May 11, 2017 – mmm-yoso

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Today, Cathy is writing; Kirk is busy (again) at work and Ed (from Yuma) is enjoying a beautiful spring day (in Yuma).

Its been a busy year so far. Since I tend to not plan ahead much, finding meals is an adventure and quite interesting. When leaving a quick breakfast stop at Winchell's in National City last month, I passed Dunkin' Donuts, two blocks West. Dunkin' began in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts and I remember a few locations in the Detroit area when growing up. Nothing stood out in those memories, though.

A mental note was made, research occurred, this location (2139 East Plaza Blvd, National City 91950) is open 24 hours and I had no excuse to not drop in.

Once I noticed one of the many door signs, indicating that "Dunkin' Donuts of San Diego are proudly owned and operated by local disabled military veterans", I felt good that the 'chain' concept was still local. As an aside, the location in Ramona (1410 Main Street, Ramona 92065, phone (760)789-0210, open daily 5 a.m.-10p.m.) is a combined Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins store. Anytime you stop in, a craving can be fulfilled.

So, there's a nice menu board with the third section a good choice of various sandwiches- the breads are Texas toast, croissant, flatbread and ciabatta.
The donut selection comes into full view once you get to the front of the line to order. There's quite a bit of seating in both of the locations I've been to.

The coffee here is very good. I've seen the ads, heard the raves, read about cravings for their coffee, but now know this for myself. For this visit, two basics. The "Big n' Toasted" ($4.29) Two eggs, bacon and cheese on Texas Toast. Wow. Unexpectedly overfilled with bacon, very good. Only ordering a simple grilled cheese ($1.99) and seeing there were two types of cheese on it (Swiss and a mild Cheddar), I 'borrowed' one of the eggs and made that grilled cheese sandwich special. It was really tasty. A side of hash browns (99¢) was a great choice (there were six in the bag; very flavorful with parsley mixed in the potato).
The ham, egg and cheese english muffin ($4.09) was another unexpectedly great choice. The ham, as you can see, is a better quality with thick slices and the sandwich was quite filling. Then there was this. It's right in the center of that third menu board. The 'Pretzel Croissant Breakfast Sandwich' ($3.79). The first two times I was here, the pretzel croissants were sold out. My lucky day, my wonderful breakfast. Crispy exterior; pretzel- topped with large grains of salt- fluffy flaky interior of an excellent croissant, filled with bacon, egg and Swiss. Oh wow, now I have another craving.

The donut choices, overwhelming and although fresh, not overly interesting. Chocolate Butternut and a French Cruller; both pretty basic. Good cake donut topped with 'butternut morsels'-not peanuts- and fresh cruller with egginess of the pastry. Small, just enough to go with coffee. There was a whiteboard of specials inside the Ramona location and a 'peanut butter delight croissant donut' ($2.49) sounded good and tasted better. The peanut butter was mixed with the regular Bavarian Cream filling (so not too sweet) and injected into the 'croissant donut'…which is a delightful conveyor of a crispy, light dessert.