San Francisco

7.22.08

2760 24th St, btwn York and Hampshire; The Mission; 415.920.1978

The formula for adulting up most childhood pleasures is "just add alcohol" -- hence the spiked milkshake. And sex. For matured kid-fodder you can drive after enjoying, hit Dynamo Donut, open today.

The puffy dream of a career pastry chef and her bartender husband, Dynamo's an espresso-toned Mission kiosk with a 12ft tile counter, serving Four Barrel coffee and "donuts for grownups". The from-scratch 'nuts are yeast risen 2-3 times before deep frying, and incorporate organic and local ingredients whenever possible, e.g., Giusto flour, Guittard chocolate, and Mint Hill honey made from real hives in the Castro (where beekeepers must maintain constant vigilance against bears). Options change daily, but basics include traditional glazeds infused with vanilla bean or caramel + sea salt, while nuttier choices include glistening honey-glazed lemon thyme and maple-glazed bacon & apple -- one a day keeps the doctor in pay.

Beyond the kiosk's a large kitchen where (permits permitting) the owners plan to open a full bakery; there's also a back patio, which could be turned into an adulted up playground by just adding monkey bars. And alcohol.