Noshwellmenu

[rating:3]

The corner of Carrall and Hastings just got a little more interesting with the addition of Cartems Donuterie, a pop up shop slinging artisanal, ring-shaped confections to the willing hipster masses by the dozen.

The irony of Vancouver’s young and hip lining up to purchase a box of extravagant indulgence in one of the city’s most impoverished neighbourhoods is not entirely lost on us. But then again, Vancouver is a city of contradictions and the Cartems phenomenon is no exception.

Cartems differentiate themselves by starting with the best local ingredients they can find; offering vegan and gluten free options as well. At $15 for the half dozen, this clearly isn’t your parent’s donuts. But the difference is in the unusual variety  of flavours. Flavours like the triple chocolate threat: a densely chocolate cake topped with chocolate ganache and crunchy chocolate pearls. Or, the decadent earl grey donut topped with with a glaze made from the tea and sprinkled with rose petals.

But not everything is a home run. The maker’s bourbon bacon donut is topped with a sickly sweet glaze of maker’s bourbon and sprinkled with beautifully candied bacon chunks — that by themselves are quite tasty — but, their leathery texture continue to endure long after the donut itself has long crumbled away.

The donuts at Cartems are more cake than donut, tipping them even further down the dessert scale. Which, as an individual treat is quite fine. And at $2.5 to $3 a pop, really is how they should be consumed — individually.

Perfect for: Showing your co-workers how you roll.

The Details

408 Carrall Street, Vancouver
604.671.6015
cartems.com
@cartemsdonuts

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