And I thought Hawaiians were smarter than this:
Hawaii residents love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts so much that they often stock up at a new store in Maui before boarding inter-island flights back home, overloading airline luggage bins along the way.
"The locals bring so many boxes of doughnuts on board that we can't always fit them on our flights. Some people will put five or six boxes in an overhead bin," says Mark Dunkerley, president of Hawaiian Airlines.
It's too bad Krispy Kreme didn't have a store in Montevideo, Uruguay back in 1972. That rugby team might not have had such a rough time in the Andes.
Something similar happened in Houston when Krispy Kreme opened its first store here a couple years ago. People stood in line for hours...HOURS...to get doughnuts.
I'm not much of a doughnut eater, and Krispy Kremes are okay, but the standing in line for food phenomenon is something I thought you reserved for bread in the Soviet Union or bags of flour when the latest UNICEF shipment came in. Maybe if kobe beef dropped to .89 a pound, or Jamaica Blue Mountain. But a doughnut?
Doughnut shops are sprinkled liberally across the Hawaiian islands. But the novelty of a major chain, combined with the widespread custom of "omiage," a Japanese word that refers to the custom of bringing gifts home to family and friends, have given rise to the commuter doughnut.
Far be it from me to denigrate another culture's mores, but you'll be welcomed a lot more warmly at my house if you're toting a six pack of St. Arnold's Amber. Save the doughnuts for your dumbassed co-workers.
I saw that article and got a chuckle too. I remember when the KK opened on Weisenhiemer...It was just around the corner from our apt. What an odd experience to see traffic backed up for doughnuts. Of course, here in Jax, Mark Brunell opened the first in a series of Whataburgers and the traffic is snarled every lunch hour - even Sunday. My beloved wife has been quoted as such, "Wait in that line for an F'n Whatburger?!?!?! Are you nuts?!?!?!" I'm with you, Pete, a sixer of St A is just fine... and worth waitin' for.
Beer is food and is underrated, Krispy Kremes are overrated.
I routinely wait in line for 5 minute lines for beer. I will not wait in line for donuts.
Now, I am thirsty.
Krispy Kremes are average donuts. That is, EXCEPT when that HOT DOUGHNUT sign is flashing. If you've never eaten them hot out the grease, you just don't know. I wouldn't wait in line for them tho. As for Whataburger. Man, please. I have lived in Georgia for 20 years. About once every three years or so, I drive to Pensacola to visit the parents. The very first thing I do, EVERY TIME, is stop at Whataburger and get a double.
The KK near our house has the "Hot Doughnuts" sign on every time I drive by it. Somehow I doubt the fryer is running 24/7.
Gotta agree with grotesqueticle - HOT Krispy Kremes are out of this world, even if they do horrible, terrible things to your digestive system. I moved here to H-town from San Francisco a couple years back and was delighted to learn that KK could stay a part of my life, if even a small one.
It's funny, Hawaii also boasts it's own indigenous species of donut. I can't for the life of me remember the name of it, but my wife and I had some while vacationing there a couple years ago. They're like donuts, but distinctly different, and they have their own name. Anybody wanna help me out on this one? Anybody?
Pete, the one near my house is only frying 'em up from about 7am to 9am every day. If you haven't had them hot, you need to try them. Be forewarned tho, the horrible terrible things they inflict on your digestive system that Ian alluded to is due to ingesting an entire dozen before you realise what has happened. Oh, and your Wicked Ale is delicious.
I would have to agree .... though I like Krispy Kreme doughnuts there in no way in hell I would ever stand in line for them ... if I can't get them though the drive thru fast I'm outta there.