donutfest_012819_6_81405719.jpg

About 1,000 people attended the 6th annual Chicago donut festival in Wicker Park. | Rick Majewski/For the Sun-Times

All smiles at Donut Fest

Five-month-old George Sandler — strapped to his dad’s chest — wasn’t fazed by the doughnut crumbs that tumbled onto his thin head of hair.

“We’re getting the kids addicted to glazed doughnuts early,” joked Gabe Sandler, 33, as he took another bite.

It was all good. No one judges at Donut Fest.

Unless you’re actually a judge.

The culinary resumes for jurists gathered at the sixth annual event Sunday morning at the Chop Shop bar and restaurant in Wicker Park were world renowned. And then there was the Chicago cop who rounded out the group.

Gabe Sandler with his son attended this year’s Chicago donut festival in Wicker Park. | Rick Majewski/For the Sun-Times

Gabe Sandler with his son attended this year’s Chicago donut festival in Wicker Park. | Rick Majewski/For the Sun-Times

“I’m here for the tongue-in-cheek humor because I’m a cop,” said the officer, who asked not to be named but had no qualms about the typecasting.

Eleven doughnut purveyors offered samples to approximately 1,000 attendees.

Juan Gutierrez, pastry chef at Longman & Eagle in Logan Square, estimated someone would have to eat four of his bourbon-spritzed doughnuts to get a buzz. He lovingly sprayed each doughnut with a little blue bottle filled with booze.

He also sometimes sprayed it into his own mouth.

“I can’t do it often, though,” he said. “I’m a light weight.”

Attendees adhering to New Year’s diets commonly landed on the words “cheat day” while explaining their presence.

The conscience-easing catchphrase has justified Steven Balderas’ doughnut passion for years.

Husband and wife Heather and Bryan Carr came from Salt Lake City to attend this year’s Chicago donut festival. | Rick Majewski/For the Sun-Times

Husband and wife Heather and Bryan Carr came from Salt Lake City to attend this year’s Chicago donut festival. | Rick Majewski/For the Sun-Times

Balderas, 27, a former body builder, punctuated a strict diet with doughnuts. Somewhere along the way he started taking pictures and blogging about it.

“They’re hard to make at home. And they’re a blank canvas,” said Balderas, whose main job title is nuclear engineer.

“We always get several doughnut influencers,” said fest founder Rebecca Skoch, who retreated to a quiet spot for a brief chat.

“Did you see the woman in there with the doughnut cape on?” she asked.

For the record, the winner of the crowd favorite category was the glazed doughnut served up by D&D’s Place, 8324 S. Kedzie Ave.

The judges handed top honor to the potato doughnut served up by Downstate Doughnuts, which can be found at Rewired Cafe locations in Lakeview and Edgewater.

The Latest
Chances are, if you live in an American city, particularly in the South — the most violent part of the country since forever — these things are familiar to you.
For the first time since 2019, the water taxi will offer daily service between Ogilvie and Union stations, Michigan Avenue and Chinatown.
Busch found an unconventional way to score in the loss to the Rangers.
The acquisition of Tamarack Farms makes Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge a more impactful destination and creates within Hackmatack a major macrosite for conservation.
The man was found unresponsive in an alley in the 10700 block of South Lowe Avenue, police said.