Disclaimer: The Tampa Bay bloggers were invited to sample Dough’s Sweet Peek.  I was paid with pastries, gelato and coffee in return for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Last Thursday evening, the Tampa Bay Bloggers and I had the pleasure to eat…er…I mean meet Dough, Datz’s quirky and whimsical new bakery!

Dough is the brainchild of Roger and Suzanne Perry, the duo behind Datz. In late 2012, when the Perrys learned that longtime Datz neighbor Kalupa’s would be closing, they jumped at the chance to take over the space and breathed a bit of a Datz life into the space with a total cosmetic overhaul inside and out. The new bakery specializes in house-made doughnuts, pastries and gelato and will soon roll out breakfast, lunch and dessert menus.

The available lunch menu, referred to as “lighter offerings”, simply means smaller portions than the super size portions we’ve grown to love from Datz.  Dough’s lighter menu will still leave you fully satisfied that only Datz can do.

“Premium coffee drinks made with custom blends from Kahwa complement these pastries perfectly.”  Allan sampled two drinks, an latte and an Americana.  As Dough boasts, both were served perfectly by my coffee snob’s standards.

I went for the new and unusual latte, the Bacon Maple Latte.  With a slight sweetness and small bits of smoky bacon sprinkled through the latte, breakfast brinner was served.

As for the doughnuts, generally they fall into two families: cake or yeast.

Cake Doughnuts – These denser doughnuts with a tender crumb get their rise from baking soda or baking powder. Their batter is very similar to what you’d use to make a cake. Common types include old fashioneds, cider doughnuts and most doughnuts that you would find superior for dunking, such as these fabulous chocolate chocolate cake doughnuts or these root beer cake doughnuts.

Yeast Doughnuts – These doughnuts seem lighter than air as they are leavened with yeast and have a softer consistency with lots of give.  Common types include the classic glazed, honey glazed, filled doughnuts and long johns.

I have to admit the lighter, yeast doughnuts are my favorites.  I love the fluffy, airy texture and this Lemon Custard was sublime.  I learned that Dough crafts this lemon custard filling on the premise.

No matter your preference, all the doughnuts go fast!  Arrive early because you doughn’t want to miss any flavor!  Doors open for business (today) Monday, April 8th!

Dough is located at 2602 South MacDill Avenue, directly adjacent to Datz.

Visit the celebration at 10:00 a.m.  for a chance to win a $500 gift card found in The Golden Whoopie Pie!   House-baked whoopie pies will be given to the first 50 people present at 10 a.m. On our count they’ll bite into the pies and the holder of the pie with the hidden golden cream is the winner!

Photo credit to Kate Perry.

Save your pastry pennies for a sweet Grand Opening that you won’t want to miss!

“Dough celebrates its official Grand Opening with an exclusive party to benefit the Children’s Cancer Center. Attendees will be treated to an evening of tasty bites, desserts, and drinks from Dough and Datz and 100% of the proceeds will go to the CCC.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders) on Sunday April 21 at Dough, 2602 South MacDill Avenue, Tampa, FL.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit raising_dough.eventbrite.com.

For more details about Dough’s menu, renting the Copper Room for private events or Dough’s upcoming Grand Opening Gala, contact Datz Marketing Manager Kate Perry at [email protected] or 585-749-3905.