Gut Check firmly believes in exercising more rather than eating less. Luckily, the organizers of Tour D'Onut aren't willing to give up their favorite foods either -- especially not the sweet, delicious deep-fried ones. For its second outing, Tour D'Onut 2012 takes St. Louis city's independent doughnut shops by storm with a band of breakfast-pastry hungry bicycle enthusiasts. If this Gut Check recap of last year's Tour D'Onut sounds enticing, read on!
"Tour D'Onut is a noncompetitive bicycle mosey promoting biking as an alternative means of commuting and exercise. It celebrates St. Louis' sprinkling of doughnut fryers," says co-organizer Will Fischer. "We just thought that if we were going to be eating a lot of doughnuts, we might as well be biking at the same time!"
Last July's event brought out some 40 participants, and with this spring's mild weather, Fischer expects to see plenty more smiling faces supporting local doughnut places this time around.
"We felt like St. Louis has a pretty unique set of assets when it comes to doughnuts.... This is our way of showing our appreciation for them," says Fischer, who put together the event with a group of friends who all have a mutual love for mom-and-pop doughnut shops, biking and St. Louis.
Participants will congregate -- doughnut-themed costumes are encouraged -- at World's Fair Donut (1940 South Vandeventer Avenue; 314-776-9975) on Sunday, April 15, at 8:30 a.m. and will embark at 9 a.m. on a casual sugar-fueled journey to four more favorite fried dough destinations. Stops include O'Fashion Donuts (5120 Southwest Avenue; 314-772-0398), St. Louis Hills Donut Shop (6917 Hampton Avenue; 314-481-6050), Eddie's Southtown Donuts (4701 South Kingshighway Street; 314-832-1200) and Plaza Pastries & Donuts (3182 Morganford Road; 314-772-2328). A reception at Tower Grove Park's Pool Pavillion will showcase live music and special awards.
