Thursday, September 10, 2009

The original Hole Foods: Randy's Donuts of Inglewood, California




Time for one of the eccentric roadside all-time greats. Randy's Donuts is not far from the LAX airport in Inglewood, California, and started out as part of the Big Donut chain of 10 donut drive-ins in 1953 (four of the buildings remain today under different names). "It's a classic example of mid-century programmic architecture, where the shape of the building represents the product sold within," says the Los Angeles Conservancy, and they ought to know. It's been featured in the movies "Mars Attacks" and "Earthgirls are Easy" as well as Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." video. The Simpsons have also paid loving homage to Randy's. There's something about an eatery with a 32-foot steel and gunnite orange deep-fried pastry on top of it that makes you feel like like is worth living: Your eyes glaze over. Things that were frosting you before somehow donut seem to matter. You realize this tower of powder is a horse of a different cruller sprinkled with love. And that's the hole truth, I eclair, so help me carb.

5 comments:

Traveling Square Dancers said...

I didn't see a way to email you directly, but wanted to say thanks for the help. Actually, I figured it out about a half hour before your reply, but I appreciate the prompt reply. Since my blog has been going for over a year and a half, I started the counter with an estimated 500 (may be optimistic.) Keep up the good work, and thanks again. Traveling Dancers

Anonymous said...

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Susan said...

That is a great donut, but the city spells its name with an "I"... "Inglewood."

Gunnar and Sherry said...

Susan,
Thanks for the correction! As you can see I fixed it. I'll have to take up this matter with my proofreader and fact-checker... oh wait, that's me.

Eating The Road said...

I just found your site...it's so cool. I love Randy's Donuts:
http://eatingtheroad.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/randys-donuts/