Hot Glazed Doughnuts on the Menu, and Parisians Can’t Get Enough

I personally don't see the big deal. It's ok for us to get excited by their things here but not the other way around? Besides that, a Krispy Kreme glazed donut when the hot now sign is on is incredibly delicious. Don't knock them for having a good product.

Not surprising. I mean France is McDonalds largest market in Europe, same with Starbucks. Those nearly 1500 McDonalds are not there only for tourists. It is a bit of a trope to write an article about fast food in France and bemoan about the attack on French culture, the land of Michelin stars and "French Food".

The marketing campaigns for Krispy Kreme here in France have been great ... unfortunately. See if you can find them on line

I had one once, a long time ago in North Carolina. I haven't seen any of the advertising here. They're neither Crispy, creamy, or indeed nice.

I suspect that once people have tried one well never hear of them in France again.

I suspect that once people have tried one well never hear of them in
France again.

Same was said about Starbucks.
https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/Latest/News/2023/November/Robust-Starbucks-sales-drive-Alsea-s-solid-third-q

Pretty sure none of us on this thread belong to the demographic both brands appeal to in Europe.

"But today, the world’s gastronomic capital happens to be one of the biggest markets in Europe for major American fast-food chains, as evolving consumer habits, influenced by a more casual younger generation and social media, reshape the dining landscape."

The French must have a very sweet tooth. I tried one once and have never eaten a second. I’m more of a cruller gal, hold the icing.

It's part of our role to bring salvation to the non believer.

Tourists are bothered by this because they still believe everything in Europe is better. Travelers have a better understanding of the truth.

Hi, I’m TTM and I’m a sugar addict. And now (thanks a lot) I want a doughnut to go with my second cup of coffee….. It’s a good thing the nearest “hot now” sign is 150 miles away.

If we had an American Christmas market it would only need to be one booth .... K.K.

I grew up with Krispy Kreme. I can still taste the cake donuts with crushed peanuts on the outside; I'm not sure they make them anymore. Thank heavens there's no Krispy Kreme outlet near my apartment. There is, however, a place 1/4 mile away that has perfectly fine cannoli filled at time of sale.

Donuts are all the rage in France now. I resisted at first...but the French have perfected them. I had a donut in Lille that was life-altering. French ingredients in a baked good equals delicious.

The only thing the French can't do are brownies or chocolate chip cookies (La Mie Câline comes close)

I remember when Krispy Kreme arrived in Seattle in 2002. The lines were humungous! And they opened one right across the road from the high school where I taught. Ha ha. Oh the boxes of KK that appeared in our hallways, offices, classrooms, and breakrooms. Every festivity that took place at school you had to have donuts. I actually prefer cake donuts with sprinkles or old fashioned donuts vs the glazed kind. Interesting that with all the delectable pastries available in France they are going for these American donuts. But I guess our mass production of consumables goes everywhere it can get a foothold so that's no surprise. When I was in Peace Corps in Ecuador, they opened Dunkin Donuts there. Donuts were seen not as a breakfast food but a dessert, something you would go out to have in the evening. And expensive. Very popular with the teens to 20s crowd with money, before clubbing or parties.

The only thing the French can't do are brownies or chocolate chip cookies (La Mie Câline comes close)

Agree about Brownies, but "Scoop me a cookie" cookies in Paris are really very good.

As for Krispy Kreme: haven't tried it yet, but I probably will! France and especially Paris seems to have a bottomless appetite for new variations on sweet treats, so there is absolutely nothing to worry about for more traditional French pastries. In the same way that 1,500 McDonalds haven't killed bakery sandwiches - if anything, they helped normalize eating fast food on the go.

Before Covid, there was a college student in the Minneapolis area that had a FB page and took orders for Krispy Kreme donuts. Every month or so, he would drive to Iowa and fill his vehicle with donuts to resell. When I go by a Kwik Trip, I stock up on donuts to freeze and heat them when I want one. I think they are just as delicious as KK or maybe better. I get why Parisians are eating them up.

Ugh. Sad.

I guess French can escape to the US as tourists, and meanwhile Americans can escape to France as tourists. Very soon, French become Americans, and Americans become French (LOL).

Honestly, I don't see what the appeal is these American donuts. Not a fan. Perhaps Krispy Kreme introduces a French-ified version of their donuts to France by making them smaller and less sweet? I hope so, but I don't have much faith in that.

And yes, I don't care for Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, Duck Donuts, or any of that. Y'all know about Duck Donuts, right? https://www.duckdonuts.com/
Spouse and I went to a Duck Donuts a couple years ago to try them out because a friend remarked at how unusual and great they were with their various combinations, including bacon and what not. We tried it. Meh. I can leave it.

Krispy Kreme also sells cake donuts. Krispy Kreme closed a lot of their stores in the US, including the one near my house. I guess they moved mine to Paris.

I was in Vienna the first week of Nov and there were huge long lines to a CinnaMood shop. Turns out it is a smallish windowed shop selling cinnamon buns with all sorts of flavored variations. Chocolate, Nutella, pistachio, etc etc. It really was funny to see all these college age kids standing in line doing selfies with their friends, clearly it was an event for them. Marketing, it’s a wonderful thing 😉.

Donuts are all the range throughout France, some that look quite enticing (I've not tried). I think even one of the national chains now has them as well. Brownies, cupcakes and chocolate chip cookes are also popular -- but thematically, brownies aren't too far from a molleaux au chocolat. One of my local boulangeries sells brownies and cinnamon rolls alongside an excellent pain au chocolat and croissant aux amandes.

Krispy Kreme is just a specific type of hype --- I find them to sweet but off the line fresh they are OK. It seems they have altered the French product in some cases to be less sweet, which would be an improvement, imho.

It's a bit dated but the French seem to have a thing for American food

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-06-09/the-french-are-spinning-american-food

There are several places in Paris that serve typical American cuisine, there have been several articles lately about them.

I don't have them often, but I love a fresh Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. I also love croissants and baguettes and focaccia, as well as English muffins and banana bread and scones. Do I detect a tiny note of snobbery regarding the glazed doughnut? Why shouldn't any European like American food? I make a mean ratatouille and boeuf bourgignon, make my own crepes for sweet or savory dishes, and never buy a bottled salad dressing, but I also make biscuits and sausage gravy, homemade mac and cheese, SOS, brownies from a box, and meat loaf. Power to the palate! American diner food can be just as delicious and satisfying as food at a good neighborhood bistro or fine, fancy restaurant. (I just had a terrific chicken fried steak with cream gravy and mashed potatoes and gobbled it all up!)
Let us not dishonor the humble doughnut, whether raised or cake. There is room enough in the world (and our tummies) for all!

Well said, Judy !

Decades ago I made a meatloaf to serve my French father-in-law, no ketchup of course. I told him it was a recipe from the Southwest of France. He liked it. So a donut is a beignet...but a bit sweeter.

What these young people in line buying the donuts the first day love, is whatever it was they saw on social media. Saying "Parisians" in the headline way overhyped. 500 out of a metropolitan population of 7.2 million.

I LOVE Krispy Kreme doughnuts....well said Judy!

When I was in Italy for two years we visited our friends in London and two of the train stations had Krispy Kreme places....we intentionally went to get them there....and when the kiosk had sold out before we arrived, we took the underground to the OTHER station clear across the city to get them....when we saw the hot now light, it was AMAZING....like we were dying of thirst in a desert and spotted water.....

(also during that time my friends in Liverpool had a Subway sandwich shop near their house, so when I visited them you BET I went and got myself a sandwich and it was also amazing)

Sometimes you just need an original glazed!

It makes sense for the popularity of McDonald's to normalize eating on the go, that's an interesting observation....

I just remembered something. When we were in Chile and taking a plane from Santiago to Easter Island, many of the passengers on our smallish plane appeared to be Islanders heading home to Rapa Nui, after doing some big shopping on the mainland.....understandable. A good amount of them had boxes of doughnuts with them, (the dozen-size boxes, and more than one). If you are making a stock up run to the big city, of course you will pick up the good snacks while there!

If you're a "local" and you want to go out, you don't usually want your "local" food. I think that's true just about everywhere.

I was just in Salzburg and most of the restaurants were Italian. A travel article in today's NYT about Vienna recommends a Japanese restaurant.

It's another thing Parisians can add to McDonald's as an American fine dining experience.

Quite a few French people I know refer to Mcdo and KFC as "the American restaurants"

On my first trip to France in the late 80s or early 90s it seemed to be incredibly difficult to purchase fresh milk ... McDonald's came to the rescue and there I was every morning, purchasing a single milk serving carton.

Its taken decades but we are finally educating the French in the art of good eats.

Let them eat doughnuts.

If you're a "local" and you want to go out, you don't usually want your "local" food. I think that's true just about everywhere.

I don't think that's necessarily true. If you've in Vancouver, lots of local Chinese dine at local Chinese restaurants that are up to par with restaurants in Hong Kong and China. The same goes for say a white American of Anglo-Saxon background in the South who when dining out may want to go to one of their local BBQ joint and such.

Good one, Crumbs.

say a white American of Anglo-Saxon background in the South who when
dining out may want to go to one of their local BBQ joint and such.

No, they go to McDonalds

Well this American had a Krispy Kreme this morning ! Someone in our office stopped and brought some in. So it was not hot, but was yummy.

Donuts are huge now in Europe. In Berlin alone there are at least 8 "gourmet" vegan American style donut shops around Mitte. And it's the Berliners that go there! Having had a mom-pop donut shop in my town as a child, Krispy Kreme's aren't my thing at al-but it's an American store so Europeans will flock to it.

More power to em.

The only time I have ever had Krispy Kreme is overseas; they are not a thing in upstate New York. The very first was 2003 when they had a store inside Harrods in London. It was a religious experience! Whenever I see their shop in my travels, I will always indulge! Off the top of my head I enjoyed their delicious offerings in London, Toronto, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Cape Town, and Sydney.

Nick, like most things, Americans just do them better.

So the expats and locals can’t have KK? What’s the big deal. I went to Paris once just so I could eat at Chipotle. I went to Luxembourg in 1993 to eat at a Chi Chi’s and I went miles out of my way once in London for a Taco Bell. Hundreds, mostly Americans or American adjacent, stood in line recently in Vienna for an In N Out pop up (flown in from California).

I'm not really a donut guy, but I'm at a loss as to why Krispy Kreme is any more remarkable a thing to find in France than, say, a Mexican or Chinese restaurant. And goodness knows there are plenty of those.

Any chance the OP is Mr. Horton?

I can’t remember the name of the place but there’s another donut person in Paris that has been there for several years and they’re incredibly popular donuts. But the people I’ve talked to who are American who have had them are like they’re just OK. I considered getting one when I walked back, but I have an aversion to standing in line for an hour for a doughnut

But if you really want to see excitement, dig up a picture from the opening of the first McDonald’s in China. My grandparents were there.( Coincidentally, they weren’t actually there for McDonald’s) . The lines were horrendous. They were like those lines that Rick uses when he showing you why you should pre-book tickets to the louver and it stretches all across the courtyard. That’s what it was like to get a big Mac and it cost, at least s days wage.

Of course that said there’s a new bakery near me that does Semi authentic chocolate croissants and I think it’s the greatest thing ever. you know it’s just what you used to if they put the same bakery in Paris it would get no attention at all.

That said, some of you have clearly never gotten your Krispy Kreme when the hot light was on. Because it’s one great life‘s great treats imho.