Federal Donuts: The (Partially) True Spectacular Story

A zany chronicle of the rise of America’s hottest donut mini empire—with recipes—by the authors of Zahav, the James Beard 2016 Book of the Year

“We knew absolutely nothing about making donuts.” So begins this quirky story of how two James Beard Award winners hatched a harebrained idea that resulted in a mini empire and turned Philadelphia into a donut destination. Federal Donuts is at once an ode to an American passion and a collection of recipes for the cult-favorite hits.

With a wad of cash in hand and a dream, Solomonov and Cook meet a Craigslist stranger in a parking lot and buy a used “donut robot.” It would do all the rest, right? Regrets, partially raw donuts, and long lines ensue, but soon the partners work out the kinks and develop an exquisite dough delicately spiced with Middle Eastern aromatics. Strawberry lavender, guava poppy, pomegranate Nutella, and salted tehina are just a few of the imaginative flavors featured in this book. Also included are all the tips needed for making foolproof donuts at home. There is even a bonus recipe for the other specialty of “Fednuts”: shatteringly crisp Korean-style fried chicken.

Michael Solomonov is the multiple James Beard Foundation Award–winning chef behind Zahav, which won the 2019 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant award and was named an “essential” restaurant by Eater. He is the coauthor of four cookbooks: the James Beard Award–winning Zahav, Federal Donuts, Israeli Soul, and the forthcoming Zahav Home. He and business partner Steven Cook are the co-owners of the nationally beloved, trailblazing Philadelphia hospitality group, CookNSolo, responsible for hit restaurants celebrating the vibrant cuisine of Israeli: Dizengoff, Federal Donuts, Goldie, K’Far Café, Laser Wolf, Lilah, and Zahav.

Steven Cook is the coauthor of four cookbooks: the James Beard Award–winning Zahav, Federal Donuts, Israeli Soul, and the forthcoming Zahav Home. He and chef Michael Solomonov are the co-owners of the nationally beloved trailblazing Philadelphia hospitality group, CookNSolo, responsible for hit restaurants celebrating Israeli cuisine: Dizengoff, Federal Donuts, Goldie, K’Far Café, Laser Wolf, Lilah, and Zahav.