Page 11 - July 2015 Dining Guide

house in Castle Rock“We love the small town feel here and we love to build relationships with our customers, making them feel like they’re part of our family.”“I got the recipe on a trip to New York last year and played with it until I got it right,” said Aladayleh. “We prep a traditional croissant dough and then fry it and glaze it like a doughnut.”The Donut House keeps its cases full; if supplies run low during business hours, Aladayleh makes more. Because of the time and labor-intensive nature of making croissant doughnuts, however, once they’re gone for the day, they’re gone. I recently set my alarm to ensure I got to the shop shortly after its 5 a.m. opening time. I can say without equivocation that it was worth getting out of bed for. Light, flaky and sweet, it was a bit of pastry perfection.I’m pretty sure I could come up with reasons to visit The Donut House every day, but they do make a lovely treat for special occasions. One of Aladayleh’s favorite ways to help customers celebrate is with a special-ordered, oversized 12-inch doughnut, flavored and topped with any of the menu’s selections.A wide variety of drinks are on offer at the Donut House to wash down all those delicious treats. A full espresso bar, cappuccino, mocha, chai tea latte, skinny vanilla latte, as well as soft drinks, Pellegrino, milk and juice are available. For gluten-free customers, varieties of gluten- free coffee cake are available daily.The Donut House is located at 703 Wilcox Street, Suite E and is open seven days a week from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, visit “The Donut House Castle Rock” on Facebook. Special orders can be placed by calling The Donut House at 303-484-9898. Mention this story on your next visit for a free regular cake doughnut!The Selection Process:Each month, The Connection features a dining spot we feel our readers will enjoy. Sometimes fancy and sometimes simple, they are always worth checking out. A restaurant cannot pay to be featured, and there is no charge to the restaurant once they’ve been selected.* This month we have a sweet treat for your discovery. This homey neighborhood bakery is just the kind of place that is sure to develop a devoted following.As is always the case, I went to the restaurant unannounced so I could get a true gauge of what the experience for an average customer would be like. Excellent technique and a devotion to solid basics are what make these doughnuts great, while creativity and novel ingredients are the icing on the cake, so to speak. After licking my fingers clean, I feel good about giving The Donut House a solid “thumbs up.”If you’re looking to expand your culinary horizons or just need a quick bite to eat, visit www.castlepinesconnection.com. Every restaurant we’ve ever featured is listed there, and you’re sure to find some ideas to whet your appetite.– Lisa Crockett, Food Editor*Restaurants do sometimes elect to advertise with us after seeing the response they get from our readers, so thanks for letting them know you learned about them in The Connection.Delicious croissant doughnut holes are a favorite at The Donut House.303-785-6520The Connection Food & Dining 11