Will drive far for doughnuts

The drive from Sacramento to Modesto is more than an hour, but once local vegans learn about Vegan Donut Gelato, it may become an out-of-town detour. The trend of doughnut shops in the Sacramento region a couple of years ago left a big hole—no pun intended—for plant-based versions, since Doughbot shut its doors in 2014. VDG, which opened in December 2016 (at 330 Needham Street in Modesto, www.vegandonutgelato.com), specializes in the classics: glazed, jelly, holes, bars, apple fritters, bear claws and even cinnamon rolls. The texture on the old-fashioned doughnut was fantastic—cakey, decadent, yet not greasy—but I have yet to sample the less orthodox gelato-doughnut sandwich. The shop currently offers 12 gelato flavors, says VDG co-owner and longtime vegan Sam Kang. Will vegans carpool to Modesto to bring home a dozen or two doughnuts? Sounds plausible. Load up the Prius.