Doughnuts are a very Canadian treat. According to the CBC, there are more doughnut shops per capita in Canada than in any other country, and we eat more doughnuts than other country’s citizens. Canada has one-third the number of doughnut shops that the States has – with one-tenth of the population. The jury is still out on whether this should be a point of national pride or shame.
I’m particular about my doughnuts. Won’t eat just any doughnut. After a lifetime of sampling, I have a definite preference for Tim Hortons doughnuts. It’s true that they have the best coffee and the tastiest doughnuts, but it’s the company’s patriotism that has endeared them to me. Beer, hockey and Tim Hortons – the core of the Canadian identity.
That’s why when American doughnut magnate Krispy Kreme infiltrated the Canadian doughnut market back in 2001, I was prepared to dislike them from the start. I had heard that Krispy Kreme doughnuts were greasier, heavier and more sugary than Timmy’s doughnuts. Mind you, when they opened a store in Mississauga, Ontario, my brother told me they had to hire police to direct traffic in the parking lot. I told you, we Canadians take our doughnuts seriously.
It took more than four years for Krispy Kreme to wend its way to the nation’s capital. I don’t think they have any coffee shops in the region yet, but you can get the doughnuts in the convenience kiosks in the Petro Canada and Shell gas stations in Barrhaven. On the weekend, Beloved stopped to tank up the car and came out with a half dozen assortment of Krispy Kremes to go.
I was naturally reluctant. First and foremost, I felt disloyal cheating on Timmy’s. A distant second, I could only imagine how many WW points I would blow on a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. But they were in the car, I was in the car, we were setting off on a 45 minute drive around the countryside to give the sleeping boys in the back seat a bit of a nap after an adventurous afternoon. So I tried one.
You know what? It was okay, but it didn’t blow my socks off. I was smugly vindicated. It was good, but not that good. Beloved ate two, I ate one, and we brought the rest home with us.
As we were driving, I read on the box that Krispy Kreme recommends their doughnuts be heated before consumption. Ewwwwwwww! Hot doughnuts? That’s revolting.
The next morning, I was grubbing through the cupboards looking for something to go with my morning coffee when I came across the leftover doughnuts. Finally, curiousity won me over, and I popped a chocolate frosted glazed doughnut into the microwave for the recommended eight seconds.
Oh. My. God.
Truly, the most exquisite doughnut experience imaginable. How could something as disgusting in concept as warm doughnuts be so incredibly delicious?
I’m sorry, Timmy’s. I promise that you’re still my java dealer of choice. But damn, that was one tasty doughnut.
Categories: Canadianisms
Et tu Dani?
I LOVE Timmy’s…I know of everyone on any route out of the nations capital. I need my French Vanilla Cappucino just to get me home. (Since I live 40 -45 min from the city) Although I’m not a doughnut fan pre say…I still think Timmy’s is better than any other doughnut shop around. ANd NO I have not tried KK…but I have heated a TH doughnut and totally enjoyed it.
Gee now you made me think I’m not a trued Canadian…I don’t drink alot of beer( Prefer wine) Hockey (I watch during the Stanley cup playoffs) And I don’t eat alot of doughnuts…because they are way too many points on my WW plan. YIKES….GET OVER THAT HOCKEY STIRKE…HEADING TO TOWN FOR A DOUGHNUT AND GIVE ME A CANADIAN! eh!
Another great blog Dani!
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SCM
mmm..donuts… I have to say that Timmy’s does have the best here in Canada for sure. As far as the Krispy Kreme ones go, I truthfully only like them when I am down south. I will admit to not trying them warm, and should probobly wait, cause if I like them yikes, I’ll be in trouble. Thanks for letting us know they are available at the gas stations, I can at least walk there to pick one up 😉 They do have them at Walmart now too!
thanks Dani, now you got me wanting to drive over somewhere/anywhere for some doughnuts (or would that be donuts, is taht the Canadian way?). Damn PMS 😉
Never tried KK but had lots of Dunkin Donuts back in Montreal!
As for WW points:
one timbit = 1 point
one donut = 5-8 points
one muffin = 5-9 points
one bagel and cream cheese = 9-10 points
french vanilla cap = 3points
God those points add up quick!!
I’m no longer as fond of Tim Horton’s coffee as I once was. I’ve become addicted — ADDICTED — to Starbuck’s. I already had one Venti Bold today and I’m already dreaming up reasons to drive across town — YES, ACROSS TOWN — to get another one. (I will only drive across town if I have a legit reason, you see. However, what passes as legit is becoming increasingly feeble.)
You know, I’m not so keen on the KK donuts, even heated. Maybe that’s because I’ve become blase, being a former resident of Mississauga made quite bitter by the huge traffic backups around their first store at Mavis and Britannia. God damn them. They slowed my trip to Michaels by actual minutes!
For the same reason I stand in line to watch them being made and then eat those Tiny Tom donuts at the CNE, I love Krispy Kreme. Donuts should be eaten hot and fresh, or not at all.
Mmmmmmm…donuts. I defer to Homer Simpson on this one: “Donuts. Is there anything they can’t do?”
D’oh! Nuts! Donuts!
:p
I’ve seen the pictures of the massive line ups and read the articles discussing the needs for security and traffic control whenever a KK store opens. I’m scared, I tell ya, scared to try one. My waistline couldn’t handle it, I’m sure.
Never tried one yet, but heaven help me when they finally get to Kelowna.
krispy kreme ick (warm or cold)
timmy’s yum
Sorry to fawn, but I just have to tell you all yet again how much I love reading your comments every day and how much I look forward to seeing how you respond to the idle thoughts of the day.
I do love you all so!!
xo Danigirl (nope, I haven’t even been drinking)
I’m a Timmie’s fan. If I could only bring one food to a desert island (dessert island!!), it would be a Timmie’s chocolate dip, or maybe Hawaiian, or a chocolate coconut…
There used to be a Krispy Kreme factory where they made them hot in front of you in the Superstore where I sometimes shop. And sometimes, I woudl indulge. But when Krispy Kreme was found to have cooked their books (did they boil them in oil, I wonder?) they shut down the store.
So now I’m back to my monogamous relationship with TH.
OH A french Vanilla Capis only 3 pts…gosh I feel some much better for driving 15 min in my pg’s just to get one (Yes that is one way!) LOL
SCM
My Hubby and I are Timmy’s freaks.We secretly have this joke that we will one day visit all Tim;s in Canada and write a book on our experiences.We also desire to plot a map with all the good Tim’s vs the rare Bad Tim;s
In my little corner of the US, I’m surrounded by Krispy Kreme places. When they turn on their glowing “They’re Hot” sign in the window, it’s hard to keep from driving off the road. They sell them in the grocery stores, too.
I highly recommend the chocolate frosted cream filled ones. 20 grams of fat and 300+ calories of pure (although somewhat deadly) indulgence.
I’m from NC, home of Krispy Kreme, and I’m glad to know that our neighbors to the (way) north are able to enjoy this delicious treat!
I prefer the plain glazed (hot, of course-cold doughnuts are gross), but my little boy likes chocolate frosted with sprinkles.