PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Every visit to a donut shop is a special treat. That's especially true here for two-year old Kyoko Whinery, because Dudes Donuts are the only donuts she can eat.
"Kyoko has a rare syndrome called F-PIES and she can't have egg," her mother Katarina Whinery said. "It is similar to an egg allergy but more severe. If she ever has any exposure she'll end up in the hospital."
Not a single egg has ever entered the kitchen in Port Orchard where Dudes donuts are made. It's a 100% dedicated gluten-free facility. The recipes are all made with plant based ingredients.
"There's no dairy and no eggs," said entrepreneur Matt Grady who bought Dudes Donuts a couple of years ago. "So the traditional way of making donuts? We don't make them that way."
Grady acquired one of the original, local coffee companies, Bainbridge Island's Pegasus Coffee, in 2019. There he often sold out of Dudes Donuts. So when the original "donut dude" decided to leave the state, Grady saw another opportunity for growth.
"In the last two years we've actually grown our distribution from 8 customers to 52," he said. "So we have 10 to 12 customers probably in Seattle now and growing. We've had some folks tell us these are the only doughnuts they can eat from 100 miles around and they're willing to drive a long way to get them."
You can find a list of shops offering Dudes donuts on their website.
So what does a plant-based 100% gluten free donut taste like ? More substantial and less airy than the donuts that you're used to, but just as delicious.
They may be good for you, but that doesn't mean they can't be fun.
"Almost any holiday we find that people are coming in and buying dozens or six packs so we help celebrate with them by doing festive flavors and colors," Grady said.
Variety is another treason the Whinery family keeps coming back
"It's not just here's the one option that you can have," Katarina Whinery said. "It's anything you want, you can choose here, and she can eat it!"
They taste so good Kyoko's sister Mai-Ling even licks the bag they come in.
"Donuts for everyone," Grady said. "That's what we're here to do."
Dudes Donuts is located on Bay Street in Port Orchard. They're open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 am. to mid-afternoon.
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