Krispy Kreme

With special emphasis on crispy.

A good pal of the staff here at B&G recently reminded me of that fantastic North Carolina institution, Krispy Kreme. A much more eloquent and thorough discussion of donuts in general can be found over at One Spicy Meatball. Beware, though, there a photos that will make you hungry.

Though the humble donut has consistently earned the dubious honor of ranking in the top five most unhealthy foods, the emotional nutritional content of donuts should not be easily dismissed.

Trans fat? So what. We didn't even know what that was a few years ago. Sure, eating a few donuts is a fantastic diabetes startup kit, but what some people don't know is that the hole in the middle of the donut isn't really empty. It's filled with love.

Who can forget the pleasure of driving by the Krispy Kreme on Oleander Drive (go Seahawks!) and seeing the "hot" sign on? It's what dreams are made of.

Another fond memory is that of watching a guy from Rocky Mount named Cuz (say it with enthusiasm, but keep the z silent) eat a dozen after smoking too many of those left-handed cigarettes. Simultaneously disgusting and inspiring.

The takeaway message here is that the occasional visit to Krispy Kreme is good for the soul if not the body.

Next time you're in the mood to indulge, try the innovative approach developed at N.C. State University. The annual Krispy Kreme Challenge is held in January. Starting at the campus Belltower, run two miles to the Krispy Kreme store near campus, eat a dozen glazed donuts (2,400 calories, 144 grams of fat), then run back to the Belltower. Do it in under an hour. The 2008 Challenge raised over $20,000 for the North Carolina Children's Hospital.

Meet me there in January. I'll be training.