{Vincent Van Doughnut co-owner Vincent Brian Marsden}
Local doughnut truck Vincent Van Doughnut made a national splash last Friday, July 11, when owner Vincent Brian Marsden and pastry chef Jamie Hardesty took home first place and $10,000 on the season premiere of Cooking Channel’s “Donut Showdown.” Marsden said this victory places the mobile doughnut shop in the growing circle of other local eateries with national competition chops. “Jilly’s has won (“Cupcake Wars”), Sweet Devine has won and Vincent Van Doughnut has won. It speaks volumes to the talent of St. Louis,” he said. “I’m happy to be included in that realm.”
Marsden and Hardesty survived two rounds against two other competitors, Toronto-based Amazing Donuts and Tucson, Arizona spa Miraval. The first round required the use of a secret ingredient: jelly beans. Vincent Van Doughnut created an anise mascarpone orange-topped doughnut garnished with a melted jellybean glaze. The final round required three Las Vegas-themed entries. Marsden and Hardesty wowed judges with The Bellagio, a doughnut filled with caramel pastry cream, glazed with chocolate ganache and topped with hazelnut-caramel crunch; The Venetian, filled with ricotta pastry cream, glazed with lemon and topped with pistachios and tarragon; and The Flamingo, a cherry cake doughnut topped with a maraschino cherry glaze and silver nonpareils.
Filming took place in February, and the Vincent Van Doughnut team had to keep mum on its victory until after the premiere. Marsden said the prize money will go toward truck improvements, including the purchase of a new fryer, and will come in handy when he starts hunting for Vincent Van Doughnut’s brick-and-mortar home.
Forgot to set your DVR? The season premiere of “Donut Showdown” airs again July 19 at 7 p.m. on Cooking Channel.
This article appears in Readers’ Choice 2014.