Appreciations      07/10/2009  

Laurie Pila Horowitz Hearts Tim Hortons

photo by Dwayne Grech

photo by Dwayne Grech

If you’re not Canadian, you probably have no emotional attachment to the name Tim Horton, (other than maybe knowing he was a professional hockey player). If you are, you’d know Tim Hortons coffee shops are Canada’s most successful donut chain, and as ubiquitous in Canada as McDonalds is in the US.  (In fact, Canada has twice as many Tim Hortons as McDonalds.)   “Timmy’s” is entrenched in the hockey culture and part of the collective memory of Canucks far and wide. Americans have apple pie, Canadians have Timbits (donut holes). And as of this weekend, New Yorkers will get their first Timbits taste with 13 Timmy’s stores popping up all over NYC. As a born and bred Canadian, I can tell you first hand that the donuts are terrible–dry and flavorless. It’s the coffee that sets Tim Hortons apart. In fact, it’s so addictive, urban legend has it that nicotine’s added to the java blend.  For Timmy’s virgins, the taste can be described as a cross between Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, with a hint of chicory flavor. But, it’s best to go try it yourself. And while you’re there, pick me up a double double, eh?

NY Times: The Morning Doughnut? The Choices Are Getting Complicated

-Laurie Pila Horowitz

Comments

9 Responses to “Laurie Pila Horowitz Hearts Tim Hortons”

  1. Ellen on July 10th, 2009 2:51 pm

    Love it!

  2. Margot La Scala on July 10th, 2009 3:02 pm

    omg iced capp??? i might as well get my pants let out a size or two in advance

  3. nathan philips on July 10th, 2009 3:03 pm

    The tim horton’s donuts are pure sugar and starch and are very very good for Jennie Craig franchises. It is like mainlining glucose. In order to eat them and remain healthy you must either be a fisherman or lumberjack and need huge intake of calories to do your work. Canada is a larger country than the USA and because of Tim bits, a lot heavier also. I predict that Americans will eat a lot of Tim Horton’s donuts and then sue the company because the coffee is not hot enough.

  4. Mr. E on July 10th, 2009 3:16 pm

    Tim Horton’s has to be our greatest export after Mike J. Fox. You’re welcome New York!

  5. iheartlaurie on July 10th, 2009 4:59 pm

    i have to disagree - the donuts are AMAZING. as are the cookies…peanut butter my fave! but i do agree that the coffee definitely has something extra addictive! i can’t wait to have my timmy ho’s right around the corner!

  6. Cleo Coyle on July 10th, 2009 5:49 pm

    Must try. Can’t believe it will be better than Krispy Kreme’s coffee - IMO, best of the franchise coffees. -Cleo Coyle

  7. Natale Sztern on July 10th, 2009 6:00 pm

    I go to Tim Hortons just for the coffee. No cappucino or latte but for a drip coffee ten times better than Starbucks and for much less bucks. Plus the added benefit of telling them how u take it and they complete the cup for u.

    Never had the doughnuts and the bagels are awful BUT a true Canadian goes just for the coffee

  8. dj on July 10th, 2009 8:28 pm

    two words: cruller timbits. that’s all you need to know.

  9. Alden Mamann on August 24th, 2009 1:30 pm

    Tim Horton’s is so entrenched in Canadian culture that when Mike Myers decided to make his first big budget Hollywood film, and in keeping with his Canadian roots, he spoofed the Tim Horton’s name and came up with “Stan Makita Donuts” as the main rocker in Wayne’s World. For the uninformed, Stan Makita was a Chicago hockey legend similar to Tim Horton in Toronto. Good luck in NYC Timmy!

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