Clintonville: Destination Donuts settles into new digs, turns up the vibe
After moving from the Columbus' North Market, Destination Donuts is frying high again.
The independent doughnut shop, which was opened April 7 at 3519 N. High St. in Clintonville, has welcomed veteran customers nd new ones, all seeking a creative take on traditional yeast doughnuts ($3), round-cake doughnut "nibblers" ($2) and cinnamon rolls ($4).
"It's been amazing," owner Heather Morris said. "The community has welcomed us with open arms, as have our patrons. It's exceeded expectations in every possible way."
Among the more intriguing flavors are triple berry cardamom, salty caramel and toasted pecans, butterscotch, lemon triple-berry and grapefruit mint.
Options are subject to change daily, Morris said.
She said she came up with the flavor profiles, drawing inspiration everywhere she could.
She studied culinary arts at Columbus State Community College and worked in fine dining at Bexley's Monk, Alana's Food + Wine and Black & Blue, all of which have closed.
Morris went on to become the pastry chef for L Brands and then moved to the merchandise side of the business, which wasn't her calling, she said.
Doughnuts, however, always had her attention.
"I wanted to get back to food and do my own thing," she said. "I just love fried dough. There's nothing not to like about doughnuts, I think."
She started a pop-up restaurant in the North Market as a sort of test run and later rented a booth for over six years in the market, but she didn't want to be beholden to market hours and needed room to expand.
Morris closed the location six months ago in preparation of her move.
Central Ohio still has independent doughnut shops, but grocery stores and chains have a much bigger presence, she said.
"I wanted to make more of an artisan craft doughnut that wasn't a machine-made thing," she said.
She grew up in Clintonville and completed her junior year at Bishop Watterson High School before attending New Albany High School, from which she graduated in 1987.
She has a full range of vegan-doughnut options and serves soy milk and oat milk, among tea, juice and coffee.
Morris fries her doughnuts in a mix of palm oil and soy or canola oil and soy.
"Clintonville has a pretty big vegan and vegetarian contingent, but we also had that at the market," she said.
Nina Hawranick, owner of the Winemaker's Shop at 3517 N. High, directly south of Destination Donuts, said she's excited about her new neighbor.
Hawranick said she looks forward to doing wine and dessert pairings with Destinations Donuts at her shop.
"I just think that, especially with the Clintonville Farmers' Market coming back this year, they're going to go crazy," she said.
Destination Donut hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, call 614-525-0878.
gseman@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekGary
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Clintonville: Destination Donuts settles into new High Street location
