Considering how many people lined up when the first Krispy Kreme opened in Orlando, I figured doughnuts must have magic powers. But when I heard about yet another fried-cake franchise heading for town, I sort of yawned.
Well, shut my mouth and call me Slappy, because Hotties (400 W. SR 436, Altamonte Springs; 407 389-4500) is the new dunker in town and it's damn good. Owned by an Orlando family, Hotties sells real honest-to-God cake doughnuts, in enough varieties (56 to be exact) that it might take a while to decide. Then there are the obnoxiously tempting desserts, like spumoni cheesecake and chocolate pudding cake, in an old-fashioned revolving case at the front of the dinerlike shop. The drive-through is open 24 hours, and the specially roasted coffee is also well worth the trip. If you're lucky enough to live within three miles of the place, they'll even deliver a dozen.
