This argument is making me hungry. I think I'll make some nice Ortega tacos (owned by Nestle) or maybe a sandwich with Hellman's mayonnaise (Unilever), drink some Calistoga water (also Nestle) or Mott's Apple Juice (Cadbury Schweppes), dream of the good old days when Burger King was owned by Grand Metropolitan and Guinness, and contemplate the US domination of the international food market.

Brimham..
Cafe du Monde in New Orleans has a website and sells the beignet mix. It works, but it isn't quite the same as sitting there with a cup of cafe au lait and watching the crowd.

Yes, vcl...I think actually being there makes them taste all the better.

Thanks, dln. Like another poster said, this is making me hungry! I'd bet that others might like the recipe, too.

BEIGNET RECIPE (creole donuts, creole being of French decent; therefore having relevance to European post!)

1/2 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons shortening (crisco)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 package dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 egg, beaten
3 3/4 cups sifted flour
confectioner's sugar

In a large mixing bowl pour the boiling water over the shortening, sugar, and salt. Add the milk and let stand until warm. In a small bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water and add to the milk mixture with the egg. Stir in 2 cups flour and beat. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Place the dough in a greased bowl turning to grease the top. Cover with wax paper and a cloth and chill until ready to use. On a lightly floured surface roll the dough to 1/8" thickness. Do not let dough rise before frying. Cut into 2" squares and fry, a few at a time, in deep hot fat (360 degrees). Brown on one side, turn and brown on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and serve hot. Makes 30 beignets.

When properly made, will turn one's thoughts away from Krispy Kreme.

To BR--you SWALLOWS this down 'til it FALLS to your tummy. (sorry all, just trying to get a plug in for currently running crossword puzzle--take a look and join in!)

lol dln.....sneaky sneaky. Ya'll come on over and join one of the crossword puzzle threads!

Now, it's 1:13 am here.....think I can get away with making some beignets at this hour? Yummm.

I hear you, BTilke, and hope you're right. What you say does make sense. I certainly don't pretend to be any sort expert on franchises and conglomerates. All I reported were my impressions as a tourist in various countries. You were also right to point out that America has a rich culinary culture that many Europeans may not even be aware of.

Jennie, thanks for the update! I had no idea that Pret a Manger has made inroads into the US market. I especially loved their fruit and yogurt parfaits, so I may see if I can find a Pret when I visit New York at the end of the month.

That beignet recipe looks intriguing. I could go for one of those right about now!

The AP states that Dick Clark (remember him from American Bandstand) owns a 50*% share of the Krispy Kreme franchise in the UK.

Great, magnificent and amazing when warm....but they still have 26 grams of fat each!


us

Nothing like a dash of economics and other facts to set the world on its ear.

McD makes very little money on its food; same, I suspect, with other franchisors. The heavy bread comes from booking the expected future stream of income from leases and required purchases (by contracted franchisees) and reporting this income as current income. It's a huge shell game that benefits franchisors enormously.

So KK won't be carting home any big bucks (or pounds or Euros) until it begins franchising its logo and methods and products and then grafting this ghost income into its reported current earnings.

KK was a staple of my earlier, collegiate life -- and I can still count the rings around my midsection. They were good -- but not that good. Dick Clark isn't as vapid as he looks. He is plenty smart if he owns a piece of the franchising action.

You guys have made me hungry.

"americans can't make pizza" that was the funniest thing I've read.

Anyway, I've never understood all the fuss with Krispy Kremes, but my mom is obsessed with them. As our many people. I have a feeling it's going to do quite well in the UK (just like Starbucks :P).

And you can't tell me that Pizza Hut isn't big in the UK... all of my fiance's friends (he lives in Scotland) are obsessed with Pizza Hut.

Me- I prefer Pizza Express. I wish we could get THOSE to the US.

Yo, KT - don't forget B&J's (Unilever) Chunky Monkey for afters.

A personal side issue on globalization--my local U.S. gas and electric company was sold to a British firm and then resold to a German firm. My rates have increased by about one-third. It's not all about McD's or Krispy Kreme, which I love but try very hard to avoid.

Hi all,

RE the taste appeal of KK donuts. It has been my experience that any fried or baked dough tastes wonderful when it is hot.

It's when it cools down that you recognize the difference between good and bad.