Without a doubt, every expat Canadian that goes abroad will at some point mention and lament their loss of access to Tim Horton's. Affectionately known as Timmy's, this is an affordably priced Canadian coffee & donut chain that has a fanatically loyal fanbase. The franchise was started by a much loved hockey player in 1965, and now has about 3500 locations across Canada. The chain dominates both the fast food and coffee markets in Canada and outcompetes both McDonalds and Starbucks by wide margins, so it is really beyond a word like "iconic" - it is *legendary*. Along with serving up a damn good coffee and a myriad of donut varieties, they sell their wildly popular "timbits" which are basically bite sized donut holes. In the mid-80's they expanded into soups and chillies, then sandwiches and bagels in the 90's, and have most recently been in talks with Satan to purchase outright ownership of Canadian souls with ads like these:
(This commercial has been known to make grown men cry)
The fanatacism has reached such heights that should you mention Tim Horton's to even the most unanimated Canadian expat, they will positively light up with excitement as they describe their favourite timbit to you (SOUR CREAM GLAZED!) or talk about their Iced Caps. You may even see some mist in their eyes as they mention the painful hole in their heart that Timmy's used to occupy before it was ripped out by moving abroad.
So I'm writing this post for all the Canadians expats who know what I'm talking about. Don't forget to check in with a comment and tell me what your favourite thing to order was ;)
Ramadam 2018!
6 years ago
16 comments:
Hey! Your post brought tears to my eyes!!!!!! I miss Timmy's so much... I stock up on their french vanilla and english toffee every summer, but for some reason it never tastes the same when I make it in Riyadh, *Sigh*. Timmy's occupies a place in my heart that can never be substituted by the likes of 2nd Cup or Starbucks. My favs include Ice-caps, sour cream glazed tim bits, french vanillas/english toffees, and the early morning medium double-doubles.
I'm heading back to T.O next week for the summer hols, and my first visit will be to my neighborhood Timmy's. :)
OOOoooh french vanilla coffeeeeee! I can't wait to go back and have an everything bagel smothered with butter. I'm so happy for you that you get to go back soon!
Did you know that 'double-double' is a Canadian thing? I didn't know until I left.
Yay for Timmies and hockey and immigrants and Canada!!!
When we go back to Canada, we practically live at Tim's for breakfast! Bagels and coffee....yum! Course, then driving along it's Tim Bit's and coffee, then chicken soup and coffee for lunch.....
Not sure if you read my old blog post where I was lamenting about Tim's....called 'drive through doha style'. You can get coffee, but certainly not any Tim’s. Trouble is, it’s closed up shop already so it was very short lived.
And yes, the video brings tears to the eyes....
oh Timmy's - maybe we should go talk to a Prince about getting Timmy's into KSA :) i could go for anything at Timmy's but my usual is a toasted everything bagel with garden vegetable cream cheese and steeped tea! I love the steeped tea - always consistent and you don't have to deal with the annoying bag :) And I love how you can ask for 1 and a half sugars at Timmy's and they don't even blink an eye :)
Even though I'm not a Canadian expat I have lived in Canada for much of my childhood and consider it my second home and Tim Horton's is one of the things I miss most.
My personal favorite is the French Vanilla and the bread bowl soup (do they still make those? I left Canada in 2003). I still remember the RRRRoll up the RRRRRRRiiim to win ads too.
My father was throwing around the idea of being Tim Horton's official Saudi franchisee a while back but he's had his hands full with his own business but hey...watch this sapce.
hey barely I was looking for the post but couldn't find it =( ...who doesn't live at Tim Horton's for breakfast?! ha ha
Nalini my stomach can't really handle coffee all that well so I am a very regular steeped tea drinker too. Those everything bagels are to die for!
I also remember bread bowl soups!! And is it me or is it hard to roll up those rims? I always used to use my teeth! I think every Canadian has thought about opening a Tim's franchise, but apparently it costs one or two million to set one up.
Aaaaaaaah Timmy's!! I miss my French Vanilla, English Toffee and Apple fritters, dutchies, butter crossiant! Aaaaah! :(
Apparently, Cambridge, where I come from, I am told has one of the highest per capita Timmy's :D
Orchid, will try to add the link, but not sure it will work. Post is from March 6th, if you want to have a read. http://barelynoticeable.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/drive-though-doha-style/
Adnan - triple AAAaaaaaaahhhh for apple fritters, I forgot all about them!
Apple fritters and English toffee... Good God I miss home :(
me tooooooo!
mmm strawberry tarts, i know they are only there a certain time of the year but they are my favourite :)
i am from Saudi Arabia. i had been living in Toronto for two years. i came back to Riyadh two years ago. The most thing i missed is Tim Hortons. i really missed the coffee double double. i always chack if they getting Timmy's into Riyadh. and i don't know if they sell Timmy's Products here if anyone knows please tell me.
"Can I get a medium steeped tea with one cream and a sugar, please" ... I must have said above thousand times in different Tim Horton drive throughs. I miss Canada. It is the most lovely place on earth and I want to get back to my lovely country as soon I can, for good, INSHALLAH.
Ooohhh...why did you guys have to talk about Timmy's...damn i miss my french vanilla, the chocolate glazed and toasted coconut timbits, and my all-time favorite 'double-double'.
I used to bring the canned french vanilla to Dubai as well but it never tasted the same :(
Hey Adnan, I go to Cambridge all the time...my in-laws live there.
Hey Canuck from Toronto,
I hear ya, canned coffee is never the same. But good news for you, if you are still in Dubai/visit Dubai, then you can have real Timmies! Tim Horton's opened up a branch in Dubai a couple of months ago :D
Oh cool! What part of Cambridge? I live in North Galt :)
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