I’ve never been interested in taking part in The Amazing Race or Ripley’s or even stood in line for the Harry Potter series (although I am a huge fan), but this I didn’t want to miss. When a colleague casually informed me about Krispy Kreme’s opening in Chennai and their offer — a year’s worth of doughnuts to the first customer to buy a dozen doughnuts — I didn’t need any convincing. But just in case, I invoked the blessings of two great women in the comedy business—Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, an ardent supporter of cake, cupcakes and donuts and her close friend Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, an animated government employee who loves waffles more than her husband.
We were a little late to the party, but who would’ve thought that it would start at 5.15 p.m. the previous evening, which is when the first person arrived outside the store at Express Avenue. He was soon joined by two more people at 5.20 and 5.30 p.m. respectively.
At 8 a.m. on Friday, the air was heavy with the aroma of Krispy Kreme’s signature doughnut, the Original Glazed, and the jarring sound of drums. There was energetic dancing — the sort of reception one would expect for a Punjabi groom — and small contests to keep the participants awake.
I have to applaud the 27 people who stood in line from the night before – that’s almost 17 hours till the doors were scheduled to be thrown open. I suppose nothing deters people from buying doughnuts, not even the rain. That only stops cricket matches. The store had not only arranged for seating but also for dinner, snacks and breakfast. The participants were given branded T-shirts, badges, and caps that were jauntily perched on their heads. With a crowd that mostly comprised of youngsters, there were the inevitable selfies, dancing — one customer even performed ballet — and enthusiastic participation in several promotional activities that were designed to make sure the crowd did not fall asleep after spending the night seated in plastic chairs. I would’ve never thought it was a weekday; trivial things like work or college don’t seem to stand a chance when a year’s worth of doughnuts is at stake.
In true Chennai style, the launch, which was scheduled for 11 a.m. was swiftly moved to 10 a.m., before Rahukaalam set in. The tired but now visibly excited customers lined up: the exuberant ones danced their way in, while the shy ones shuffled past the cameras and took their place. The enthusiastic staff then put on a song and dance routine that roughly went, “Red and Green, sweet and cream; That is what is Krispy Kreme,” in a very Chennai-accent that is bound to stay with you for quite some time. Following a short drum roll and a very loud announcement by the emcee, a doughnut-festooned ribbon was cut and just like that, the much-awaited store was open.
Earlier in the week, we had the opportunity to watch the ‘doughnut theatre’— a glass viewing area where one can watch the doughnut-making process from start to finish.
The circles of soft dough move along the conveyor belt, where they are fried, glazed and transferred into their polka dotted boxes. We were handed the sticky Original Glazed doughnuts fresh off the conveyor belt.
As I take my first bite, I'm reminded of my very first doughnut, consumed back in the 90s, courtesy McRennett. The butterscotch icing was sickly sweet and the doughnut itself, hard to bite. With little to choose from or compare to in the city, it was my favourite for a long time.
But it doesn't comapre to the soft, warm Original Glazed—I imagine clouds in the sky to resemble these; the doughnut of my childhood has been replaced. One bite transported me to stage five of a food coma where I tell myself that one is more than enough. But who am I kidding? I helped myself to two more doughnuts, carefully avoiding everyone else’s gaze. They weren't cloyingly sweet, which made it easier to wolf down more.
Before I knew it I was transported to stages eight and nine aka uncomfortably full but could not stop eating. However, in the immortal words of Homer Simpson, “Mmm… Doughnuts!”
