tim hortons north

A recent comment from G, and a link to his post about this craziness, reminded me of something I meant to tell you guys.

Driving to Boston the other day, we stopped for some caffeine, and noticed a Tim Hortons off the highway. It was the first time we saw one in the US! Naturally we chose Tim's over the other fast-food choices. Along with the iced coffee (for me) and hot tea (for Allan), we gave in to temptation and got a couple of donuts. But they were not real Tim Hortons donuts!

The Tim Hortons donuts we had in Canada were heavy and cakey. The Tim Hortons donut we found in Connecticut was of the Dunkin' Donuts variety - not as airy and overly sweet as a Krispy Kreme, but not the heavy, cakey kind either. I suppose Tim Hortons (owned by Wendy's) doesn't want to introduce Americans to a new breed of Canadian donuts.

We were disappointed!

Comments

  1. James Redekop23 July 2005 at 11:39

    Tim Hortons has a number of different donut recipes; some are fluffy (though none as much so as Krispy Kreme), some are more cakey.

    By the way, Krispy Kreme used to be all over Toronto, but all of the walk-in stores I know have closed. The only places I know to get them now are gas stations.

    ReplyDelete
  2. laura k23 July 2005 at 11:49

    Ah, interesting. We only had the cakey variety.

    Hey James, glad you appeared. I added to our baseball-related conversation in the old post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. teflonjedi23 July 2005 at 12:26

    Hey, where was the Tim Hortons? I am a Canadian living near Boston, I might want to make a pilgramage!

    ReplyDelete
  4. laura k23 July 2005 at 12:29

    Hey Teflonjedi, welcome to wmtc.(Cool name!)

    It was off I-95 in CT, but unfortunately I didn't note the exit. Pretty far south, closer to NY than MA. But we also saw one closer to Boston. TH must be making inroads in the US, or at least New England.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kyle_From_Ottawa23 July 2005 at 12:37

    Well, I have to say that Tim Horton's donuts aren't nearly as good as they used to be. About 4 our 5 years ago, they switched to donuts that were semi-prepared in a central factory instead of baking them from scratch at each store. It was to "ensure consistency" (just like all the other chain places these days) but it was a definite step down, especially the chocolate donuts.

    However, what hasn't changed is the coffee....mmm....medium double-double....

    ReplyDelete
  6. teflonjedi23 July 2005 at 16:26

    Thanks, the name was given to me by one of my co-workers, maybe 4 years ago. I liked it, so I kept it!

    So, apparently, Tim Horton's has spread all over Rohde Island, and has started showing up in southern Mass as well. Excellent!

    Good luck on your move to Canada. I've bookmarked your site; I'll be back to check on you. Toronto is a nice place...be sure you stop in some time to the Hockey Hall of Fame and take a peek at the Cup! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. laura k23 July 2005 at 18:55

    And, L-Girl do you know what a double double is?

    I found out recently on a Canadian blog... can't remember which one.

    I must admit, the idea kind of grosses me out. I drink my coffee very dark - just a tiny bit of milk - and no sugar, ever. I will drink the occasional latte, but never with sugar.

    But thanks for asking, FW. :)

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  8. zydeco fish23 July 2005 at 19:16

    I must be one of only a few Canadians not to frequent Tim Horton's. I hear the coffee is good, but I have somehow been taken over by the dark side: Starbucks, where the coffee is the price of martinis in Yorkville.

    ReplyDelete
  9. laura k23 July 2005 at 19:27

    I like Tim Hortons coffee better than Starbucks - much.

    I (sadly, disgustedly) frequent Starbucks in NYC because they have T-Mobile hotspots, so I can get wireless internet there. Also because they've taken over NYC and there's often no other place to go.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kyle_From_Ottawa24 July 2005 at 05:06

    How about vinegar on french fries? That's fairly Canadian as well.

    Actually, it's not really that double-double is a Canadian term, its that Americans stopped using it when Starbucks (and self-serve coffee bars) took over while Canadians continued to use it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. laura k24 July 2005 at 05:13

    How about vinegar on french fries? That's fairly Canadian as well.

    Isn't that British?

    I'm glad Canadians use it, though, cause it's yummy.

    Actually, it's not really that double-double is a Canadian term, its that Americans stopped using it when Starbucks (and self-serve coffee bars) took over while Canadians continued to use it.

    I have never heard the term double-double in the US. There is the elusive "coffee regular", which has different regional meanings, but double-double? I've never heard that anywhere.

    In NYC, a double-double would just be "extra light and sweet".

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous25 July 2005 at 12:26

    "Actually, this guy claims the term double-double originated in NYC"

    He's wrong.

    He says: "Someone told me once that a famous New York writer ordered his coffee  that way and the term stuck"

    Someone once told him?
    It didn't stick too much, because no one uses the expression here. I've never heard an older person use it, or come across it in a story. I vote no.

    L-girl on iPAQ

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  13. Kyle_From_Ottawa25 July 2005 at 12:45

    L-girl on iPAQ - and having a grand mocha latte at Starbucks? :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. laura k25 July 2005 at 13:03

    Ha ha. Actually having a mug on my couch. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. laura k25 July 2005 at 13:17

    Mug of tea, that is. And typing poorly...

    ReplyDelete

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