Liz Biro

elizabeth.biro@indystar.com

Where's the hottest place to eat in Indianapolis? Judging from new and soon-to-open spots, it may be the doughnut shop.

Rocket 88, scheduled to begin serving organic doughnuts this fall in Fountain Square, is the third doughnut shop in local news this summer.

Earlier this week, the Indianapolis Star reported that Square Donuts opens Indianapolis-area location No. 3 this month at 14 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel.

In early July, General American Donut Co. launched at 827 S. East St., just a mile away from Rocket 88's 874 Virginia Ave. address.

Maple pecan, chocolate bacon, carrot cake, pink lemonade and "a Kentucky Derby thing" with apple butter filling and bourbon icing are among flavors Rocket 88 owner Patrick Burtch said bakers are testing, There will be 10 to 15 daily doughnut varieties, including vegan and gluten-free options.

"We're going to do a little bit of everything," Burtch said.

Organic ingredients will be the common thread, said Burtch, a former high school teacher who oversaw a student garden and student environmental club. His food service background came from helping students run an on-campus coffee shop/sandwich counter serving 50 to 80 customers during the lunch hour, Burtch said.

"I had always wanted to do some sort of laid-back, counter-service coffee shop," he said. "In discussions, doughnuts started to come up as an option."

No doubt.

For the past several years, market data has deemed cupcakes the sweet treat of choice among U.S. consumers, leaving many trend watchers wondering what would become "the new cupcake." When Slate magazine in July 2014 searched the Nexis news database for mentions of food deemed "the new cupcake," doughnuts were among the top three replacements named. Pie and macarons barely beat doughnuts. They would not have taken the top two spots had cronuts and eclairs been considered doughnuts.

Kickstarter boosted Burtch's hopes, too. He got 190 backers to contribute nearly $11,000 to his Rocket 88 Kickstarter campaign, he said.

The 30-seat Rocket 88 will host a take-out area and coffee lounge up front. Six to seven seats will line a 15- to 20-foot-long counter. Tables and chairs will furnish the rear, Burtch said. Modern art overhead will feature tubes resembling doughnuts. Burtch plans exposed brick walls and wood floors. Bakers will work in a basement kitchen on site, he said.

Also a lover of vintage blues and rock music, Burtch named Rocket 88 for a 1951 rhythm and blues song music historians consider the first rock 'n' roll song ever recorded.

Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter: @lizbiro.