| The question as to why doughnuts have holes has | | | | fried cake, with or without a hole, has been |
| been raised by dozens of bakers over the years, but | | | | incorporated into the diets of people throughout the |
| most agree that the answer to this sticky question lies | | | | world for centuries. In fact, archaeologists found |
| in the fact that the interior of these fried cakes would | | | | petrified fried cakes with holes amongst the artifacts |
| not cook fully without a hole in the center. In short, the | | | | of a primitive Indian tribe. |
| consistency of a doughnut lacking a hole would be, | | | | Many credit Dutch settlers to America with introducing |
| quite simply, doughy. | | | | the non-holed olykoeks, or "oily cakes," to this continent, |
| Another riveting theory as to the origin of the bulls eye | | | | and with their subsequent popularity. |
| in the doughnut holds that a sea captain named | | | | There is no disputing the fact that the fried cake |
| Hanson Gregory, while manning his post one stormy | | | | became the rage in New York and in New England, |
| night, found it impossible both to steer his vessel and to | | | | and that before long, it became the specialty of coffee |
| eat his fried cake. Out of sheer frustration, and | | | | shops. Fried cakes came into their own in 1673, when |
| probably out of hunger, he impaled his cake over one | | | | a self-made New York marketing guru, Anna |
| of the spokes of the ship's wheel, thereby creating a | | | | Joralemon, made their purchase at the market |
| finger hold with which to grip the cake. Quite pleased | | | | possible. |
| with his ingenuity, Mr. Gregory ordered the galley's | | | | To this day, doughnuts, in any shape or form, remain |
| cook to fry the cakes in that manner henceforth. | | | | married in our minds to coffee and police officers, and |
| Whatever the reason for the hole in the doughnut, this | | | | are here to stay. |