Sure, you have a stand mixer at home. But is it big enough for your toddler to climb inside?
Kids of all ages marvel at the mammoth commercial appliances in the kitchen at Mighty-O Donuts in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, which mix, form and fry fresh doughnuts in a multitude of flavors each day. That surprise and sense of wonder is what has compelled Julie Twiggs for years to keep on leading PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support) families, grade-schoolers, and even senior citizen groups on free 30-minute tours that conclude with cinnamon-sugar mini doughnuts hot from the fryer, stickers and happy grins.
Mighty-O, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2015, is high on the list of must-do food tours scattered throughout the region. They’re the perfect way to while away a rainy morning or afternoon. Twiggs, a general manager, says they’re fun for kids, but also a way for businesses to share their values and methods.
“We tell them how we still mix everything from scratch and what types of ingredients we use, and how we focus on getting everything that is sustainable and organic and non-GMO,” Twiggs said. “We’ll measure out a small batch of doughnuts and let them crowd around the mixer to see it working. Once that’s done, we show them the parts of the machine and how each part has a name (hopper, plunger, etc.), and explain what each piece does.”
Twiggs says the tour seems most appealing to kids between age 2 and 13; “They are always excited to tell you how excited they are to have their favorite doughnut, and what flavor it is.” The best size is no more than eight to 10 children (to fit into the kitchen easily), with two to three adults to supervise (and eat doughnuts!). They’ll take smaller groups, however, and tour bigger groups in back-to-back batches. Tours run Tuesdays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and noon at the bakery in Wallingford (2110 N 55th St., Seattle, 98103; 547-5431; mightyo.com or email [email protected]).
Food factory tours offer learning and fun
CB’s Nuts, Kingston
Stop by most weekdays and watch the roastery’s antique 1919 Lambert roaster roast in-the-shell peanuts in small batches, as the roastmaster cracks open and checks the peanuts every few minutes until they’re just the right taste and color. Afterward, head to the tasting room for samples and to feast on an assortment of kid-friendly sandwiches (plus local brews, wine and cider for you). Fun fact: CB’s roaster was used in Tacoma in the 1930s as the original Adams Peanut Butter roaster. cbsnuts.com
Theo Chocolate, Seattle (Fremont)
You’ve likely gorged yourself silly on one of Theo’s popular chocolate factory tours. But did you know they also offer birthday parties, complete with a private tour tailored for pint-sized chocolate fans? For $275, the guest of honor and her friends (ages 5 to 12; up to 25 total per party) get to play party games in the chocolate factory, watch the chocolate-making process, eat chocolate, and leave with more chocolate. There’s also a kid-oriented tour that’s $150 for a group up to 25 people (with a ratio of four kids to one adult). theochocolate.com/private-tours-celebrations
Boehm’s Candies & Chocolates, Issaquah
Watch candies being made and sample the sweet results at this historic factory, tucked inside a sweet chalet in the Issaquah foothills since 1956. Tours take about 40 minutes, cost $4 per person (free for kids 4 and under), and require one adult for every four children. Note: there’s a fair amount of walking, including stairs and gravel walkways. Request a tour: 425-392-6652 or boehmscandies.com. In a rush? You can always visit the retail store on weekdays and peek through the windows for free to watch candy-making in progress between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
