Some food experiences are so transcendent they become the measuring stick against which all others are judged – and the Long Johns at Achenbach’s Pastries in Leola, Pennsylvania, are precisely that kind of revelation.
Tucked away in the pastoral landscape of Lancaster County, where time seems to move at a gentler pace, this unassuming bakeshop has been quietly perfecting the art of the Long John donut to near-mythical status.
The modest exterior of Achenbach’s gives little indication of the culinary treasures waiting inside.
Cheerful marigolds and vibrant flowers frame the entrance, while a simple sign proudly announces the bakery as the “Home of the Long John” – a claim that proves to be anything but hyperbole once you’ve had your first bite…