A Journey to the Center of a Spicy Dunkin’ Donut
November 9, 2020 9:16 AM Subscribe
One man’s quest to eat Dunkies’ new Spicy Ghost Pepper Donut proves to be euphorically strange—and simply life-affirming (The Ringer)
Dunkies
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
posted by zamboni at 9:29 AM on November 9, 2020 [32 favorites]
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
posted by zamboni at 9:29 AM on November 9, 2020 [32 favorites]
You know, the kinds of places that might call their employees “doughtenders”
Noooooo...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:34 AM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
Noooooo...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:34 AM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
Having not read the byline at the beginning of that article, I came to the end of it and was surprised to discover it wasn't by Drew Magary.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:34 AM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:34 AM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
Sean Evans (host of Hot Ones) did a promo for Dunkin' Donuts in which he ate Spicy Ghost Pepper Donuts with additional hot sauce.
posted by Lexica at 10:00 AM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Lexica at 10:00 AM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
It's a good writeup, but I think I'll stick to the chocolate glazed/vanilla cream combo I always order. I guess I don't want donut adventures... also "regular" is how coffee should be served always.
posted by tuesdayschild at 10:01 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by tuesdayschild at 10:01 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I learned about this on Munch Squad, via the famous Count Donut
posted by curious nu at 10:11 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by curious nu at 10:11 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I had one a few weeks ago. It tasted like eating an Atomic Fireball. Not bad, all things considered.
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:24 AM on November 9, 2020
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:24 AM on November 9, 2020
I can say from experience that the spicy ghost pepper donut is weird and a bit gross, but not all that spicy. I did learn my lesson about telling them to surprise me at my first choice was sold out, even when I don't really care about the donut at the time.
posted by wierdo at 10:43 AM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by wierdo at 10:43 AM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
I just miss the titular Dunkin' Donut, basically a lightly cinnamon-and-sugared donut with a handle for holding while you dunk it in coffee. I think it was discontinued in the mid 80's, and I don't know if it was a short time promo or like an original product that eventually got phased out. I don't even like coffee but I still liked that donut for eating, and I also liked that it gave the whole Dunkin' Donut's brand some extra meaning.
posted by aubilenon at 10:49 AM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 10:49 AM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
aubilenon: I'd read somewhere they discontinued it because the molds for the donuts broke and they didn't want to spend money having new ones made.
Actually a quick Google says it was that the donuts had to be handmade and they were moving to automated donut making. Whoops.
posted by SansPoint at 10:52 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Actually a quick Google says it was that the donuts had to be handmade and they were moving to automated donut making. Whoops.
posted by SansPoint at 10:52 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Okay of course I did my research after commenting, instead of before. Apparently it wasn't discontinued until 2003! And apparently it might not have been cinnamony at all? Now I hate it!
posted by aubilenon at 10:52 AM on November 9, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 10:52 AM on November 9, 2020 [6 favorites]
I learned about this on Munch Squad, via the famous Count Donut yt
spookehbox
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:58 AM on November 9, 2020
spookehbox
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:58 AM on November 9, 2020
My take on it: a pretty standard yeast donut with a very mild dusting of hot pepper. Most chili-infused dark chocolates have more of a kick.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:41 AM on November 9, 2020
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:41 AM on November 9, 2020
The blandness of the doughnut really kills the spiciness. If you eat it fast, there's no spice at all.
posted by ikea_femme at 12:22 PM on November 9, 2020
posted by ikea_femme at 12:22 PM on November 9, 2020
Whenever I hear the nickname Dunkies I think of this woman voting at Fenwway
posted by inthe80s at 12:53 PM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by inthe80s at 12:53 PM on November 9, 2020 [4 favorites]
I ate a Spicy Ghost Pepper Donut a few weeks OK. Short review: it is not food.
posted by AndrewStephens at 1:27 PM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by AndrewStephens at 1:27 PM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Dunkies
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
You're really gonna hate to learn what people call local gas station chain Cumberland Farms here in RI
posted by JDHarper at 1:31 PM on November 9, 2020 [11 favorites]
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
You're really gonna hate to learn what people call local gas station chain Cumberland Farms here in RI
posted by JDHarper at 1:31 PM on November 9, 2020 [11 favorites]
Dunkies
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
That would be all of New England. Good luck getting them to stop.
posted by octothorpe at 1:43 PM on November 9, 2020 [8 favorites]
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
That would be all of New England. Good luck getting them to stop.
posted by octothorpe at 1:43 PM on November 9, 2020 [8 favorites]
Yeah. I’ve heard “Dunkies” and “Cumbies” all my life.
posted by Songdog at 3:03 PM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Songdog at 3:03 PM on November 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
DunkiesBe thankful the short version starts with the same letter as the original. It took me a while to work out that "skeeters" were mozzies.
Whoever's fault this is, please stop.
posted by krisjohn at 3:11 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yeah. I’ve heard “Dunkies” and “Cumbies” all my life.
Ah. As someone who's not familiar with those local appellations, my mind went straight to "Cummies," but in my defence I'm someone who lives in a city with an Old Cummer station, and I've never not snickered when seeing the sign. Having it spelled out as Old Cummer GO (the acronym for the regional transit system) just makes the situation worse.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:56 PM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
Ah. As someone who's not familiar with those local appellations, my mind went straight to "Cummies," but in my defence I'm someone who lives in a city with an Old Cummer station, and I've never not snickered when seeing the sign. Having it spelled out as Old Cummer GO (the acronym for the regional transit system) just makes the situation worse.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:56 PM on November 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
Kum and Go always makes me think of that Madeline Kahn bit in Blazing Saddles, sadly.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:36 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:36 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
That would be all of New England. Good luck getting them to stop.
Seriously. I suspect zamboni - despite their username that might suggest otherwise - has never met a true Masshole before.
posted by loquacious at 5:09 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Seriously. I suspect zamboni - despite their username that might suggest otherwise - has never met a true Masshole before.
posted by loquacious at 5:09 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Kum and Go always makes me think of that Madeline Kahn bit in Blazing Saddles, sadly.
It makes me think of a particular Liz Phair song off of Exile in Guyville.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:11 PM on November 9, 2020
It makes me think of a particular Liz Phair song off of Exile in Guyville.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:11 PM on November 9, 2020
Sigh.
First, it's not a twee / kawaii 'Dunkies -giggle-'. You spit it from the diaphragm, the way Rocky Balboa says 'Pauly'.
Let me set it up for you:
-a place where you go to buy spirits in closed containers, rather than by the glass, is called a 'package store'
-Cumberland Farms is a former dairy outlet for selling refrigerated milk and eggs, that diversified into a chain of 7-11 type convenience stores
-names like James and Thomas are for judges, or toffee-nosed Englishmen
So, in New England; Tommy and Jimmy went to the packie to get some beers; Pat went across the street because smokes are 50 cents cheaper at the Cumbies.
I imagine that an Australian version is something like Jocko and Mick filled up at the servo this arvo then went to Macca's and the bottle-o.
posted by bartleby at 5:47 PM on November 9, 2020 [5 favorites]
First, it's not a twee / kawaii 'Dunkies -giggle-'. You spit it from the diaphragm, the way Rocky Balboa says 'Pauly'.
Let me set it up for you:
-a place where you go to buy spirits in closed containers, rather than by the glass, is called a 'package store'
-Cumberland Farms is a former dairy outlet for selling refrigerated milk and eggs, that diversified into a chain of 7-11 type convenience stores
-names like James and Thomas are for judges, or toffee-nosed Englishmen
So, in New England; Tommy and Jimmy went to the packie to get some beers; Pat went across the street because smokes are 50 cents cheaper at the Cumbies.
I imagine that an Australian version is something like Jocko and Mick filled up at the servo this arvo then went to Macca's and the bottle-o.
posted by bartleby at 5:47 PM on November 9, 2020 [5 favorites]
Kum and Go always makes me think of that Madeline Kahn bit in Blazing Saddles, sadly.
And always too soon?
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 5:56 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
And always too soon?
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 5:56 PM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Ghost peppers are fun to grow, and their plants yield beautiful fruit, but man o man don't even think about touching the leaves or stems without gloves.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:08 AM on November 10, 2020
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:08 AM on November 10, 2020
I'm in the UK, would have loved to have tried this.
Side note: I made roasted green chilli and lime ice cream. Definitely not an "eat a whole tub" flavour, but the tang of the lime followed by the burn of the chilli works really well.
posted by MattWPBS at 3:57 AM on November 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
Side note: I made roasted green chilli and lime ice cream. Definitely not an "eat a whole tub" flavour, but the tang of the lime followed by the burn of the chilli works really well.
posted by MattWPBS at 3:57 AM on November 10, 2020 [2 favorites]
We picked up donuts on Halloween instead of trick or treating. My husband ordered one of these ghost pepper donuts and my 3 year old asked for a “pink donut”. We didn’t realize she ended up with the wrong one until after she had finished it. So they’re mild enough not to bother a toddler.
posted by galvanized unicorn at 7:59 AM on November 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by galvanized unicorn at 7:59 AM on November 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
TIL Dunkin' Donuts is now called "Dunkin'". Why? When?
posted by freecellwizard at 11:43 AM on November 10, 2020
posted by freecellwizard at 11:43 AM on November 10, 2020
TIL Dunkin' Donuts is now called "Dunkin'". Why? When?
The Why for that kind of change is like always they want to sell more things than just donuts, and they don't want their name to get in the way of that. That's a big reason why so many companies have idiot fake word names that don't mean anything - it lets them change their business easier.
The When is January 2019.
posted by aubilenon at 3:49 PM on November 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Why for that kind of change is like always they want to sell more things than just donuts, and they don't want their name to get in the way of that. That's a big reason why so many companies have idiot fake word names that don't mean anything - it lets them change their business easier.
The When is January 2019.
posted by aubilenon at 3:49 PM on November 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Why for that kind of change is like always they want to sell more things than just donuts, and they don't want their name to get in the way of that
The Dunkin Doughnuts where I live sell only regularly sell like 3-4 different types of doughnuts. They definitely do not want to be a 'doughnut' shop.
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:28 AM on November 11, 2020
The Dunkin Doughnuts where I live sell only regularly sell like 3-4 different types of doughnuts. They definitely do not want to be a 'doughnut' shop.
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:28 AM on November 11, 2020
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Personally, I think coffee and spicy foods pair magnificently, but I don't defer to Dunks for coffee nor spicy foods.
posted by explosion at 9:25 AM on November 9, 2020 [1 favorite]