.Best Gourmet Doughnuts

First, the cupcakes went gourmet. Then, bagels started getting the Slow Food-approved, artisanal treatment. It was only a matter of time before high-end doughnuts hit the East Bay — vegan doughnuts, doughnuts with bacon, doughnuts filled with fancy cream. No snark: It’s a trend we can get behind. For our money, the best of the bunch are the mini-doughnuts at Uptown Oakland’s Donut Savant, where owner Laurel Davis has brought new shine to the well-worn idea of a doughnut hole. Davis makes small batches throughout the day — endless variations on the doughnut “(w)hole” theme, ranging from doughnuts with a salted-caramel glaze to mini apple fritters to her legendary “chocolate bomb,” which has a burst of boozy, bittersweet chocolate hidden inside. The doughnuts’ small size contributes more than just cuteness; it means you can sample several varieties without feeling like a glutton. Best of all, most of the doughnuts cost a dollar or less each.