SXSW Food Highlights – Gourdough’s Doughnuts

Currently at SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, I always look forward to the bodacious food that’s always a big highlight during my visit. In my typical, type A fashion, I pre-planned a few exciting food escapades to disrupt my busy conference agenda.

To no one’s surprise, food trucks took the front seat, as Austin is known for their creative mobile eats, and the Gourdough’s Doughnuts truck made a particularly sweet (and savory) impression on me. 


About Gourdough’s:
Specializing in larger than life, sweet and savory specialty doughnuts, I got the recommendation to visit Gourdough’s from my cousins Vicky and Eric. The vivid description of their recent experience sent me on a rampage to locate their funky little Airstream trailer and experience it first-hand.

Boasting two mobile locations in Downtown Austin, as well as a brick-and-mortar locale in South Austin, Gourdough’s is known for its unapologetically gluttonous menu. With up to 23 varieties of doughnuts (both sweet and savory), it’s hard to settle on just one - but you’re guaranteed to see something that tugs at your tummy strings. For me, it was the Fat Elvis donut that had me jonesin’.


Fat Elvis Donut:
Before I get into the actual taste of this monstrosity, I must mention that each oversized donut is made fresh to order, which doesn’t go unnoticed. The Fat Elvis is a very special doughnut, as it’s part of Gourdough’s secret menu, so cool kids, please advise!

Combining four of my favorite ingredients, such as grilled bananas, peanut butter, honey and bacon, this oversized doughnut was legit. The latter ingredient sealed the deal for me, especially when I saw how generous they were with it. Loving the peanut butter base, it tasted almost mousse-like, and I adored how the slightly tender bananas stuck to it. While the bacon was positioned in a rustic fashion, it fit the bill perfectly and juxtaposed beautifully with the otherwise sweet ingredients.

The actual doughnut didn’t suck either, as the dough was vibrant, airy and surprisingly light.

Service and Cost:
Since Gourdough’s is a food truck, there’s nothing fancy about its service, except that it’s relatively fast and the people are friendly. They’re happy to go over the menu with you, give you their recommendations and build your confidence (and excitement) about their big, fat donuts. Costs are expensive for a dougnut, however a steal when compared to the Cronut.

The aforementioned Fat Elvis rendition set me back a whopping $7. One thing’s for sure – I can’t wait to try more!

3 Mmmms

Gourdough’s – 604 Driskill Street, Austin TX 78701
gourdoughs.com

Krak2 - The Best Kind There Is!

Still cruisin' around Austin during SXSW, I had another amazing bite today at a food truck that's totally noteworthy.  As soon as I saw they had gourmet doughnuts from Krak2 (including an option with bacon), I was completely sold and found myself ordering at their window.  

Krak2:
The truck that this sinful creation came from also served other types of food, including savory sausages, but I came here for the sweet stuff.  The sign said Krak2 Gourmet Doughnuts, but the actual truck was a mix of different things.  Although it was a little confusing, I just went with it.  Its location was also pretty convenient, making it a popular pitstop, just a few short blocks from the Austin Convention Center, where the big exhibit was taking a place.  I needed a break, and certainly got it with this fried doughy masterpiece.

The Brunch Doughnut:
Even though there were four enticing flavors of doughnuts including pb&j, black and white, krakAtoa (cream cheese and habanero) and the brunch doughnut, the latter was calling my name.  Topped with chewy bacon, whipped peanut butter and maple syrup it was as recent Top Chef contestant Grayson Schmitz said "sex in the mouth."

The dough was soft and cake-like and tasted like a large zeppole.  I loved the crispy edges on the side, and once each bite was intermingled with the bacon, and the airy peanut butter mousse on top, it sent my senses on a tail spin.  Although this isn't for the faint of hearts, it surprisingly doesn't make you feel like a total pig after eating it, as all the ingredients are good quality.

Service and Cost:
True to Austin's hospitality I've seen throughout the week, the staff was lovely, positive and a bit quirky too.  I love that they ask you questions about your day, the South By events you checked out, and more.  They make you feel as a part of the Austin community, and I really liked that.

Costs are moderate to expensive for a doughnut at $4 a pop, but keep in mind this is no ordinary doughnut.  Please try it out if you're in the nabe, and do your tastebuds some justice.

Krak2 Gourmet Doughnuts - Coner of 4th Street and Colorado, Austin TX
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