Peaceful Provisions – a break from the madness

Peaceful Provisions

It was one of the first times I had worn a mask in public. I hadn’t really figured it out so it was fogging up my glasses to the point that I couldn’t see that well. The experience was pretty stressful. But when I walked up to the Peekskill Brewery and got my box of donuts and goodies from Peaceful Provisions, I felt better. I felt more normal.

I’ve written about Peaceful Provisions before – it’s a small bakery that sells out of the ground floor of a brewery in Peekskill, NY, which is about an hour north of New York City by car and about 30 minutes north of where I live. They’ve always done small-batch, vegan baking by hand and sold their products primarily on the weekends. During the pandemic, they have continued to do their thing, accepting online pre-orders and curbside pickup.

For me, ordering from Peaceful Provisions and trekking up there has been a wonderful break from the current craziness. And it seems I’m not alone – Peaceful Provisions opens up ordering for each weekend on Mondays at noon, and while it used to be no big deal to get an order in for every weekend, they now sell out quickly. For me, getting donuts on the weekend is a return to normalcy, and I think it’s cool that others agree.

That weekend when I was new to my mask, I got an awesome order that included cinnamon sugar donuts, coffee cinnamon mixed nut donut buns (yeah, that’s a thing!), a dark chocolate brownie and a coffee cake. Cinnamon sugar is one of my favorite donut flavors of all time, and this one didn’t disappoint – it was light and airy and honestly amazing. The coffee cinnamon mixed nut donut bun was one of the most ambitious donuts I’ve ever seen – it was an enormous cinnamon bun-style fried and sugared creation topped with pistachios and almonds, then filled with a coffee pudding (made with Bucci coffee). I’m normally not a big filled donut fan, but it was special.

Peaceful Provisions
Coffee cinnamon mixed nut donut bun from Peaceful Provisions

I’m glad people are finding donuts again, and I’m really glad Peaceful Provisions has stayed open during this challenging time. I now have an alarm set to try to place an order every week, which is a nice break in my day. I can’t wait to try again this week!

Doughnut Plant Reopens!

Memorial Day Weekend: The official start of summer time in New York City and this year, the reopening of three Doughnut Plant locations across the city! The long-time heroes, and an originator of the artisanal donut trend around town, closed down their shops back in April after operating for a few weeks under strict conditions in evolving times. Mark Israel recently told Gothamist that closing was due to the safety of their staff and customers and the time off has allowed the empire to rethink their strategies and determine new modes of operation. This includes increased sanitary precautions, new uniforms for the staff, and laundry on location to ensure they’re washed daily. Now, the legends are set to resume their position as champions of the game.

This weekend, Doughnut Plant reopened for curbside pickup and delivery only, with all ordering taking place online. A limited menu still offers tremendous variety and I’m sure that over time, they’ll change things up to bring us more classics and new creations.

On Sunday, I made the bold decision to walk from Williamsburg to the Downtown Brooklyn location so I could enjoy my favorite donuts in the city on a gorgeous day in Prospect Park. The limited cake menu consisted of Tres Leche, Wild Blueberry, Black and White, and Brooklyn Blackout. Naturally, I ordered one of each. Plus a Crème Brulee.

My order was ready by the time my roommate and I arrived so we grabbed the to-go bag and made our way to Prospect Park to socially distance and eat under a tree in full bloom. Each donut was as perfect as expected, as if no time had passed and they’d been fully operational this entire time. The Blueberry was tangy and sweet, the Tres Leches smooth, the Black and White inspiring, and the Blackout down right sensational, a wonderful representation of the borough and all its glory. Being able to enjoy them safely in an outdoor setting really was the icing on the cake.

For now, Doughnut Plant is open for business Wednesday – Sunday at their Lower East Side, Downtown Brooklyn, and Long Island City locations. I’m thrilled to have them back and excited to become a regular once again!