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Donut Friend in Highland Park is the Pinkberry of donuts. Owner Mark Trombino, a former drummer and producer for the likes of Blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World, has a new venture on his hands—a customizable donut shop. Move over, cronuts. There may just well be a new fad in town.
There are over 30 different toppings ranging from the traditional like strawberry and maple to the unique; take for instance, balsamic reduction sauce, crushed Butterfinger, and rosemary, to name a few. Like ordering a burger from The Counter, customers can check off a paper list choosing what type of donut they want (including vegan and gluten-free options), the glaze, filling, and toppings.
For the ones who shudder at the thought of having too many options, Trombino has made it easy and allows folks to pick out tested-and-true flavor combinations that only get made fresh the moment they're ordered. The donuts all have a rock-n-roll vibe to the names, from Jets to Basil to Bacon-182. (Pun fans rejoice.)
Trombino opened the shop a month ago and first came up with the concept when he saw Donut Man in Glendora put fresh strawberries in donuts. "It blew my mind the first time I had it," he told LAist. "If you can put fruit in a donut, you can put anything in a donut."
Homer Simpson would be proud.
