In Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier travels mostly on the run, his desk in his backpack, on the lookout for fascinating subjects and people. He speaks to everyone and is interested in all walks of life in this urban chronicle.
We can’t stop progress: a popular Montreal donut shop is now using its plump creations to sandwich egg and bacon breakfasts, fried chicken-pickle-chipotle or smoked meat… and it’s as dirty as it gets you imagine it!
These sandwiches where sliced donuts replace Kaiser rolls or bagels are called “donutwiches”.
“We racked our brains to come up with this name: we wanted a French expression,” Terry Axiotis, owner of Homers donut box, tells me.
“It’s going to stay beignewich even if they are marketed in English Canada or the United States, it is a new exportable Quebec word, like poutine», maintains the aspiring donut mogul who plans to have opened ten new Homers by the end of 2025.
Three Homers will open in Montreal this winter, including an address in the Latin Quarter to fatten Uqamiens.
A franchise will be opened in Quebec this spring.
In 2026, the brand plans to reach smaller markets like Granby or Saguenay.
Each of these addresses will offer these famous “donutwiches” available only since last week.
Crispy fried chicken in soft donuts… why not?
Louis-Philippe Messier
Succulent and excessive
I went to taste this succulent oddity conducive to excess calories.
My discovery: the St-Viateur bagel-style donut with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onions and salt… which is perfect for pairing with a salty and fatty filling like smoked meat.
“We coat the inside with mustard and we put 175 grams of the meat that Levitts provides us, it’s the most Montreal-style of our donutwiches,” comments Mr. Axiotis.
This twisted Montreal classic is as good as rye bread… and it’s easier to hold in your hand than its traditional counterpart.
Louis-Philippe Messier
As I intentionally skipped my lunch to have the appetite required for my journalistic mission, I devoured half of this smoked meat donut.
It’s plentiful for $8 (and half the price of the Hochelaga deli where I’m used to).
“Someone ordered the smoked meat with a glazed donut the other day!” exclaims Zineb Benmoussa, the Homers’ co-owner and principal donut designer.
Donutwiches can fit between slices of glazed, plain or all-dressed donuts.
Louis-Philippe Messier
Donut marriage proposal
During my visit, this donut artist made a box of “letter donuts” to wish a child a happy birthday.
“I already wrote a marriage proposal in donuts,” she confides.
What a great idea!
How to say no to the question “Will you marry me?” if this one is formulated by donuts?
“Speaking of weddings, we received an order for 1000 donut holes for a banquet next Saturday!” is surprised M.me in Benmou.
She is proud to show me her six Christmas donuts, one of which imitates a tree with a square brownie for a trunk and another which displays a Rudolph head with pretzels for the antlers.
Zineb Benmoussa shows me the Christmas donuts she has just designed.
Louis-Philippe Messier
After my half of a smoked meat donut, I moderate myself and enjoy small pieces of the four other friendly monstrosities.
Louis-Philippe Messier
My favorite: the one with crispy fried chicken, chipotle sauce and juicy pickle!
My 8-year-old son, to whom I brought the leftovers for dinner, stuffed himself with the egg-cheese-bacon donut in a glazed donut…and he didn’t need dessert afterwards.
