By Kathryn Schoenberger
Hampton Union, Friday, June 23, 2006
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
[Photo by Kathryn Schoenberger]
HAMPTON —- Blink's Fry Doe has been a staple at Hampton Beach for more than 30 years.
In that time, it has received a number of honors including Best Fried Dough in the state as voted by the people of New Hampshire in 2003 and a feature in the Boston Globe's Best of New Hampshire in 2005.
"Every year we seem to be somewhere,". Manager Theresa Everett said.
In July, Blink's will be featured on the Phantom Gourmet's Hidden Jewel segment. This portion of the show highlights an establishment that might be overlooked, but which the Phantom thinks deserves recognition for great food and service.
The Phantom Gourmet crew filmed at Blink's on May 30. It filmed employees preparing the dough, interviewed customers, and recorded the history of the concession.
to past and present
people who work here."
Theresa Everett
Manager, Blink's Fry Doe
Robert Difeo, aka Blinky, started the business in 1974. He teamed with dough expert John Doe (who was so obsessed with dough he wrote his Ph.D dissertation on its physical properties), and Blink's Fry Doe was born.
Their trademark 20 toppings have been on the menu since the beginning.
"(Difeo) was the first we know of to sell fried dough with the expanded toppings," Everett said.
Blink's Fry Doe has two
Hampton Beach locations,
115 and 191 Ocean Blvd.,
and is open from 9 am to 1 am
The most popular flavors are the traditional cinnamon and sugar and powdered sugar. But non-traditional toppings such as sauce and cheese, chocolate, and honey walnut are also favorites.
Choosing toppings is about to get even harder. Next summer Blink's plans to add five new flavors. Staff will listen to customer input this summer and test new concoctions to decide what toppings to add.
"People are free to choose any combination they want," Everett said.
She believes the excellent staff is a big reason people keep coming back to Blink's.
"Our success is due to past and present people who work here," Everett said.
So what did the Phantom Gourmet crew think of the fried dough?
"They said it was unlike any other fried dough they had had," Everett said. She added crew members had two fried dough each and enjoyed experimenting with various toppings.
Blink's Fry Doe has two Hampton Beach locations, 115 and 191 Ocean Blvd., and is open from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Look for Blink's Fry Doe on the Phantom Gourmet television show on UPN 38 in July and August.