ike & jane (athens, ga)

"Doughnuts...round food for every mood." - Chandler

If there's one thing I've learned in my rather short time of food blogging, it's that word of mouth is a powerful thing. I can't think of a better example than the rise of Antico's in downtown Atlanta. After Jennifer Z. at The Blissful Glutton wrote about what may possibly be the best damn pizza in Georgia right now, food writers, bloggers, foodies, food nerds, Techies, grandmas and grandpas started to bombard the pizzeria. From what I've been reading and hearing, their pizzas are still tasty as ever.

I care about what food critics and food writers are saying but I'm more interested in you. Yeah, you! The guy over there enjoying his biscuit and coffee. The cute girl with the sundress (dinner tomorrow night?) eating the chicken salad sandwich. Where's the best place to grab a bite around here? Today, it led me to Ike & Jane.

Before venturing off to the Athens Farmers Market for delicious Greendale Farm eggs, I stopped by at this cafe and bakery on Prince Avenue for breakfast. My friend KT raved about this place earlier in the week about their crazy discount offers, selection of pastries and budget-friendly food and it was time to check it out for myself. The small and for the lack of a better word "Athenesque" bakery was pretty busy when I got there at 8:20 AM. People lined up to the door and employees working hard in the front and back of house. I like this place already. I could see from the kitchen window a worker making probably a pastry of some sorts. This stuff's freshly made and you know for sure that they don't spit in your food - I really like this place now.

(I'm gonna be honest...I really wanted to try one of those Oreo Doughnuts)

There's a variety of items to choose from: muffins, cupcakes, frittatas, breads, pies, empanadas, biscuits and did I mention the doughnuts? This isn't your typical Dunkin' Donut my friends. They have some unique and quality looking stuff behind that glass cabinet. See those Oreo Doughnuts to the right there? There were like 6 of those when I got there and by the time I took the picture, only 2 remained. Oh and those banana and apple fritters calling your name down there? You have to get one of those. I couldn't find the famouse Elvis Doughnuts though. All sold out? Discontinued?

Perhaps one of the most unique and hilarious things about Ike & Jane is their 10% discount offer. Everyday, they have a different "task" you can perform to get 10% off your total purchase. Today's was order while hopping on one leg and I think KT had to do some kind of dance on Thursday. Regardless, I decided to pass on the discount offer in front of everyone with a bigass DSLR in my right hand and order normally (okay, I was the only Asian in probably a 4 block radius. It would've been REALLY awks alright?!). I got a ham and cheese biscuit and an apple fritter. The apple fritter was still warm inside and probably the most memorable one I've had since that freshly fried one at a carnival in my high school years. Soft, not overly sweet and a good note of apple. I just wished I had auxillary arteries so I could try out the other ones. The ham and cheese biscuit was good and for $3, a pretty good deal. I was unable to take a picture but the coffee is provided by Jittery Joe's.

There's something really magical about small, local bakeries like these. They just make you all warm and fuzzy inside like an elementary school crush (or coffee). Hard working locals providing good food at reasonable prices and they're not afraid to show what goes on behind the cash register. I really appreciate that they're making their products fresh everyday and that they have a sense of humor as well with the 10% off spectacle. I'll be back Ike & Jane (with an extra set of coronary pumps and valves). Your friendly staff, variety of doughnuts and a front-row seat at people making an ass out of themselves left me wanting for more.

In front of Agua Linda on Prince Ave. and past Athens Regional. Look for the doughnut sign.