Dunkin’ Donuts and I have a long sordid history. When I lived in Atlanta, I couldn’t get good bagels (except for Bagel Palace but even those weren’t so good.) I’d leave my apartment and crave a place to sit and eat a bagel. The closest place, unfortunately, was Dunkin’ Donuts.
At first I thought those bagels were nasty. It tasted like chemicals and burning and I vowed never to go back. But back I went. The coffee was great and a bagel tastes better with a donut chaser. Eventually, I grew addicted to those sacreligious bagels (what self-respecting Jew eats a Dunkin’ Donuts bagel on a regular basis?!) and even more addicted to the donuts. A donut seems justifiable if you eat a bagel first. So each time I’d go back I’d try something new: the coconut, toasted coconut, vanilla-creme filled, strawberry frosted, vanilla frosted, sour cream. These were all my favorites.
Then I moved to New York and I’ve only been to Dunkin’ Donuts a few times here. It’s a nice reminder of my Atlanta life but the bagels are trumped by virtually every other bagel in the city and the donuts are, well, they’re still good. Doughnut Plant doughnuts (donuts?) are more exciting but that’s nowhere near where I live. So if I’m craving donuts, I usually turn to the Dunkin.
The other night, however, I was out on a date (yes a date! woohoo!) and after we went to see “Saving Face” in Chelsea we spied a Krispy Kreme across the street.
“You know I had Krispy Kreme a long time ago,” I said, “I wonder if I should give it another chance.”
“I love Krispy Kreme,” said the date. And in we went and we chose four donuts to provide a sampling of what Krispy Kreme has to offer. Here they are, going clockwise from the top: sugar, strawberry-filled, glazed, Boston Cream.
We proceeded to taste each one to get an overview.
My verdict?
These are better donuts (gasp!) than Dunkin’ Donuts. They’re fresher, less cakey, lighter and closer to what donuts were intended to be when Mr. Donut Inventor invented them. Of the four we tasted, the simplest ones were the best: the frosted and the sugar. The strawberry filled was nasty and the Bostom Cream was a little too decadent for my taste. But if I’m craving donuts in the future, to Krispy Kreme I shall go. And I know you Krispy Kreme enthusiasts will say: “Did you have it when the HOT sign was on? Because that’s the best!” And I did have it in the long ago past but now that I’m a Krispy Kreme Convert I must go back and get one while it’s hot.
And as for you, Dunkin’ D, we had lots of fun together, didn’t we? Remember that time I came in there and slipped on the floor because I didn’t see the “Wet Floor” sign? Neither do I. But I loved our time together and I still love your coffee. I’ll come back for that, I promise. And for bagels if I want a taste of the past. But we both know I’ve changed, this isn’t good for either of us is it. No. And it’s not your mustache or the way you say “Time To Make the Donuts” every morning. It’s me. I’m a new person. You need to accept that and move on. I want donuts that are hotter…fresher…lighter… No I’m not calling you fat. Ok, maybe you’re a little fat. I really have to go…
Krispy Kreme! I am battling a KK addiction… After living in the USA and managing to sidestep KK at almost every turn I come back to London and they hijack me here! At Euston Station……. Is nowhere safe!?
Oh man, I still think that KK donuts are waaay too sugary and sweet, if you ever come to Canada you MUST go to Timmy’s, Tim Horton’s that is, they beat out Krispy Kreme any day.
Surely, when you lived in Atlanta, you tried KK on Ponce?
Donuts are supposed to be sugary. Geez.
I hate to burst the bubble of Canadian pride, Compmouse, but I really dislike Tim Horton’s coffee and donuts. The stores have sprung up like mushrooms all over Ohio, and I really don’t care for their food.
But, I will give you this–it is possible that they just give Americans crap Tim Horton’s stuff and you Canadians keep the goodies to yourselves! ;-) So, the next time I am visiting the good neighbors up north, I will give TH a whirl there and see if maybe you guys have it going on in the coffee and donut department.
That said, I have always loved Krispy Kreme, but I hardly eat them anymore, because the sugar is too much. They make my stomach turn somersaults after eating them.
In fact, I haven’t had one in over six months, which seems to be good for the waistline, so that is something anyway.
There’s a new donut place on Nassau between John and Fulton Streets called Holey Donuts that claims to have mastered the art of making “low fat” donuts.
UGH!!! Krispy Kremes are not empty calories; they’re WASTED calories. Suck on sugar instead!
Don’t know about Ohio Tim Horton’s but the Vancouver THs (after homemade which are DEFINITELY worth the effort) are THE BEST — especially Tim Bits. Dunkin’ Donuts would be my second choice but then we don’t have many DDs in Los Angeles and I’m working on a NYS memory that’s more than 30 years old. They may have changed. But, OTOH, you gotta give props to something you remember for 30 years!
But back to homemade: I’m a cake doughnut person myself and there’s nothing on the planet like a cake doughnut fresh from the the fryer when it’s hot and soft inside and crunchy on the outside! A little cinnamon sugar on the outside don’t hurt ’em none either. ;>
PS to Barbara- Tim Horton’s food IS very disappointing. But I still think their donuts are great!
There was once a time when I traveled to the south and the first place i would go was to a Krispy Kreme. Now there are everywhere from supermarets to gas station here in NJ so its no big thrill. When I lived in California they were opening everywhere. At first it was a mob scene, then no one cared. That probably why their stock slipped from the $40 range to the $6 range over the past few years. It’s just not unique anymore.
Now if you want a real yummy donut go Stans Corner Donut Shoppe in Westwood Village in LA. Their Peanut Butter with chocolate chips is unforgetable!
http://www.stansdoughnuts.com/
Dear AG,
Krispy Kreme aside, I think you would have definitely scored with your date had you seen “Saving Christmas” instead.
I think I remember KK’s hot chocolate to be good. A glazed doughnut dunked into a cup of that must be heavenly.
Duh. Took you long enough to see the troof!
The KKs in Seattle will hand out free, hot doughnuts when they’re just out of the fryer. Even better, at my favorite one, you get to watch them being made, as you pass by the glass wall on your way to ordering the doughnuts.
They’re awfully sweet, but hot doughnuts are addictive.
I’m just totallay excited to see you saw Saving Face, and to see that on a food blog I’ve just discovered. Can’t tell you, food and cultural allusions that strike a cord, I’m in heaven.
Doughnuts and a date! Classic.
Doughnuts and a date! Classic.
Sounds like its right out of a Seinfeld Episode!..look at what customers have written unsolicited..after only 3 weeks!
http://testofwill.blogspot.com/2005/06/holey-donuts-opens.html
Great for kids…imagine great tasting donuts without the fat calories and guilt! Our patent pending cooking process eliminates the deep frying hand made donuts with only 3 to 4 grams of fat per donut! FDA lab tested for fat content unlike the other donut companies with 20 grams per donut
NO HARMFUL TRANS FATS
no cholesterol!
75 Nassau st between Fulton and john st
Holey Donuts! 212 566 0434
Sounds like its right out of a Seinfeld Episode!..look at what customers have written unsolicited..after only 3 weeks!
http://testofwill.blogspot.com/2005/06/holey-donuts-opens.html
Great for kids…imagine great tasting donuts without the fat calories and guilt! Our patent pending cooking process eliminates the deep frying hand made donuts with only 3 to 4 grams of fat per donut! FDA lab tested for fat content unlike the other donut companies with 20 grams per donut
NO HARMFUL TRANS FATS
no cholesterol!
75 Nassau st between Fulton and john st