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A mysterious email appeared in our inbox this morning, notifying us of a Dunkin' Donuts Shopping Cart Derby being held at the Santa Monica Pier tomorrow morning (check-in begins at 9am, you can register here through the Thrillist website). The event is being hosted by Maria Menounos, and the lucky winning team will receive a two-year supply of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, revered by many as the morning brew of choice.
But wait just a second here -- there aren't any Dunkin' Donuts in Los Angeles. In fact, there isn't a single Dunkin' Donuts in the entire state of California -- despite plans in 2002 to reinvigorate the franchise here on the West Coast, the last Dunkins closed down in the late 90's, much to the dismay of East Coasters who revere the franchise. Is tomorrow's event a harbinger of things to come? Will Dunkin' Donuts be making a triumphant return to the So Cal landscape? Or is all of this just a marketing ploy to rustle up some interest in their new online coffee offerings?
We're not complaining, and in fact, we're placing our order this very minute. But a quick look at the DD website shows that there are no franchising opportunities open yet in California -- but Taiwan, among many other countries, is getting 100 storefronts by 2017. Dunkin' Brands also owns Togo's and Baskin-Robbins, however, both of which are blessedly franchised throughout SoCal -- it stands to reason that both operations might sell the Dunkin'-brand coffee.
But why didn't DD succeed in SoCal? Is there some secret conspiracy amongst donut-shop insiders? Why are we being denied access to trans-fat-free apple fritters, bear claws, and jelly-filled goodness? It might be because L.A.'s Cambodian population cornered the market on donut shops, for some totally inexplicable reason, as BloggingLA discovered a few years back.The mysteries continue to multiply, but perhaps some of you will check out tomorrow's event and return victoriously, bearing before you the key to the mystery -- and a baker's dozen of the finest donuts in the country.
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I totally agree with having a DD in the state of California. I grew up eating DD in Manila as a young kid before migrating to LA. Being in Manila for vacation is the only time I get to munch on some DD. Perhaps one time while in Manhattan as a tourist back when I was 15 years old. I think Starbucks will try any means to flex its muscle once DD franchise begins in California.
I luuuurves me the DD...the coffee that's so heavy on cream and sugar, the powdered donuts and the chocolate glazed...mmmm. yum.
Ahhh i miss it so.
COOLATTA.
The first EVER chilled coffee beverage (that I can remember).
Hmm...maybe it's because I've only had brief run-ins with DD on trips to the East coast, but I'm not lamenting my life without it. The doughnuts and muffins are dry and the coffee is nowhere near as good as pretty much everywhere else.
Proctor & Gamble recently began selling DD coffee in LA supermarkets. I'm not jumping for joy over stale commodity coffee, but it is nice to stop and smell the package for memory's sake.
Yes, DD's chai is the most horribly inauthentic food in the known universe - essentially comprised as it is of melted-down chocolate bars and about a pound of cinnamon - but, boy, do I miss my sugar-death fix. I just moved here from Boston and often find myself literally daydreaming about the stuff. Sad but true...