I was going to stay on my diet, I really was. But then I walked past Hi-Five Doughnuts [4] at The Flea Off Market [5], and my resistance melted in the wafting aroma of handmade donuts glistening with sugary glaze. I got a fat, golden doughnut with half chocolate, half bourbon-caramel icing and applewood bacon sprinkled on top. It was the best doughnut I’ve had in a long time, and I devoured that thing like a starving lioness. There was chocolate everywhere.
chocolate with bacon and candied ginger
Hi-Five is a pop-up doughnut shop that lets you customize your own treat. Owners Leslie Wilson, Annie Harlow and Jeff Bridges met at Bourbons Bistro [6], and Jeff Bridges (chef at Bourbons) created the recipes for the doughnuts and the basic glaze. The doughnuts are cakey, and they truly taste homemade.
white chocolate and pumpkin with a sweet balsamic drizzle
Toppings on the day I visited were candied cherries, candied pecans, sweet balsamic and applewood bacon. The glazes were plain, caramel-bourbon, bacon, chocolate, strawberry, sinnamon and p-nut buttah. The list of toppings and glaze flavors at Hi-Five changes constantly, so there are always new flavor combinations to try. When you order a doughnut and customize, it’s drizzled with a warm glaze and toppings in front of you. Owner Annie Harlow told me her favorite doughnut they’ve made is a margarita special, a treat with a simple margarita glaze and a lime salt. The strawberry glaze with a sweet balsamic reduction tempted me. Honestly, the entire menu tempted me.
bourbon-caramel with chocolate toffee crumbles
Hi-Five Doughnuts is part of the Louisville Street Food Alliance [4]. Hi-Five can be reached for booking at their facebook [4]and twitter [7] pages. Pricing for their doughnuts is as follows: $2.00 for a donut with your choice of glaze, $0.25 for each additional glaze or topping. An order of doughnut holes is $3, but it’s much better for sharing.
Not that you’ll want to share.
Photos courtesy of Hi-Five Doughnuts’ facebook page [4]