I plan on posting periodically about our transition to living in America and the things that are surprising or strange or amusing or enfuriating or just plain weird. This will be the first installment. Don’t ever say I pull my punches…
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Ok y’all. I sense that this post might be inflammatory. Because if there is one thing that North Americans take seriously, it’s donuts.
Baked, fried, dipped in chocolate, filled with jam, covered in sprinkles, long, round, or holed. No matter how you like them, most of us are fans of refined sugar in it’s most primitive donut form, as well as the coffee that can usually be purchased at your basic donut outlet.
In Canada, coffee and donut-lovers worship at the altar of Tim Hortons. Tim’s is everywhere and I think that a significant number of Canadians are fans of their coffee. In Canada, donuts=Tim’s.
When we started announcing our upcoming move to the good ol’ U. S. of A. people had were all kinds of excited about how we would now get to have us some Dunkin’ Donuts lovin’. Â And I believed them. I believed that Dunkin’ Donuts would be good. Dare I say it, better than Tim’s even! Â
So you can imagine my disappointment when our first and second DD experience was -eh hem- less than stellar.Â
In a word, the donuts were….bad.
WTF America? And Canada too! Are you people on crack?
I am already expecting hate mail over this issue. The one time I tried to suggest that DD wasn’t quite as fantastic as everyone makes it out to be, I was met with a single raised eyebrow and a look of cold disdain. Canadian bitch, you think you’re better than us?
Ummm…no. I don’t think I’M better than YOU. But I do think that Timmy’s kicks the Double D’s ass. America, I wanted to love them. I had an open mind and a willing belly. But it’s just not working out. Seriously, the donuts are stale and dry and I was just so completely unimpressed. And yes, I tried them at more than one location, so as to be fair. And no, I really don’t think it’s because my expectations were too high. It’s just a donut, people (I won’t weigh in on the coffee because I don’t drink coffee).  I’m sorry America, but you are just going to have to do better.
And please don’t kill me in my sleep tonight for blaspheming one of your most prominent and beloved national monuments.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I just went to Toronto this summer and did not stop at Tim Hortons so I fear I’m not sure what I am missing, but a U.S. gal here saying that DD isn’t all that great. I would tend to agree with you.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:42 am
As a fellow Canadian I have to jump in and say that I don’t think Tim’s donuts are all that great. They used to be when they made them fresh, but they quit doing that awhile ago. Now they suck just like DD’s.
Another good American staple to try for donuts would be Krispy Kreme. I hear they are pretty good. Keep us posted. I hope you find something you like.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Actually, let me save you some More disapointment, just don’t bother. We were recently “blessed” with a Krispy Kreme church here in my Canadian town but it’s just not the same. Oh sure, the worship is the same, but they are clearly being brainwashed into it. Stay true to your beliefs. There is no higher deep fried diety than Tim’s. Period.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I agree with Daryl. Krispy Kreme aren’t half bad. And the new Tim Horton’s donuts suck. But nothing compares to my beloved Nutana Bakery anyway, which is just as well, because if I only eat from there, I don’t end up eating quite so many!
August 13th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Let’s be clear. I’m not saying Tim Hortons donuts are magical or anything! Just significantly better than DD. I don’t really have particularly passionate feelings about donuts. It’s more the difference in the reputation and the actual experience that I wanted to document.
Also, Daryl, my husband says that Tim’s used to be way better than it currently is. I kind of disagree. I really haven’t noticed any difference since they made changes to their process a few years ago. But that’s just my opinion.
I’ve not yet dabbled in Krispy Kreme, although I have to say that the name alone has put me off just a bit. But I will try and keep an open mind on that one.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Ok, I am so glad that our Canadian city has not been blessed with a Krispy Kreme yet, just our “Americanized” Canadian city to the south, and not because Krispy Kreme is bad. Just so you know though, if you’re going to give KK a shot, you simply MUST go when they have lit up the sign that says something like “We are making fresh original donuts right now.” It’s then that your two children will love watching the conveyor machine go and make the fresh yummy donuts and they give you all a free one! Right hot and fresh. That’s how you have to try them. I used to think, “It’s a donut. How good could it be?” I’m since a convert, but glad I don’t live in Calgary or I’d be 400 lbs by now.