Did you go out anywhere during the May holidays?
Various events were held throughout Okayama Prefecture.
Among them, there may have been events that were held for the first time in several years.
On the last two days of the Golden Week in 2023 (May 6-7), I attended the event "This is Donut!."
About This is Donut!
"This is Donut!" is an event that was held for the first time in 2023.
The location is Kurashiki Mirai Park, located north of JR Kurashiki Station.
As the event name suggests, various donut shops gathered!
In addition to donuts, there were also many shops selling drinks and bread that pair well with them.
Most of the shops were from within the prefecture, but there were also vendors from far away places like Kyoto and Fukuoka.
Events like this allow you to taste flavors from shops you usually can't visit all at once.
I visited only on the second day (May 7).
There were shops that only opened on the first day, and conversely, some that were only open on the second day, so it seems like it was an event that could be enjoyed over two days.
Despite the rain, there were long lines
The weather forecast a few days prior indicated rain on the event day.
Moreover, the predicted rainfall amount was gradually increasing, which made me worried.
On the day itself, it was indeed raining from the morning.
Since it was said to proceed in light rain, I believed it would still be held and confirmed that there was no cancellation notice before heading to the venue.
On the way from the multi-story parking lot, I could see many tent roofs.
Although there was still some distance to go, I could hear the lively voices from the venue.
Despite the rain requiring umbrellas, there were already many customers at the venue.
I arrived about 30 minutes after the start, and in some places, there were lines of over 50 people.
I received a pamphlet and thought about which shop to visit.
Churros from Nico churros
The first item I purchased was churros from Nico churros.
The black truck gives a cool impression.
Churros are a type of pastry that originated in Spain, made by frying dough that has been piped through a star-shaped nozzle.
Nico churros' churros are shaped like teardrops.
While they look quite different from regular donuts, they share the commonality of being fried dough.
Regular churros are made with wheat flour, but these churros use rice flour.
It seems that there is an increasing trend of using rice flour in sweets as an alternative to wheat for gluten-free diets and food allergies.
I purchased both plain and chocolate flavors.
Freshly fried, the outside is crispy, while the inside has a slightly chewy texture typical of rice flour.
That said, they are very easy to bite into, so you might not realize they are made without wheat unless you were told.
Curry bread and hot latte from musubino kitchen
Next, I thought I would eat a donut, so I lined up at the shop of musubino kitchen.
However, the customer two groups ahead of me sold out of donuts for the day.
It's unfortunate, but it can't be helped.
So, I enjoyed the freshly fried curry bread and hot latte, which are also recommended.
The curry bread was indeed freshly fried, with a crispy surface.
The dough was thick and fluffy.
The curry inside was mild in spiciness, and the ingredients were small, making it easy for children to eat.
The hot latte was sweet even though I didn't add sugar, warming my chilled body from the rain.
Two types of donuts from 2626 DONUTS
At the third shop, I finally managed to buy some donuts.
There was a line along the wall of the shop, so I was able to enjoy the sign of "2626 DONUTS" displayed next to it.
There were various types of donuts, and I had a hard time deciding which to choose.
The donuts I purchased were glazed and chocolate pistachio.
Since I was already full, I took the donuts home to enjoy later.
The glazed donut had a coating of melted sugar.
This is a common topping for donuts.
Perhaps due to the high humidity from the rain, the coating melted after some time.
The chocolate pistachio had a coating of melted chocolate topped with coarsely crushed pistachios.
As I ate, the pistachios would occasionally appear, providing a different texture from the glazed donut.
Conclusion
Even when you say "donut," there are as many types of dough and toppings as there are shops.
Unfortunately, I could only eat donuts from one shop this time, but being able to buy and compare donuts from various shops is something that can only happen at an event with many vendors.
If you want to try as many types as possible, I recommend visiting early.
Data on This is Donut!
| Name | This is Donut! |
|---|---|
| Date | May 6-7, 2023, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free admission |
