Krispy Kreme - Off the Menu
At the risk of compromising my on-going, clandestine (klandestine?) Krispy Kreme operation, after reading recent odes to the Original Glazed by both Clotilde, on Chocolate & Zucchini, and Adam, The Amateur Gourmet, I'm compelled to divulge my Krispy Kreme secret - I order off the menu. How? Why? The "how" might be complicated - I hear it's actually forbidden in some locations. It may require targeting a susceptible doughnut operative - or slowly developing a relationship of trust. And why? Because - as always - I'm testing the boundaries of gastronomy it's fun and it tastes and feels really good.
Here's what I do. First, I only go to Krispy Kreme when the Hot Light is on - never when it's not. There are too many calories in play to waste them on a cold Original Glazed. Then, I park the car - yes, I actually walk inside - I know that not going through a drive-thru is borderline un-American, but yes - I repeat - I park the car and walk inside. Because I know it's inside where one receives a free, hot Krispy Kreme Original Glazed to sample. Like any good dealer, the first taste's free my friend. Next, I order - always at least one dozen - a few OG's, a couple of the extra-special-limited-edition-featured-doughnut - currently it's a visually appealing but rather disappointing Cookies & Cream - er, Kreme - and a few assorted to round out the dozen.
And then I veer off menu. It's then that I order unglazed Originals - with a cup of glaze on the side.
Occasionally I get the resistant counterperson - who whines, "We can't do that," typical troublesome FOH/Front Of the House style. But after a few words with the doughnut cook manning the doughnut-making machine - the laidback BOH/Back Of the House - I can see that spark - that common bond amongst all cooks - that says, "Yes, let us play with our food today."
At this moment they will skillfully pluck a few unglazed Originals off the conveyor belt - after the bath of hot oil and before the waterfall of glaze - with a long plastic stick deftly threading through the hole. They will then take a small coffee cup and carefully fill it with said warm white lavaflow.
I pay, rush over to the nearest table, open my treasure chest, then position the warm cup of glaze. I pull out a hot unglazed doughnut - tear off a morsel - dunk one curving end into the glistening glaze - raise my prize in honour to my Krispy Kreme kitchen comrade - usually watching curiously at this point from behind the glass wall - and then bite. I have all the warm sweet crisp softness of an Original Glazed - but to my own measured taste.
I do like the Original Glazed just fine - though I understand the critics who say it's too sweet. This offers perhaps an alternative. But for me it's a multi-sensory pleasure unto its own.
If you do attempt to order off the menu, I ask for your discretion. I know I took a chance in telling you this, but like all good food, it's best shared with friends.
great post, louisa. you write wonderfully. though i have to be the wet blanket in saying that i've never seen the appeal of krispy kremes. yes, they're too sweet, but they're also too soft. i've only eaten them once or twice, so i'm definitely not an expert, but nothing compels me to try them again. oh, and i do love donuts, so that's not it. maybe ordering off the menu like you describe will make me a convert.
Posted by: dexygus | 02 July 2005 at 19:02
dexygus - thanks so much. They are soft, but that's how they're supposed to be! Like White Castles - they're an iconographic American taste. By no means the best doughnuts or best burgers but at times they are the perfect food. ;)
Meg - thanks for naming this a Too Many Chefs "Post of the Week"!
Posted by: Louisa | 03 July 2005 at 22:20
Yum... I love Krispy Kremes. If only some visionary would bring them to Asia! Great post.
Posted by: Chubby Hubby | 03 July 2005 at 22:32
Chubby Hubby - they have! There are currently four Krispy Kremes in Seoul! http://www.krispykreme.co.kr/asp/utility_eng/contact.asp
Posted by: Louisa | 04 July 2005 at 09:17
Ahhhh, Krispy Kremes are simply the best, aren't they? I used to travel far out into the suburbs on my birthday to buy a dozen, along with a small bottle of milk and sit in the grass and celebrate growing older. One has to succumb once in a while to some tasty vice, no?
Posted by: london Chef | 04 July 2005 at 14:54
London Chef - only once in a while? ;)
Posted by: Louisa | 05 July 2005 at 05:46
God, Louisa, you've got me craving a Krispy Kreme - and I don't even like them! Well, not much anyway.
Posted by: susan | 05 July 2005 at 06:13
Susan - that's what so many food people say - that they don't like KK that much - but stick a hot one in their hands and watch your fingers! ;)So does that mean a quick roadtrip from Hong Kong to Seoul for you soon?
Posted by: Louisa | 05 July 2005 at 12:28
My sister does a similar thing, except the exact opposite---when the hot light if OFF, that means they're making the hole-less doughnuts for filling, so she makes them get that for here instead--no hole, less sweet.
SO GOOD.
Man, there needs to be a fresh Krispy Kreme in London...is there? -b
Posted by: Bea | 06 July 2005 at 12:56
Well, I was thinking of taking a trip to Seoul to eat Korean food - and a Krispy Kreme won't take up that much room in my stomach.
Posted by: susan | 06 July 2005 at 23:03
Bea - very cool of your sister! I do like those that way too. And there does appear to be at least two Hot Light locations in the greater London area. There's the first UK stand-alone/drive-thru in Enfield and since last December in Bluewater.
http://www.krispykreme.com/uk.html
Susan - oh come on now - I know you are not going to eat "a" single one. ;)
Posted by: Louisa | 07 July 2005 at 09:12
Louisa,
I think you have just given me the possibility of being able to eat two! But I must say that watching the naked doughnuts pass gently through the KK Wall Of Glaze on the conveyor belt makes me feel even younger than I look! I have driven far and wide for these rings and now you have given me a new possibilty! merci beaucoup.
Posted by: shuna | 07 July 2005 at 09:25
Louisa!,
Can't believe you work this one!
Love the FOH/BOH profiles.
You DO know that K.K. owners across the states et al are discussing this culinary anamoly now!!!
Posted by: ted niceley | 07 July 2005 at 19:07
It's interesting what happpened with KK around the time when they opened their first Montreal location in early-May 2003. The day after they opened, they made the front cover section(including big color photo) of our daily Montreal English newspaper, where 3 prominent Montreal pastry chefs taste-tested KK donuts(all three gave thumbs up). Curiously, one of the pastry chefs on the cover participating in the taste test, just happened to be the husband of the paper's fine dining critic(of course this fact, wasn't mentioned in the story).
Before KK coming to the Montreal market, there was one fruit/vegetable store, bringing in around 50-60 dozen KK donuts from Toronto weekly, & reselling it for more than double the price.
Talking about KK in Asia. As been mentioned before, KK donuts are pretty sweet. Wonder ultimately how successful they can be in Seoul or if they ever open in Hong Kong, considering Asian desserts are much less sweeter than Western desserts.
Posted by: Steve | 09 July 2005 at 20:24
Shuna - I do love watching that glaze waterfall too - very soothing - like a Zen water feature. ;)
Ted - if they start marketing them this way I want a cut. :)
Steve - Gee, I wonder who that Montreal food critic could be? ;) In Asia I'd imagine a big part of their appeal is their all-American image.
Posted by: Louisa | 10 July 2005 at 01:23
The Montreal restaurant critic is Lesley Chesterman, & her husband is Bertrand Bazin, the head pastry chef of Le 357c restaurant(a exclusive private club which includes a restaurant).
Posted by: Steve | 10 July 2005 at 18:58
Steve - jeez! I was just kidding - I knew who it was. But thanks for clarifying for anyone who didn't! :0
Posted by: Louisa | 12 July 2005 at 14:21
Louisa, didn't see your happy symbol the first time around! As far as all-American image in Asia, isn't Hong Kong Disney suppose to have its grand opening next month?
Posted by: Steve | 12 July 2005 at 18:57
Louisa -
I LOVE that someone else does this! For years, I've been trying to convince C that this is a perfectly acceptable way to indulge.
Especially after that first "hit" of the "junk" that is the inside Hot Light freebie, I can't eat another glazed. Just can't.
On a similar note, KK's coffee is surprisingly good - I can't remember the one I always get, but I think it's called "Robust" or something along those lines.
Posted by: Fatemeh | 13 July 2005 at 13:48
Louisa, I went to KK outlet today, & did what you suggested(it worked). The only thing is, I had forgotten where you suggested to tear of a morsel(hot unglazed original), & then dunk one curving end in the glaze(I put some of the glaze on top of unglazed donut). I got three unglazed donuts to do this.
Like you brought up might happen, originally the counterperson who served me said no(no container to put the hot glaze). Eventually I convinced her to find me a damn container(I said it nicely). Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: Steve | 14 July 2005 at 18:40
Steve - Yes, Disneyland HK opens September 12th - and yes, be nice to anyone touching your food!
Fatemeh - LOL - the "junk"! Yeah, and I'm not wholly convinced there aren't addictive additives in the mix here. You're right about the coffee - I do sometimeslike having the uncut sweet stuff with a bitter black joe. Maybe it's surprisingly good because our standards have been so diminished.
Posted by: Louisa | 15 July 2005 at 09:24
Hi Louisa,
I just linked to your blog from Chocolate & Zucchini. What a wonderful post about Krispy Kremes! Love your writing. You really can't beat a hot, fresh donut. Though I have to admit the very, very best donut I ever had was several years ago at a Daylight Donuts shop in a little town about 100 miles from here (in Missouri). It was chocolate (my favorite), and the guy who ran the store was telling us how he comes in early, makes donuts, goes home to sleep, comes back in to work, etc. etc. He then said, "Donuts are my life!" Thank goodness! Love your blog. I'll be back!
Posted by: farmgirl | 15 July 2005 at 19:30
farmgirl - I love your blog!
http://www.farmgirlfare.com/
I'd never heard of Daylight Donuts. Is this it?
http://www.daylightdonuts.com/
They claim that donuts are the second most profitable food item in "the Nation" - by that I'm guessing they mean the US. ;) I wonder what's number one?
Yes, you have just got to love a dedicated donut guy. In my best Homer Simpson, "Mmm...chocolate donuts."
Good luck with your bakery!
Posted by: Louisa | 16 July 2005 at 11:06
After thinking I would never experience a real hot Krispy Kreme, I discovered a shop on Route 1 in Alexandria, Virginia. I have been there exactly twice, both in the morning, and I went inside both times. The first time I got a free sample; the second time I didn't. But I want to try all the different kinds! I wish they weren't so high in calories.
Posted by: Meredith | 21 July 2005 at 12:21
Meredith - Yes, I've heard that some KKs don't always give out free samples - that's just wrong. Action must be taken! ;) I think I've tried just about all of them and I really don't like some of them - like the limited edition Cookies & Kreme sadly enough - so those are calories saved! What are really good are the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Cake - dense, moist, richly spiced - calories be damned!
Posted by: Louisa | 22 July 2005 at 10:54