300416 Wed Jun 15 20:02:50 -0700 2005 30 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1669241 Wednesday is "pastry day" at the office. We each take turns bringing in some sort of breakfast pastry every Wednesday morning. I love it when someone buys croissants from a local bakery. I'm happy even with muffins from Costco. But whenever someone brings in Krispy Kreme, I cringe. "Not Krispy Kreme again," I mutter to myself. Their donuts didn't use to repulse me. I mean, it was fine when it was a novelty around about 1999 when the first one opened here in Southern California. Even though I never liked it all that much even then, now I just loathe them. Eating one just now, against my better judgement, has left a disgusting greasy film and acrid taste in my mouth and an itchy irritation at the back of my throat. This awful aftertaste can't seem to be washed away, even with cup after cup of hot tea. What is it with this stuff? Is it just me? Wed Jun 15 20:02:50 -0700 2005 0 David 1 1669242 I think there's no in between- you either like them, or you don't. I'm with you- to me, they're nasty, squishy things that leave a greasy film in my mouth and leave me craving a REAL donut to erase the memory and taste. But I know plenty of smart people who swoon for the things, so maybe there's a Krispy Kreme gene that I don't have, Wed Jun 15 20:13:40 -0700 2005 1669241 0 Chris VR 2 1669248 ::::raising hand:::: Smart, organic eating, hippy-dippy that loves myself a Krispy Kreme. I grew up on them, though, so that may be part of it. In the south it IS what you eat before church (no wonder I could never sit still). We would buy them at the grocery store and then mom would pop them in the oven for a few minutes before so they were nice and hot. Oddly, I didn't love love love them as a child - and it isn't a nostalgia thing, of this I'm sure. Sometime in college I started really loving them. So I dunno. But I appreciate a Krispy Kreme hater standing up for the Krispy Kreme lovers! Wed Jun 15 21:51:07 -0700 2005 1669242 0 krissywats 3 1669261 I feel the same as you Krissy. For many people in the South KK began as a childhood tradtion. We would get them hot on weekend mornings. We also got them hot and sold them for $2/box as a fundraiser for various groups. A dozen boxes in the car and the windows would steam up. Go to a neighbor's house with hot KK donuts and they would sell quickly. In college, there was a KK across the street from a bar we frequented and there was nothing like a hot KK at 2 am after an evening of partying. Thu Jun 16 08:38:59 -0700 2005 1669248 0 Janet 3 1669270 Living in the South all of my life, you know I have some familiarity with KK. When I was in Jr. High School I would go around my neighborhood on Saturday and take orders for donuts to be delivered the next morning by wagon. Made some nice money with that donut route and people had fresh donuts on Sunday morning. I have always prefered cake to yeast donuts with one exception the KK custard filled chocolate covered yeast donut. When Dunkin Donuts finally came South I made the switch because they make superior cake style donuts. But is not America wonderful with all the choices that we have and that our human diversity has made our culinary choices so great. Go figure, one of my favorite breakfasts is fried Scrapple, hominey grits, eggs, sliced tomatoes and biscuits. I call it my Mason - Dixion Breakfast. Thu Jun 16 11:00:22 -0700 2005 1669248 0 1 wiener hound 4 1669285 Those are my favorite too!!!! Although I also enjoy the creme filled one's - if they made a CHOCOLATE creme filled with chocolate glaze, I would quit possibly die from bliss. It's funny to me how many people say 'they are too sweet'. It's hard for me to find 'too sweet' - but I'm a supertaster, too so every single bite is a freakin' mouthgasm. Wow am I craving a KK now. Thu Jun 16 12:17:30 -0700 2005 1669270 0 krissywats 5 1669286 Me too Krissy :-) I'm right there with you....too sweet? Don't think so. Especially with a nice cup of black coffee. Thu Jun 16 12:21:31 -0700 2005 1669285 0 Janet 3 1669294 ditto. Grew up with them, liked 'em, but no big deal, KK is what a doughnut WAS. As a child, I prefered the "tart" (at least I think that's what it was called). Cream filled (not pastry creame, but the white lard-y stuff), chocolate glaze, then another dollop of white sugar goo on top, then sprinkles. What a horror! Now, I only eat plain hot ones. If the light's not on, we keep driving. The other day I was on the phone w/ my husband and suddenly i hear "that's three glazed?" BUSTED. He's only supposed to eat them on the weekends! Thu Jun 16 14:40:05 -0700 2005 1669248 0 danna 1 1669244 No. It's not just you. They're way too sweet. That may be causing the irritation. Wed Jun 15 20:28:51 -0700 2005 1669241 0 2chez mike 2 1669246 I was in a large group once and was forced to go visit the KK shop, where everyone was all excited about getting to see the donuts being made. I took this opportunity to ask for a fresh donut that had not gone through the curtain of icing. This horrified half the people I was with, since it was unheard of (I'm thinking, big friggin' deal, you all dragged me to this place, let me make the best of the situation!). Despite the lack of overwhelming sweetness, the donut was STILL disgusting! Wed Jun 15 21:11:13 -0700 2005 1669244 0 felice 1 1669245 Welcome to the sane side of the asylum door. That stuff is crap. It was a flash in the pan when they expanded out of their home turf and their stock is now in the crapper. Ingenious sugar delivery system though. Do you know that when you use the drive through window at the Puente Hills KK and order some donuts and a cup of coffee, they don't give you Equal when you ask for it, they only deliver sugar. (I know, I know, kind of ironic buying a load of donuts and then asking for Equal with your coffee, I have reformed, and have not been back there in a year.) The next time I let myself have a donut, it is not going to be a raised, machine cranked sugary grease bomb. It is going to be a cake or buttermilk donut from a shop on the order of Primo's or Stan's in L.A. http://thebfdblog.com Wed Jun 15 20:35:53 -0700 2005 1669241 0 Chino Wayne 2 1669259 Around here all we have are those franchise donut shops, with their horrible coffee and their formica and metal tubing decor. There's nary an artisan attempt at elevating donut cuisine in the area, far as I know. If someone were to start one, bet it would be a big success. French donuts (crullers) and yeast-raised donuts are the only ones that I find edible. And for a super-cheap breakfast, I get Mexican pan dulces at about 25 cents each at the local mercado. Thu Jun 16 06:06:26 -0700 2005 1669245 0 Sharuf 1 1669250 I love the things! The best one I ever had was when a hot batch was coming down the line right when I walked in, but they were ones to be filled (no hole) and I wanted an original glazed. Rather than make me get one that had cooled, they gave me a hot glazed one before they added the filling - glorious doughnut goodness with no hole in the middle! More of the tender center with less glazed surface area. With a nice hot cup of their pretty darn decent coffee, it hit the spot perfectly. I see the problem as being folks using them as breakfast rather than simply a sinful treat. They are not substantial enough to be filling in the way a muffin is, and pack too much sugar to stand as the main part of a meal. Also, to me, KKs should primarily be eaten on the premises rather than boxed for later. The transition from hot and fresh to cool is quite detrimental to the taste and texture, perhaps more so than for other doughnuts. Wed Jun 15 22:00:24 -0700 2005 1669241 0 SuzyInChains 2 1669277 Yeah, I love them once in a while, and I love coffee (don't even take sugar in it) but a KK donut plus a coffee for breakfast would send me into a minor 20-minute tizzy followed by a nasty crash. I don't live anywhere near an outlet though so when I do get one I microwave it (for 10 seconds I think they suggest), and they are "fresh" enough for me. While I do find them very very sweet, it's the sweet vs. serious yeast flavour that I like. Thu Jun 16 11:44:20 -0700 2005 1669250 0 julesrules 1 1669253 I would expect that the original formula, perhaps sinfully good, has been replaced by another. Maybe HFCS, etc.? Any info on that? Wed Jun 15 23:16:39 -0700 2005 1669241 0 rudeboy 1 1669257 They are so greasy! I like Dunkin'Donuts much better (and their coffee too). Thu Jun 16 03:06:48 -0700 2005 1669241 0 coll 2 1669269 there must be something genetic going on. any time i eat a dunkin' donut, i'm left with what feels like lithium grease, caulk, and grout stuck to the inside of my mouth for hours - disgusting. i'd rather eat the bag they come in. comparatively speaking, KKs are much better. but anytime there's a true local bakery making real donuts (sour cream cake is my fave), that's even better. Thu Jun 16 10:58:30 -0700 2005 1669257 0 loren3 3 1669283 I think Dunkin Donuts are a little better than Krispy Kreme, if only because they are less tooth-achingly sweet. But neither makes a great donut, both are greasy and too sweet and lack any real flavor or substance. Not worth eating. The only donuts I eat these days are cider donuts from farm stands/orchards in the fall, and the divine real-whipped-cream-filled yeasted donuts at the Colonial Butler Donut house near the Mass/RI border. (Well, to be honest, I haven't been there for a couple years, due to my car-free state, but I eat them in my dreams with regularity.) Thu Jun 16 12:00:23 -0700 2005 1669269 0 curiousbaker 1 1669260 If it's any consolation, KK's entire Canadian operation has tanked and is now under creditor protection. The "new" wore off the greasy globs quick and Canadians returned--not that many actually defected--to their beloved Tim Hortons franchises. Thu Jun 16 07:00:54 -0700 2005 1669241 0 Ronin 1 1669262 i lived one block (could see the "hot donuts" sign from my living room) from a kk regional distribution center during college. i can tell you that when up all night studying (or during a severe case of the munchies), those hot, sugary delights will fuel you well. after stuffing countless dozens of hot donuts into myself, however, nausea is all they do for me now. i will, once every few years or so, grab a cooled one, i can't stomach them hot at all, and take a little trip back in my head (gee, oddly enough that's often what i was doing when i ate them in college). Thu Jun 16 09:25:15 -0700 2005 1669241 0 mark 1 1669264 No. They disgust me in a similar way too. I don't understand the attraction. Thu Jun 16 10:15:47 -0700 2005 1669241 0 Ellen 1 1669276 Part of what they do is market very very well. Before they even opened one store in the Pittsburgh market, there were lots of "articles" in the newspaper about them. They were in the business section, food section, magazine section. These stories raised the excitement level to the point that when they finally open a store, people were driving many miles and waiting in long lines to bring some back. Thu Jun 16 11:37:21 -0700 2005 1669241 0 yayadave 2 1669281 Same thing in Toronto. Lots of hype. But some of those people who lined up for 40 minutes to get their KK donuts would then drive to Tim Horton's to get their cofee to go with! And now that the novelty is gone nobody cares (see Ronin's post below). Thu Jun 16 11:48:31 -0700 2005 1669276 0 julesrules 2 1669298 See, that's the thing. The marketing. We in the South can't fathom why anyone considers KK an interesting topic of conversation, let alone the newest corporate monster to recreationally despise. It's just a doughnut. It's just a *fast-food* chain doughnut. Who in the world expected it to be gourmet? Who expected they didn't use bleached white flour or a bunch of chemical preservatives? I think the hyped up marketing just caused a backlash. Thu Jun 16 14:58:02 -0700 2005 1669276 0 danna 3 1669336 I agree 100% Danna. I will eat a fresh KK once or twice a year, but to me its no big deal as I grew up with them (originally from SC), but yet everyone in my office here in the DC area swears that they are the best thing next to sliced bread. Thu Jun 16 23:19:14 -0700 2005 1669298 0 Mickie 1 1669282 Their stuff is garbage. Tastes like it, and is made of it. Here's the list of ingredients from their website. Click the link for more nutritional info. "ORIGINAL GLAZED Ingredients: Enriched bleached wheat flour (contains bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), dextrose, vegetable shortening (partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil), water, sugar, soy flour, egg yolks, vital wheat gluten, yeast, nonfat milk, yeast nutrients (calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), dough conditioners (calcium dioxide, monocalcium and dicalcium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, whey, starch, ascorbic acid, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate), salt, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated mono-and diglycerides, lecithin, calcium propionate (preservative), cellulose gum, malted barley flour, natural and artificial flavors, enzymes, sodium caseinate, corn maltodextrin, corn syrup solids and BHT (to help protect flavor). Glaze contains: Sugar, water, corn starch, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, agar, dextrose, locust bean gum, disodium phosphate, sorbitan monostearate, mono-and diglycerides, artificial flavor and salt." Link: http://krispykreme.com/doughnuts.pdf Thu Jun 16 11:49:02 -0700 2005 1669241 0 nja 2 1669284 LMAO - you may call that garbage. I call it good eatin' (ok, like once a year) and how thrilled am I they don't use HFCS but real sugar? And no caramel coloring? Woo-freakin'-hoo!!!! Thanks for posting this, now I don't have to wonder but am afraid to look and my conscience is clear on the HFCS ban from my life. Thu Jun 16 12:10:41 -0700 2005 1669282 0 krissywats 2 1669292 Nick, you take all the fun out of eating a donut. ;-) KK donuts are 2 notches above Hostess, 1 notch above Entemann's. Can't touch your local independents that are halfway decent. That said, if a box was sitting in the office break room, I'd eat a glazed sour cream (w/ coffee, of course). Thu Jun 16 14:24:57 -0700 2005 1669282 0 Carb Lover 2 1669297 Hard to imagine a doughnut made with, oh say whole wheat and organic honey Thu Jun 16 14:50:06 -0700 2005 1669282 0 FatBob 1 1669334 Yes, food and mass marketing a food with hype is a curious thing. Back in 1998, the franchise opened in Southern California and a seriously crazy women that I worked with who was trying to influence the powers that be and dominate the politics of the office I worked in got up at 2:00 am to drive twenty-five miles to the new store in order to bring a large box of the donuts to our workplace. She was that kind of person who gives gifts to co-workers, not friends, out of the blue and would corner you in a hallway in order to tell you something deeply intimate about her personal life that would creep you out for the rest of the week. To this day, I have never, ever eaten a Krispy Kreme donut. Thu Jun 16 23:12:29 -0700 2005 1669241 0 Gypsy Jan 2 1669350 I used to work night shift, around the time the first outlets opened in Toronto. Co-workers used to drive almost that distance to pick up KK donuts in the middle of the night. But it was more an excuse to get out of the office! Fri Jun 17 09:20:39 -0700 2005 1669334 0 julesrules