Monday, February 8, 2010

Tim Horton's Canadian Maple Donut



Granted, I can't say I personally know any Canadians (in real life, at least -- online friendship is another matter), but as best I can tell, they are a sensible lot. Hardworking, yet quiet, passionate and funny. (Of course, these views are largely based on Nia Vadalos movies, Douglas Coupland books and Michael Buble CD's.) But there seems to be one subject that brings out the roaring fanboy in just about all of them...and that would be why Tim Horton's is the best doughnut shop in the universe. Not merely the country, the continent, or even the world, but THE UNIVERSE (always stated in Kanye-approved CAPS LOCK).

Now, being an East Coast girl at heart with a West Coast address, I have always wondered how they stacked up to Dunkin Donuts (which, despite torturing me with constant TV ads, does not in fact have a Southern California location). Could "Timmy's," as it is popularly known, actually be good enough to make a run across the northern border for?

Over the years Tim Horton's has started to open U.S. locations. In fact, the U.S. version of their official website says they have been in western New York State for 25 years. But I was never anywhere close to one until today. There is now a Timmy's in a very small food court located in the lower level of New York City's Penn Station. People, I braved not only the rather "interesting" crowds that just seem to hover around the interior of Penn around 10:30 at night...but the equally frightening bunch on the subway at an even later hour, just for the donuts. So you see, people, I am willing to put my own safety in harm's way for hard-hitting reviews like this one.

I opted for the Canadian Maple to start with because my favorite Dunkin Donut is the maple glazed. And hey, if a Canadian company can't make a stellar Canadian Maple glaze...then something is just wrong with the sun and everything under it.



The donut itself is a yeast-style fried donut that contains a creme filling and is topped with a layer of maple frosting.

The donut is very light and fluffy. Not as airy as a Krispy Kreme, but not as heavy and dense as the average supermarket donut. It's a little sweet, yet it almost reminded me of really good french bread. It's toothy but still light.

The creme filling was the texture of pudding. This was the low note of the donut for me. It had a very artificial vanilla taste, and as good as the texture was, it reminded me pretty much exactly of envelope paste.



Finally the Canadian Maple glaze: This was good. This was seriously good. This was can-someone-please-oil-up-Michael-Buble-and-have-him-sent-to-my-bed-covered-in-it good. The glaze is just thick enough that it sets itself apart from the rest of the layers. The maple actually has a thick syrupy taste -- it tastes like what you would expect maple to taste like, and not what we have come to accept from cheap pancake syrup.

I know Timmy's does a version that is simply glazed rather than filled with creme. And I think that is the one I would have preferred, because the creme did nothing for me. (They did carry it at the Penn Station location, but it was late at night and they were sold out.)

Honestly, the donut itself was good, but not outrageously so. It's not that I didn't like the donut; I just don't get what all the fuss is aboot (oh, I am so witty). The glaze, however...well, that might just be worth the trek for.



PURCHASED FROM:

Tim Horton's (Penn Station, New York City)

PRICE:

$0.95

CALORIES:

260 per donut

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

timhortons.com

8 comments:

Yum Yucky said...

Dang! I was just AT Penn Station. I could've bought me one of these.

Unknown said...

Josie: WOMAN! if that isn't worth being greedy for nothing is!

do you get to NYC often? I get there about twice a year0 if you do next time we may have to have lunch or something.

Eric said...

I think (maybe) what you wanted was what we silly Canadians call a maple mip. It's a ring donut at Tim Hortons with maple glaze on top, and no gross filling of course. Next time get a maple dip or a pumpkin spice donut if they have them.

Unknown said...

Eric: I think you might be right. If they have that or the Pumpkin Spice next time I am in NYC I will be sure to pick one up. Believe me I am already planning a day time trip to Penn Station just to pick up the donuts at a time of day when they are more likely to have more in stock.

Jerri-Lea said...

I was reading through your blog about the limited Hershey's kisses and found that you had a couple of posts from 'Canada', being from Western Canada I was curious. Then I nearly fell off my seat laughing when I read "This was can-someone-please-oil-up-Michael-Buble-and-have-him-sent-to-my-bed-covered-in-it good." I have a huge crush on Michael and was so lucky to see him in concert on the 14th!! {sigh}
Could you do me a HUGE favor and leave me a comment on my blog when you first notice this year's Halloween/ Fall Limited Edition Hershey's Kisses flavour available?!! We are planning a quick road trip to ND and ALWAYS pick up some of the fun snack and treat foods that we don't get here!! Thanks. Can't wait to read about more snacks!

Unknown said...

Jerri-Lea:
It is always good to meet another Bublehead (I got to see him in Atlanta a few years ago- I even got a hug!) I love that man. I don't care what model he's engaged to this week, clearly he is supposed to be with me.

And I promise as soon as the seasonal Hershey's Kisses are out I will Post/Tweet about them. It should be any time now as the Halloween candy has started to make it's way into our stores (which means the Christmas products should be out by the time I hit "publish" on this comment)

Ting's Desolace said...

You should try old fashion glazed donut, it is one of the best. Maple donut is a little too sweet. I am from canada and I am a Timmy's girl, I can't quite him because he put cracks in the coffee... :(

Unknown said...

Ting: I will make a point of trying that on my next trip.

I think this is going to require a special trip to Penn Station at an hour when they should still be decently stocked. I really was just not there at a good time of day.

I will also have to try the coffee!