This is Donut! (held May 6–7, 2023)〜 From classic donuts to curry bread and drinks

Did you go anywhere during the May holidays?

There were all kinds of events taking place around Okayama Prefecture, too.

Some of them may have been held for the first time in several years.

I went to “This is Donut!” (「This Is Donut」), an event held in Kurashiki City on May 6–7, the final two days of Golden Week in 2023.

The information provided was accurate when this article was published in June 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.

About This is Donut!

“This is Donut!” was first held in 2023.

It took place at Kurashiki Mirai Park, north of JR Kurashiki Station.

Just as the event’s name suggests, all kinds of donut shops gathered there!

There were plenty of vendors selling not only donuts, but also drinks and bread to go with them.

Most of the vendors came from within the prefecture, but some came from farther afield, including Kyoto and Fukuoka.

Events like this let you sample the food from shops you wouldn’t normally be able to visit.

I visited only on the second day (May 7).

Some shops were there only on the first day, while others were there only on the second, so it was probably an event you could enjoy by going both days.

Lines despite the rain

The weather forecast had been calling for rain on the event days for several days.

I was worried, especially as the predicted rainfall kept increasing little by little.

As expected, it was raining from the morning.

The event was going ahead even in light rain, so I trusted that it would take place, checked that no cancellation notice had been posted, and headed to the venue.

On the way from the multistory parking garage, I began to see lots of tent roofs.

The venue was still some distance away, but I could hear the lively crowd.

Even though it was raining hard enough to need an umbrella, there were already lots of people at the venue.

I arrived about 30 minutes after the event started, and the lines at the busiest spots had more than 50 people.

I picked up a pamphlet and considered which shops to visit.

Lines of more than 50 people at the busiest spots

Churros from Nico churros

My first purchase was churros from Nico churros.

The black truck had a cool look.

Churros are a Spanish treat made by piping dough through a star-shaped nozzle and frying it in oil.

Nico churros' churros are piped into a teardrop shape.

They look quite different from ordinary donuts, but they have something in common with donuts: the dough is fried.

Regular churros are made with wheat flour, but these churros are made with rice flour.

It seems like more and more sweets are being made with rice flour, which is used in place of wheat for gluten-free diets and food allergies.

I bought the plain and chocolate flavors.

Freshly fried, they’re crispy on the outside, while the inside has a slightly chewy texture typical of rice flour.

That said, they’re very easy to bite through, so you might not realize they’re made without wheat flour unless someone told you.

Curry bread and hot latte from musubino kitchen

Next, I thought I’d try a donut, so I joined the line at musubino kitchen.

But the donuts for the day sold out just before it was my turn.

It was disappointing, but there was nothing I could do.

So I had their other recommended items: freshly fried curry bread and a hot latte.

Curry bread and hot latte from musubino kitchen

As you’d expect from something freshly fried, the curry bread was wonderfully crispy on the outside.

The dough was thick and fluffy.

The curry inside was mild, and the filling was cut into small pieces, so it seemed easy for children to eat, too.

The hot latte tasted lightly sweet even though I’m sure I hadn’t added sugar, and it warmed me up after I’d gotten chilled in the rain.

Two donuts from 2626 DONUTS

At the third shop, I finally managed to buy donuts.

There was a line along the side of the shop, so I had plenty of time to admire the “2626 DONUTS” sign displayed beside it.

There were so many kinds of donuts that it was hard to choose.

I bought two kinds: glazed and chocolate pistachio.

I was already full, so I took the donuts home to eat later.

Glazed donuts are coated with melted sugar.

It’s a common donut topping.

Perhaps because of the high humidity from the rain, the coating melted after a while.

The chocolate pistachio donut had roughly chopped pistachios on top of a melted chocolate coating.

Every now and then, you’d come across a pistachio as you ate, giving it a different texture from the glazed donut.

From the Writer

Even when you say “donut,” there are as many kinds as there are shops, with different doughs and toppings.

Unfortunately, I was only able to try donuts from one shop this time, but being able to buy donuts from lots of different shops and compare them is something you can do at an event that brings so many shops together.

If you want to try as many kinds as possible, I recommend arriving early.