donuts
This is not the place where I am going to debate the merits of North Carolina barbecue. Because if you think it’s bad each region of the country starts debating barbecue styles, just wait until you get to North Carolina where there are multiple styles depending on which part of the state you are living in.
Instead, let’s talk about what makes everybody happy. Donuts. And when you are talking about donuts in North Carolina, the answer is obvious.
Duck Donuts was created in 2006 when the owners realized that there were no donut shops up and down the Outer Banks. So they opened one in Duck. Yes, while it may be a catchy name it was literally named after the town it first opened in. Probably a good thing the first store was not in Kill Devil Hills.
The entire premise of Duck is the idea of fresh, made-to-order, and customizable donuts. The concept itself is not new; The Fractured Prune has had a similar concept since 1976. But Duck does it better and has been far more successful at franchising the concept.
I have had Duck several times. I’ve had them in the Outer Banks and had them elsewhere. I have had them hot and I have had them cold. And they are far and away the best chain donut store in the United States.
You don’t have to go to North Carolina to get a Duck Donut. But it’s the best thing happening out of North Carolina cuisine that doesn’t cause a humongous debate about meats and sauces…..