Lovers of chain store doughnuts usually fall into one of two camps: you’re either a Krispy Kremer or a Dunker.  Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts have dominated the chain-store doughnut landscape in the US for a long time now, each surviving their own ups and downs and carving out their own niche (KK is dominant in secondary distribution and Dunkin has started to re-brand itself as a coffee roaster that sells the occasional pastry) to survive in today’s slightly more health conscious environment.

I grew up at the counter of the Krispy Kreme in Goldsboro, NC, between my little brother and my grandfather, who used to take us there to get hot, fresh glazed doughnuts right off the line and a cup of milk to dunk them in.  Moving to NoVa meant a dearth of KK shops and I was weaned onto delectable grocery-store bakery delights and reluctantly began to appreciate the more cakey Dunkin Donuts offerings and that they went well with their coffee.  When I moved up to PA we had neither a KK or a DD within what is even remotely a reasonable distance and again I fell in love with the exotic and decadent offerings of local bakeries and small-town grocery stores.  One fasnacht or strawberry/creme filled bullet from these places was enough to make me drop to my knees and swear fidelity, forsaken for all time the cheap, air-filled offerings of the national chains.  I thought I would forever be happy to leave the dried-out KK boxes on the supermarket or gas-station shelf and get something fresh, moist and heavy from the bakery, and for a time, I was.

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Popularity: 18% [?]

As someone who has dabbled in brewing my own libations in the past, I was overjoyed to hear that there was a local source for homebrewing (and winemaking) supplies coming to the Cville area. The Fermentation Trap opened recently up on 29 North (just past the Greene County line) and had a Grand Opening day on Saturday in observance of National Homebrewing Day, so EvoMan and I jumped on our two-wheeled conveyances and cruised over to check them out. Owned and operated by a couple of Greene County locals who are back in the area thanks to NGIC, the Trap is a great place for folks experienced in homebrewing and those looking to get started.

They carry several different kits for beer or wine, lots of literature on both, including recipe books on how to create copies of your favorite Macrobrews. If you don’t want to dive in with both feet right away, they also have no-cook beer and hard cider kits that require only a fementation vessel, yeast and water to get started. Each kit yields 2.5 cases of 12oz bottles after approximately 3 weeks of fermentation, and they currently have kits for a variety of styles, from Irish Stout to American Lager.

Homebrewing is a great way to learn more about beer, experiment with flavors, and become active in a community. There are two brew clubs in Charlottesville, so there’s an established group of folks to learn from (and believe me, brewers LOVE to talk about beer) and swap recipes and tips with. The Fermentation Trap is a great place to start if you want to get rolling down the road to fresh, homemade beer and wine, and the owners will be happy to bend your ear, listen to your concerns and answer your questions.

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Popularity: 23% [?]