Life might be a journey, but sublime food is a destination. There's no better destination than the deep-fried dough at Old Fashioned Donut. People always ask "What's the best?" and the answer is usually a subjective handful of choices. Consider it a lock, like the Daley administrations over the last half-century, the Old Fashioned donuts are the best.

The deep-fried, iced goodness they sling at this Roseland institution make Krispy Kreme look like the Whole Foods produce section. While most apple fritters should just be called iced cinnamon fritters, because they're notoriously devoid of apples, Old Fashioned Donuts' version offers chunk after toothsome chunk of the fruit. Comparable in size to A.J. Pierzynski's catcher's mitt, they're no small feat, either, and after a few visits, your heart could wind up just as enlarged.

Actually all of the donuts at Old Fashioned are Texas-size, and the addictive smell will have you ripping open your paper bag before you walk out the door. Thankfully, there's a bevy of vinyl-topped diner chairs where you can park yourself while enjoying this sweet indulgence.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Michael Nagrant