You Like Donuts? This Mainiac Says Where They Came From

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This man is from Rockport or Camden Maine. Many years ago I was doing a documentary on the town of Rockport (where I lived for more than 20 years) and I got the chance to video interview some old-time Mainers who I had gotten to know quite well, especially on those cold snowy winter mornings when we all went to the same coffee shop and sat and shot the bull.

I loved their accent – a Maine accent – and was fascinated by their certainty that they knew who invented the doughnut and when and in what town.

I also love donuts. They are a special kind of food and have a very soothing effect, especially when dunked in coffee or hot chocolate. I would have at least one every morning if I could, and would probably drive 20 or 30 minutes to get them before breakfast and my work began. But I have a bit of a belly that gets in my way when I sit down and so except for special occasions, doughnuts are out of the question. I believe that other people claim that they invented the doughnut but I choose to believe these old-time Mainers. As I knew them, they did exaggerate, but they didn't lie.

The origins of the donut (or doughnut) and the reason for its distinctive hole have an interesting and somewhat debated history. While it is challenging to pinpoint a single inventor of the donut, there are several theories and pieces of folklore that contribute to the story of its creation.

The concept of fried dough is ancient, with variations found in many cultures around the world. In medieval Europe, cooks would fry dough in oil, and these early forms of donuts were often called “olykoeks” (oil cakes) by the Dutch settlers who brought them to America in the 18th century. These early donuts did not have a hole in the middle and were often filled with fruits, nuts, or other fillings to mask the fact that the centers would sometimes remain undercooked.

The claim that the donut with a hole was "invented" in Rockport, Maine, stems from the story of Hanson Gregory. While it is true that Gregory later lived in the Rockport area, the validity of his story is debated by historians. Some believe it is more of a local legend than a documented historical fact. Nonetheless, Rockport, Maine, has embraced this folklore, and the town recognizes the story of Gregory as a fun piece of its local history.

While there is no definitive proof that Hanson Gregory was the sole inventor of the donut hole, his story is the most popular and is closely associated with the donut's development in the United States. The concept of frying dough has a much older history, but the addition of the hole is often attributed to a desire for evenly cooked, easy-to-hold treats. Whether or not the hole-in-the-donut innovation occurred in Rockport, Maine, it is an essential part of the lore surrounding this beloved pastry.

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Видео You Like Donuts? This Mainiac Says Where They Came From канала David Hoffman