Apple Fritters and the Locks

Yesterday, since the weather has been not-so-pretty at the coast, we decided to spend one more night in Bellevue before heading south. We hit up Top Pot Doughnuts to start the day. I’ve been on an unofficial quest to find the BEST apple fritter for about 2 years now. An apple fritter must, first and foremost, have chunks of, wait for it, APPLES! I’m not sure how some places think they can call it an apple fritter when their sad attempt is devoid of apples. An apple fritter must also have the right amount of doughiness, and should never, ever, be dry (uck!) It should also have just enough cinnamon to accent, not overpower, the apples. The outside of the perfect apple fritter is crisp, and you should be able to tell it’s fried, but it shouldn’t be greasy. Last, the perfect apple fritter should have a glaze that seeps into the nooks and crannies, but does not steal the show. Alas, the apple fritter at Top Pot was good, but my search continues.

Here’s my list of the BEST apple fritters I’ve daintily (yeah right!) devoured:
1. Bashas’* (see note below)
2. 19^th Donut Hole
3. Top Pot Donuts (Seattle-area)

*note: it has to be from the McKellips and Gilbert location. Other locations can’t compare)

Worst Offenders Dunkin Donuts
Fry’s
Safeway
Albertson’s
Walmart (don’t ever buy donuts here)
Food 4 Less (Medford, Oregon- hey, I was desperate!)


After we got our fill of sugar and caffeine, we ventured over to the Ballard Locks. I’ll be honest (to this Nate would reply, I hope you’re honest!), I had no clue what locks were before yesterday. The Ballard Locks are officially called the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, and were built in 1911. Basically, boats pass through the locks to get from fresh water (Lake Washington or Lake Union) to salt water (the Puget Sound), or vice versa. The water, which is kept at two different levels, is adjusted as boats pass through. It’s not as dramatic as I’d expected, but still, was interesting to watch. We were hoping a big vessel would come through the big lock when we were there, but we only saw boats come through the small lock.

Next to the locks is a fish ladder (I didn’t have a clue what this was either….). It helps the salmon swim from fresh to salt water. They have a very neat glass viewing area below, where you can see the salmon swim by. I think this would be very cool, but we only saw one lonely fish (and it wasn’t a salmon).