A second location – this one in Roanoke City – and an appearance on national TV means that April will not be the cruelest month for Botetourt County’s own designer of delectable doughnuts. Instead, it likely will be one of Daniel Knight’s finest hours.
The owner of Blue Collar Joe’s confirmed last week that he plans to open a downtown location, though he would not reveal exactly where and when it would open. He will also be one of four featured doughnut makers on an episode of Food Network Challenge on the Food Network. The show airs on Sunday, April 10 at 8 p.m.
Blue Collar Joe’s, for those who might have missed out on one of the area’s neatest and tastiest treats, is located in Daleville on US 220. In 2008 Knight converted a gas station into the eatery. He offers scrumptious cake-like signature doughnuts, homemade chicken salad, hot dogs, and other items for those wanting tasty items to complete their day. He also serves up themed doughnut cakes, like the custom “Jamaican cake”, a vision of a newly wed couple on a sunset beach, complete with tree frogs to complement the bride’s tattoo.
Appearing on national TV will be quite a treat for the likeable Knight. “I’m really curious to see the show myself to see what happened,” he said. “We had cameras following us everywhere for about three days and I figure they have 95 hours of video to distill down into a 48 minute show.” He has no idea what kind of editing will take place and expects the show to be nothing like what he experienced. The winner of the competition receives $10,000 and a gold medal.
The shoot took place in Colorado in November. Knight drove out early in order to acclimate to the higher climate (about a mile high) and to relax before undertaking what turned out to be a taxing, though fun, event. He and three other competitors “hit it off really well,” and the show’s makers have informed Knight that they have a great episode. “We had so much fun, it was ridiculous,” he said.
Because of a confidentiality agreement, he would not reveal who won or what type of doughnut he created. Blue Collar Joe’s is famous for concoctions dripping with chocolate and bearing names like the Botetourt Bog. Could this be the next national craze?
With a second location and the TV appearance, 2011 is looking like it will be a better year than 2010. A year ago, Knight found himself in the hospital after a fire burned his house to the ground. “I got through it with the grace of God and an amazingly heroic neighbor,” he said. “I walked away from it and I am not a pile of ashes.” He and his wife, Pru, are rebuilding their home and expect to move in this August.
He plans to keep the original location in Daleville and told his customers not to worry. “Daleville is our home,” he said. He’s not going anywhere. His many fans will be glad of that.