Fermenters unite! Sourdough donuts find new home at West Berkeley winery

"Owner Elle Cowan has become known for sophisticated flavors like a kaya and coffee (kaya is a Southeast Asian coconut custard flavored with pandan leaves) and caramelized leek and chevre cheese. All with a signature sourdough tang, crusty interior (in a good way, like your favorite sourdough bread) and pillowy insides."

"Elle Cowan launched SoDo in 2022, riffing off a sourdough donut recipe she developed while working in Bangkok. She attended culinary school and began her career managing pastry and chocolate programs in Los Angeles, New York, and abroad, before moving to the Bay Area in 2020."

"On Yelp, fans call Cowan's donuts the most excellent best-tasting donuts ever, with the perfect combination of sweetness with the right amount of flavors."

SoDo Donuts, the Bay Area's first all-sourdough donut company, has built a cult following through three years of pop-ups at farmers markets, flower shops, and street fairs. Owner Elle Cowan, an 8th-generation Californian descended from the Peralta family, developed the sourdough donut recipe while working in Bangkok. She combines this recipe with California's seasonal produce to create sophisticated flavors like kaya and coffee, and caramelized leek and chevre cheese. Her donuts feature a signature sourdough tang with a crusty exterior and pillowy interior. After attending culinary school and managing pastry programs in Los Angeles, New York, and abroad, Cowan launched SoDo Donuts in 2022. The company now opens its first fixed location as a food residency at Hammerling Wines in Berkeley's Gilman District, operating Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org