Baked-doughnut shop (fōnuts) set to open in June on West 3rd Street
Fōnuts. As in faux-nuts.
As in doughnuts that aren't fried, but baked. Either way ... Mmmmm, doughnuts.
Pastry chef Waylynn Lucas, who recently left the Bazaar by José Andrés and formerly worked at Patina, and her partner, voice actor Nancy Truman, plan to open their fōnut and coffee shop in the former Kiss My Bundt space on West 3rd Street. Its official name is (fōnuts), with the parentheses. Its planned opening date is National Doughnut Day, which is June 3.
The fōnut is the brainchild of Truman, born of wheat-free banana bread batter that found its way into doughnut pans. Enter Truman's longtime friend Lucas, who has plans to take the fōnut to the next level.
"I'm using different methods of steaming and baking at high heat to replicate the light and fluffy texture of a doughnut -- without frying," Lucas says. Some will be wheat-free and vegan, some more indulgent. Some sweet, some savory. Some with traditional flavors, some more cutting-edge. Lucas mentions a fōnut topped with olive oil powder instead of powdered sugar.
The question is: Would you be willing to sell your soul to the devil for a fōnut?
-- Betty Hallock
Photo: Reuters/Fox Broadcasting
stealing idea from Beach City baked Donuts !?
Posted by: sandra | June 13, 2011 at 05:36 PM
Why ? What is it about vegans and the gluten-intolerant and fake food. There is a world-wide trend (especially now in Japan) for the well-made donut. Would love to have one close-by. Not some fake (or faux). Real donuts please.
Posted by: Harry Koblick | June 11, 2011 at 05:05 PM
Hear such great things about Chef WayLynn's creative, nutritional, & lucious treats, can't wait to ENJOY! sell my soul to the devil? NOT a chance...her goods are HEAVENLY!
Posted by: Rachel | April 29, 2011 at 06:55 AM
Wow, Mani. Better start eating more sweet treats, cause you sure sound bitter!
Food is food - and if you think you were the FIRST and ONLY person to bake a dessert that is usually fried, you are sorely mistaken. It may be a fact that you were the first to receive publicity for this, but that was almost 20 years ago! Boo to you for your nasty comment... Hope you don't curdle all your sweet cream with your sour attitude! I, for one, won't be eating any of your baked goods to find out!
Posted by: Melissa | April 22, 2011 at 07:31 AM
It is a well documented fact that I invented the fauxnut (so named by Mary Coller Albert) for Danny DeVito, an edible prop for his 1991 movie, Other People's Money. The story came out just a few months after the original Mani's Bakery (which I sold in 1997) opened, getting us tremendous press. I have articles from the LA Times, Self, Food & Wine and even People magazine to prove it.
-Mani Niall, Executive Chef, Just Desserts, SF, CA
Posted by: Mani Niall | April 21, 2011 at 04:53 PM