Britt's Doughnuts: Happiness & Magic...

So you are looking at a picture of a slightly used doughnut and you're wondering, 'what's the big deal?  It's a doughnut... with two big bites taken out of it.  So what! I've had countless many doughnuts.' 

And you're right.  At this juncture in your life I bet you've had at least 400 or more doughnuts of various kinds, maybe more. 

I myself, living just a short twenty minute drive to a Krispy Kreme store, I know the restorative beauty of a warm-out-of-the-fryer glazed doughnut.  It is quite magical... but not quite.

I can say that because I know of a doughnut that is magical.  So magical in fact that the Husband and I took an impromptu weekend trip to get a couple dozen of these doughnuts.  Just a short 18 miles outside of Wilmington, North Carolina on the Carolina Beach boardwalk is a place called Britt's Doughnuts. 

As soon as you step out onto the Boardwalk, above the smell of the salt air is this sweet, almost addictive, smell of Britt's.  It is one of those smells that sort of takes you by surprise, mainly because even if you aren't hungry, as soon as that delightful smell floats over to your nose, you're hooked... you've just got to have one--or two or 12.

Saturday after lunch we headed down to the coast.  A short hour and 15 minutes later we were sitting at the bar of Britt's doughnuts literally and figuratively eating a tiny piece of heaven.  Steaming hot, but in a good way, the only kind of doughnut Britt's makes is glazed.  No creme-filled, no sprinkles, or chocolate covered confections... and after tasting just one, you'll forget all about all those other kinds of doughnuts.  The outside is crispy and sweet, irregular in a perfect kind of rustic-hand-made way, while the inside is tender and literally lighter than air.  And because these doughnuts are so delicate, eating like 6 in one sitting is totally easy to do.

But back to the magic... 

I'm fairly certain that these doughnuts could grow back a limb, never mind making you forget all about your troubles-- be it a horrific horror of a day or just the day-to-day stress of helping your sister plan an out-of-control wedding.  These doughnuts remind me of what Ben Franklin once said about beer... Britts doughnuts "are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

If you happen to find yourself on I-40 headed East, just run it till it ends... When you've gone past Wilmington and Monkey Junction and as far as land allows you'll be in Carolina Beach.  Hit up the Boardwalk and just follow your nose.  Trust me, you'll be glad you did.