Oh Vicky.
The only bird I’d go to for a good D.
I met Vicky about 5 years ago, not long after I’d moved to London and was working at the wonderful Brooklyn Coffee (RIP). Vicky had jacked in her day job and decided to develop her love of baking, specifically donuts, into a full time venture: Vicky’s Donuts.
As a supporter of like minded local start ups, and lover of all things American style, again specifically donuts, Brooklyn started stocking Vicky’s amazing sticky rings. We started small and only took two or three of each a day (vanilla bean, chocolate, the ‘Homer’, and OH MY GOD THAT SALTED CARAMEL PRETZEL) and it very quickly go to the point where i ended each shift fucking furious that we’d sold out and there wasn’t one left for my fat ass.
Her donuts are the best. And I’ve sampled a hell of a lot. Proper fried donuts with some top notch but not over the top toppings. One brand in particular comes into mind with so much sweet topping on even I’m put off by them, and another that uses sourdough and bakes them.
Sorry, that’s not a donut. That’s bread.
Anywho. The only thing sweeter than one of Vicky’s Donuts is Vicky herself. She’s an absolute dream boat and so deserving of all her success. My bf is the biggest donut fan I know, so I asked Vicky if as a surprise birthday gift we could come to her production kitchen and watch her make some, when she was still working on her own and with a lot to do, and she welcomed us with open arms and a massive tub of dough! Like, enough dough that we ended up making about fifty donuts, just for us.
In the last five years Vicky and her glazed holes have become Insta famous. Not only has she had some rocking’ success with the likes of Chatsworth Road and Kerb food markets, but if you check her Insta page you’ll see she’s done some pretty high profile events for some massive customers.
If you’re not the kind of person who likes devouring a sticky ring in public, she was even kind enough to publish a recipe book so you can make your own at home and then shovel them Ds in and around your mouth behind closed doors.
Right now, success comes in the form of her first brick and mortar space in the new Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden. Big Shot is a donut and coffee collaboration that sees Vicky and her wares available seven dials a wee… sorry seven days a week. The space suits her brand perfectly, and the bar is super cool; branding courtesy of Studio Moross together with slick matte black coffee kit (Mythos 1, La Marzocco PB and Curtis filter brewer) and a divine pink terrazzo counter make it perfect levels of fun and slick.
The menu offers a range of sweet donuts, complimented by at least two different savoury options as well, so you can get a full balanced meal without having to worry.
Oh and I should mention as a non-vegan that I have sampled her vegan donuts and they still beat any other normal donut hands down.
I’ve just really enjoyed seeing all the things Vicky has been up to, and who she’s been feeding her Ds to, and she’s so deserving of every success.
So whether you’re in Covent Garden pootling about and find yourself hankering after some delicious treat, or in need of something fun a bespoke for a particular occasion, hit Vicky up.
It’s the best D I’ve ever had in my hand, or mouth for that matter.
#harrisonthehand