Doughnuts Made the Old Fashioned Way in Medford Square

The following was written by Charlie Breitrose.

Get past the traffic whizzing through Medford Square and you will find a quiet spot with tasty treats waiting for you on Riverside Street -- Donuts With a Difference. 

Since 1984, Steve Dulling has been rising early and preparing sweet doughnuts, yummy muffins and other delights for his customers. 

"I get here between 4:30 and 5 in the morning," Dulling said. "Yeast dough takes three to four hours from start to finish."

The store is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., but store employee Alyssa Serfes warns that doughnuts do not come out until about 7:30 a.m. Before then you can enjoy muffins and bagels (made by another bakery) with your coffee.

Dulling's doughnut roots go way back.

"I started in high school," Dulling said. 

Then he worked in Arlington at Dough-C-Dough, which closed about 15 years ago. he also used to work at Dunkin' Donuts when they used to make their doughnuts in the store.

These days he makes dozens and dozens of sweet treats every day for his own business. He will cook up 50 dozen on a weekday, 75 to 80 dozen on a Friday and Sunday is the biggest day -- 100 dozen, Dulling said.

Along with the usual favorites, such as glazed, chocolate glazed and jelly, Donuts With a Difference has some other signiture delights.

"The Gracie Bar is popular," Dulling said. "It is honey dipped with cinnamon and raisins."

Another creation is the "cheeseburger," which is two jelly doughnuts with a chocolate doughnut in between, and Bavarian cream for the cheese.

Many people enjoy the coffee rolls, a honey dipped swirl with a light sprinkling of cinnamon, said Serfes, who recently placed in the top 10 at the Miss Massachusetts pageant.

Donuts With a Difference is up for a the Boston A-List "Best Local Donut Shop." You can vote for the store here.