# Hot Sauce-Filled Donuts The Donut Zinger Contains Everything from Hot Sauce to Marshmallows By | Published 2013-06-14 | Updated 2013-06-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/candy-donut References: [lostateminor](http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/06/14/epic-donut-zingers-the-kind-of-dish-you-get-when-you-challenge-the-chef/) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/artichokesg) The [Donut Zinger](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/donut-burger-1) is an excessively rich candy donut containing everything from chicken to peanut butter. Created by chef Bjorn Shen of Articoke Cafe & Bar, the Donut Zinger is the result of lists of ingredients sent in by customers, challenging Shen to somehow combine them to form a single creation. This menu item is both [savory and sweet](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thai-honey-burger), made up of a donut, [chicken Sriracha hot sauce](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-honey-spicy-chicken-strips), marshmallows and peanut butter. In appearance, the Donut Zinger simply looks like a frosting and a sprinkle-covered mound of pastry on top of a bed of french fries. However, this creation is so much more than that. By combining all these unlikely ingredients, Chef Shen has created a challenging dish for even the hungriest cafe patron. People have begun daring one another to order the Donut Zinger and chow down, transforming it from a fun experiment into a cultural tradition. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Unlikely Ingredient Combos:** Creating dishes by combining ingredients that traditionally do not pair well together can lead to novel and exciting flavor experiences. - **Extreme Menu Items:** Pushing the boundaries of what is considered a traditional menu item can attract customers who are seeking unique and adventurous dining experiences. - **Food Challenges:** Offering food challenges like the Donut Zinger can attract customers who enjoy testing their limits and create a fun, shared culture among patrons. ### Where This Applies - **Fast Food:** Fast food restaurants can incorporate extreme menu items and food challenges to set themselves apart from competitors and attract adventurous customers. - **Cafes and Bakeries:** Cafes and bakeries can experiment with unlikely ingredient combos to create innovative pastries and desserts, appealing to customers who crave unique flavors. - **Food and Beverage Industry:** The food and beverage industry as a whole can embrace the trend of unlikely ingredient combos to create new products and menu items that cater to an audience seeking novel experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Spicy Honey-Finished Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shes-hot-honey-donut.md) - [Savory Snacking Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snacking-donut.md) - [Spicy Glazed Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golden-dough-foods.md) - [Savory Vegan Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-parm-donut.md) - [Spicy Saucy Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zinger-drip.md) - [Mini Savory Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/be-snacking.md) - [Sweet-Savory Burger Debuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/donut-burger-1.md) - [Spaghetti-Filled Donuts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spaghetti-garlic-bread-donut.md) - [Donut-Topped Vanilla Shakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/donut-kill-my-vibe-shake.md)