Author Topic: Doughnut Wars!!! (Read 595 times)

DiabloTX · « **on:** June 08, 2006, 03:48:24 AM »

Ok, a little known fact is that I love doughnuts. Love 'em. Who doesn't, right?

I grew up on Shipley's Donuts, a Houston tradition. I even had a Shipley's store close to my high school that I could hit on my way to school. There was nothing, NOTHING like thier fresh glazed doughnuts, still warm from the fryer, and a cold half-pint of whole milk (or coffee during the 2 weeks it gets cold in Houston) for breakfast. Shipley's doughnuts are more cake like than your typical doughnut, they literally melt in your mouth when they are still warm.

When I went into the Navy back in '86 I was stationed at NOB Norfolk on the USS Concord (AFS-5). Krispy Kreme had the contract for the NOB at that time and every morning we'd get about 6 boxes of 'em every morning delivered to our quarterdeck. They were small, chewy, and overly coated with sugar. I never muched cared for them. Still don't. A few years ago we got a few KK's here in Houston and I thought, "Jeez, they's guys have no idea what they are getting into. Shipley's is gonna kill 'em!" The hype was massive, everywhere you went people talked about "finally" getting a KK. A co-worker bought some doughnuts and brought them to work. It was a big box, 2 feet by a 3 feet by 4 inches in height. He opened the box and there were 8 doughnuts in it. Eight. This big box and only six doughnuts. Shipley's can put a dozen in a box about 4 inches by 4 niches by 14 inches. And ontop of that the KK's were DRENCHED in sugar glaze, I mean DROWNED. Well, my prediction has come true. KK's over-hyped dough-bombs lead to their leaving Houston (for the most part) with their proverbial tail between their legs, Shipley's stronger than ever.

Anyway, I was wondering about our friends to the north. How are Tim Hortins' doughnuts? I hear that TH is more popular than Jesus up there. I've never had one, even though I dated a Quebecoise in the late 80's, and am curious how that stack up against KK or even Shipley's. Any other doughnut chains out there?

Man I love doughnuts!!

PS- We also used to have Winchel's and a Dunkin' Donuts nearby but they have been closed for years.

Masherbrum · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2006, 06:58:44 AM »

I also hate KK's. They use too much sugar for the paltry glaze they have. I usually go for DD's here in MI. On Sat's, my son enjoys having a donut. Every Sat it's the same thing: "Daddy can you go to the Donut Store?" He'll be 5 on Sept 8th.

Tim Horton's is also overrated, their coffee sucks as well.

Cool, I've never been to Houston, but If I DO, I'll make a pit stop.

RTR · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2006, 09:42:45 AM »

Tim Hortons is overated, I agree. It seems you can't drive a couple of blocks in any city or large town without seeing one on the corner.

They are good, but nothing spectacular IMHO.

Robin's Doughnuts was the best! TH seems to have pushed them out everywhere though. Robin's always made the doughnuts fresh in store. TH now mass produces them and ships'em in.

Tim's Coffee is okay, better than Mickey D's etc, but Robin's had them beat there too. Just goes to show you what mass marketing and a good push of cash will do for a company.

I miss Robins Doughnuts!

cheers,
RTR

Mustaine · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2006, 09:57:45 AM »

dunkin' donuts is / was the schizznit up here in WI for years, and sort of is... there are tons of small stand alone bakeries making donuts here.

i assume you are talking about the slimy pure sugar globs of goo called krispy kreme (spelling?) ?

they are advertised ad "gooey" and thats about right. i have snot that is more solid than their donuts.

they came into the hospital i work at for a while. before then we had a local baker bringing donuts in every morning. 60¢ for a regular glazed or cruller. nice solid cake like donuts. then kk came in, 98¢ for a "plain" and up for others. the old bakery usually sold out bu 8:45 AM where there were more than 1/2 of the kk's left at the end of the breakfeast service. they lasted about 4 months.

now the hospital took on a "healthy choice" diet plan. there is not a single donut or pastry or anything like that even available to buy anywhere on the hospital campus. only baked chips and granola.

****ing kk. ruined my hospital.

Edbert1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2006, 10:12:32 AM »

There's a small bakery down the street from me that has been written up nationally and even in EU newspapers. Their flagship product is commonly referred to as a "Round Rock" donut. I like them more than KK or DD, but I am not much of a connoiseur.

Linky

indy007 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2006, 10:47:37 AM »

Not a big fan of doughnuts... but Diablo is dead on. Shipleys is far superior to Krispy Kreme. However, there was one KK that wasn't bad... it's on westheimer, just up a bit past dairy ashford, headed towards beltway-8. I don't know if it's still there.

Now.. there is a breakfast superior to even the doughnut. The kolache. I'd never actually heard of one until I moved to Houston. Can't get enough of the sausage & jalepeno cheese ones they make at a little hole in the wall around the corner. I think the secret ingredient is crack.

rpm · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2006, 11:00:41 AM »

Dunkin' Donuts is OK. Shipley's is good. KK is good but overhyped. Southern Maid beats 'em all like a redheaded stepchild. Elvis did the only commercial of his life for any product on November 6, 1954, for Southern Maid Donuts.

Sandman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2006, 11:26:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by indy007
However, there was one KK that wasn't bad... it's on westheimer, just up a bit past dairy ashford, headed towards beltway-8. I don't know if it's still there.

AFAIK, all Krispy Kreme stores have the exact same equipment and the exact same recipes. The donuts are made by a machine. There is no difference from one store to the next.

Sixpence · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2006, 11:33:47 AM »

Had a kk open on rte 1 here in Saugus to alot of hype, it closed in 6 months. Dunkin donuts originated here(Quincy I think) and is still the place, but it is more for the coffee than the doughnuts(great coffee)

soda72 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2006, 11:43:28 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
AFAIK, all Krispy Kreme stores have the exact same equipment and the exact same recipes. The donuts are made by a machine. There is no difference from one store to the next.

never mind

Airscrew · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2006, 11:53:07 AM »

I think I can say that I have never met a doughnut I didnt like. Krispy Kreme, Shipley's, Dunkin Dounts, Round Rock, River City, HEB, Walmart, mom & pop coffee shops, doesnt matter.
I will say I can only eat about 2 KK glazed yeast donuts then I get heartburn

I usually now eat just the cake donuts.

From what I heard Krispy Kreme is failing and closing stores in some areas because they overextended themselves and expanded to fast.

indy007 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2006, 11:59:15 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
AFAIK, all Krispy Kreme stores have the exact same equipment and the exact same recipes. The donuts are made by a machine. There is no difference from one store to the next.

They all use the same system. I think they even used a model of it on Monster Garage, installing it into a police car. Maybe this particular store had a problem with their glaze "waterfall". The layer just wasn't as thick as other KK's.

SMIDSY · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2006, 12:05:56 PM »

there is a doughnut place near my house called Doughnut Wheel. i swear it has magical powers durring the wee hours. EVERY TIME i go there between 1 and 3 in the morning, i meet somebody i, or somebody in the group i am in, knows. this has happened all 10 or 12 times i have visited the establishment within that time period.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2006, 12:24:16 PM »

Donut Wheel pwn5

SMIDSY · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2006, 02:17:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
Donut Wheel pwn5

you know of it?