Dine + Wine
Nibbles + Bites
by Aaron Garcia |
photography by Jamie Cowles
Go Nuts for Rene’s
NEW DONUT SHOP FILLS A HOLE IN MOORESVILLE
W
DECEMBER 2019
58 LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS
hen it comes to creativity, Linda Moreno says, “I can’t draw a straight line, to be honest with you.” It’s a good thing donuts are round, then. As the owner of Rene’s Sweet Treats on Brawley School Road, Moreno fills her display cases with some of the most imaginative confectionary creations in the Lake Norman area. Sure, she bakes (or fries) the standards: glazed, frosted, jelly filled, sprinkled. But alongside the standbys are the imaginative spins that use fresh fruit, candy and other elements that really make Rene’s a treat. “You can do so many things with this,” says Moreno. “It’s endless.”
Rene’s Sweet Treats
STATS Cuisine
Bakery, donuts, sandwiches, coffee
Price breakfast lunch
Attire
Families that glaze together Moreno’s story actually began in the mid-eighties, said Moreno, when her aunt opened SK Donuts in Los Angeles. “It wasn’t anything fancy,” says Moreno. “Just a twist and a glaze.” Around 2000, her cousin, Sophie, and her son, Jeremy, began offering more selections at SK. Business boomed, and the family soon opened several more shops. These days, any self-respecting confectionary connoisseur in SoCal has heard not only of SK Donuts, but probably USA Donut, Olympic Donut, AM Donut and Colorado Donut, too. SK and Colorado were even featured in the L.A. Time’s 2017 “Definitive List” of Los Angeles-area donut shops.
Casual
Atmosphere Customers of all ages enjoy the imaginary creations at Rene’s Sweet Treats.
Moreno said she was in the middle of it all, hopping from one shop to the next, even during the 25-year stretch when she worked full time as an administrator for a home healthcare company. “I couldn’t ask for better training because every day you go in, you see how they mix the dough, you see how they proof the dough, how they add the love they have for the donuts,” says Moreno. Two years ago, she decided to get back into the donut biz
full time. The Lake Norman area had long been a favorite vacation spot for her husband, Rene (who goes by Keith), who visited the area as a youngster. The lake area was a huge draw, Moreno said, especially considering there weren’t nearly as many donut shops as there were in California.
Cozy, modern
Group Friendly Family Friendly Going solo Lunch meeting
PRICE KEY 15 and under
$
On full display The difference between Rene’s Sweet Treats and other donuts you’ve tried is really highlighted by the shop’s croissant donut, which isn’t
25 and under
$
50 and under
$
75 and under
$
This includes an entree and a non-alcoholic beverage.