KRISPY KREME, MUMBAI

I was unaware for a long time that Krispy Kreme had arrived in India. Quite the sin on my side. But when I did. There was no stopping especially when I found out that they actually have my favorite donut in the whole wide world - The Custard Filled Donut. One of the things I can never have enough of and one of the major reasons why I was a really fat kid. I can never in a billion years forget how it tastes and the effect it has on me every time. 

Unfortunately my sister made it there before me even though it was me who wanted to pay visit to the place and had kept asking her if she wanted to come along as it is one of those rare things that we both understand and love. You do not get the donut taste in India. Not Yet. Not till Krispy Kreme. But I chose to forgive her because she brought me one too and that too Custard Filling. I savored it would be an understatement. The smell, the smell of a freshly baked donut was there. So it had a chance, a real chance that maybe, just maybe, this was it. Then came the first bite. If this isn't foodgasm I don't what is. I was taken back into time, the many times that I have savored this, devouring each bite, never wanting to the taste to leave. But, there has to be a but, always. I always find a but, but then that is why I am here, the filling was a little too less I believe. The filling had the exact same taste but it was hardly there. I might have finished half the donut before the filling could be seen. That is not how it should be. It should come oozing right after the first bite. The fact that Krispy Kreme got stingy with the filling just does not sit well and is hard to believe.

Since then I have picked up donuts from here many a times but never really sat down at the place and so I chose to one day, just to take in the real-feel of the place. One thing I have got to say is that the aroma is all around the place. You step foot in the lane where Dominos, Theobroma, Hagen Daaz and the likes are located, the one that is the most distinct is the one from Krispy Kreme, pulling you towards it and you are helpless and like many a times it happens with me, lets just pick up 1 piece. The place is designed in between a fast-food chain and a cafe. Though mostly you will find people picking up boxes rather than sitting down, hence, you will find plenty of place to be seated and no body in a hurry to get you out, which is a delight because in most fast food chains, you hardly get half hour to sit and eat. 

We had ordered for my favorite Custard Filling Donut, the chocolate glazed and along with it the Espresso Oreo Shake Delight & Kremey Chiller (Red Berry). I have got to say that anything that has oreo in it can not fail, but here, it was even better. I have mentioned this umpteen times but I am still going to do it again, it transported me back to my obese teen years at home and though I do not want to go back to being that again, I don't regret a single thing I ever ate. I still eat all of it. I have always said I just can-not go on a diet, never, ever. But I guess I over-ate then, something that I have changed now. I did not really have Kremey Chiller but my friend finished the entire thing by himself and did not even ask if I wanted to take a sip, so from that I am guessing it might have been GOOD! I am going to make it a point to try the other flavors too on my next visit. I am a food connoisseur, if these is such a thing. :P But there are certain things that I stick to and they have become weakness, Praline n Cream from Baskin Ribbons, I will regret the minute I step out if I have had anything but that. Same is for Roasted Almonds from Naturals and yes custard filled donuts. I like other stuff, but these are tried and tested and I have a strong connection with them. :P But, I will be trying the rest that they have to offer, though I have got to say that the variety they have is a little on the lesser side when I compare it to other well renowned donut places where I actually some times get confused if I should order something else. But, custard wins hands down every time.

So, if you have been kind of enough to read all that I have been writing since the start of this page, you might know of my obsession with donuts and how in all my time in Mumbai, I have not found that flavor, and if you know what the craze was all about, Head to your nearest Krispy Kreme Outlet! There are a quite a few. 

WHAT WE HAD - Chocolate Glazed Donut (Ahh! Bliss!)

                         Chocolate Glazed with Custard Filling ( There is nothing quite like this in the world Yet!)

                           Oreo Shake Delight (Filling & Yum!)

                           Kremey Chiller ( Yum! and Filling)

DAMAGES - Rs 800/- (Approx)

WHERE - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, G3, City Park Building, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai

DUNKIN DONUTS, MUMBAI

Dunkin Donuts arrived in Mumbai with much hype and hoopla and I was one among the many who had signed up to be there on the first day. Unfortunately, due to work commitments I couldn't be a part of it. But I made it a point to be there in the first week itself. How couldn't I? I have been waiting forever for a good donut place, not that MOD is bad, but well, if you have had the privilege of growing up in the west or Middle East, you will understand the difference.

The big question is whether it matched up to the expectations built up partly by them and partly by me with the name they carry in other parts of the world. The answer to that is No. Trust me, it pains to say it. But it is the truth. Is it good? Definitely yes. But growing up in Bahrain, I can't help but compare it to the ones I have had there, and I always end up making the comparison. Yes, I know everybody says its catering to a different segment, the market is different. All I know is when ever I have made my mom smuggle donuts from me across the 7 seas, and my extended family/ friends who have had the luck of trying them out have the same thing to say - Where have these been all my life. And when I say, something is good, it means it is good. Similarly, when I say its not the same, It is definitely not the same. 

Well, yes, It doesn't mean I won't be dropping by the place. I most definitely will. It just means I will still miss the donuts I have had from home. Now, for the real thing. Well, I did love the place, the white walls, the colorful sofas and seating arrangement. Its class meeting Funk. ( I didn't know how else to put it :P). So one could hold a business meeting with a client here, and maybe in another corner a couple could be romancing away, while you might find a group of friends laughing their time away. What it means, its a place for everybody which is what I liked most about it. That anybody and everybody can feel at home here. ( Well, not literally home. :P )

Coming to the food, we ordered a lot of different stuff. And if I had to say overall, the food hits the right note. I loved their Bagel burger ( I will come here more for this, I think ;) ). They have a lot of options in burgers, which is points to them because even MC Donalds fails in variety. However, stay away from the Jalepeno chicken Sandwich. I didn't like it or rather it was just strictly okay and it was a recommendation from the server, so I think their servers need to know what to recommend. The rest of the stuff was good and well applauded by me as well as my companions including the spiked iced tea which I have had for the first time ( An iced tea, that I have not had before? That's a first :P ). It has a spicy tinge to it. 

Finally, the one thing I would want to mention is they need to really really increase the fillings in their donuts. I was let down in this department, as after finishing of more than half the donut I could see signs of any filling and I was waiting impatiently for the custard filling one as MOD doesn't offer this and it is my ALL TIME FAVORITE. at Dunkin Donuts, Phoenix Market City, Kurla.

WHAT WE HAD - Tough Guy Chicken Bagel Burger ( Star of the Day)

                         Pepper Chicken Burger ( Applause)

                         Chicken Jalapeno Sandwich ( Just Pass)

                         Hash Browns ( Hittum Hit!)

                         Caramel Butter Scotch Shake ( Praiseworthy!_

                         Spiked Ice Tea ( Surprise Hit!)

                         Fruit Berry Smoothie ( Hit! )

                         Cinnamon Flavored Classic Donut ( The Best of the Lot)

                         Classic Donut ( Appreciated)

                         Custard Filling Donut ( More on the filling Please, and softer 

dough needed)

                         Alive By chocolate ( Again, Same as before)

DAMAGES - Rs 1500 Approx ( Only, because we had a lot to eat)

WHERE - Pheonix Market City, L.B.S Marg, Kurla (W), Mumbai