Red badge of courage by Bill Phillips

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Southern Food

Red badge of courage

by Bill Phillips | 16, Add your Comment | Mar 29, 2011

If you wait long enough, everything comes full circle, not that it’s always a positive human trait. But crew cuts are back, and it’s again safe to express an affection for a Krispy Kreme donut. We North Carolina natives grew up proudly thinking our local state product was a fine intermittent treat, but during the ’80s when the words “gourmet” and “cuisine,” not to mention “nutrition,” were imported into our culture, we learned to keep our mouths shut about the Winston-Salem donut empire.

Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, NC, at 6:15 a.m.

My friend Dave says, “If you have ever lived in Germany (which he has), the American approach to bread products is incomprehensible.” By his report, every street corner of every small burg has a home-owned bakery with an infinite variety of delicacies, each as refined and perfectly crafted as a Mendelssohn composition. It’s possible to find such a place in the U.S., but it’s very rare.

However, if you’re hungry and in need in North Carolina, (a friend hurt your feelings, you were losing it in traffic congestion, or your job seems meaningless), try to find a Krispy Kreme, it’s no problem. And, if the need for comfort is deep, try the “raspberry filled,” which we, of course, used to call jelly donuts.

The inspiration for these thoughts came from the subconscious, a dream I just had, (this is true) where I was buying large bags of Krispy Kreme jelly doughnuts and wandering the local landscape passing them out to friends. The bags were dripping, sticky, and red. My hands were coated with the stuff, but no friend turned me down as they ooohed and aaahed… their lips revealing a faint, secret smile at this act of infidelity to their vow of health and fitness. Analyze my dream anyway you like, I don’t care.

It was simpler in our past when we weren’t bombarded with this encyclopedic knowledge of the molecular composition of food and the dirty details of metabolism. “Eat less, exercise more,” were two rules that used to suffice for the whole issue. And, “you are what you eat,” seemed a fair enough measure for making decisions that excluded a too frequent indulgence in Krispy Kremes.

But every now and then, eating a Krispy Kreme can be the right thing to do, though being “out” about jelly donuts still requires a solid sense of self and a good support system of family and friends. Don’t be ashamed, this is not a character defect; it is not a moral issue. Get a jelly donut and drip some red goo on your shirt; wear your red badge of courage proudly. Save ethics for stuff that matters.

###

Bill Phillips

A lifelong North Carolina resident with an interest in local history, outdoor adventures, politics, and culture.

Started out as a high school history teacher, then worked in public schools under grants from the 1964 Civil Rights Act (teacher education programs.) Then a three year stint as a social worker was followed by several years as a “folkie,” playing string band music, making musical instruments, and presenting indigenous folk performers in public school concerts under a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Change of course: became a carpenter, then a home remodeler, then a home builder, then a remodeling designer. Now, am merging that with free lance photography and writing.

A hopelessly compulsive writer, with more unpublished stuff in the closet than you want to know about. Have recently seen the light of day with a blog on Google Blogger. If an article of mine on Like the Dew interests you, you will find it on the following blog with many more high resolution photos relating to the post.

North Carolina, People and Places http://northcarolinapeople.blogspot.com/

Also, for your inner Geek: Handheld Tech Toys http://handheldtechtoys.blogspot.com/

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Marietta Mary

All things [including Krispy Kremes] in Moderation.
mike williams

My wife, who grew up working in a Dunkin’ Donuts in Florida, claims those sad excuses (cake donuts -- yuk!) amount to decent donuts. There’s just no comparison, in my book anyway. We sold Krispy Kremes in high school to raise money for our clubs. I still remember the tiled hall entryway of our school stacked shoulder-high with row on row of those boxes -- hundreds, maybe thousands of them, the big dozen-sized boxes, too. One friend used to eat a whole dozen by himself. I think he’s had quad bypass surgery in recent years. I try to ration myself to a couple of indulgences a year, but I do savor those.
- http://northcarolinapeople.blogspot.com/ Bill Phillips
  
  Well, I had my Dunkin’ Donut period back in the 70′s, and particularly liked the Bavarian Creme, but there’s something about seeing those glazed soldiers rolling off the conveyor in formation at Krispy Kreme that is irresistible. Then to see them pick out your special one off the rollers, and to eat something warm and drippy that was just dough 15 minutes ago… well, it can’t be beat. I like your numbers, Mike… hundreds, maybe thousands!!!
http://hannah.smith-family.com/ Monica Smith

As originally developed, donuts were just a convenient package, a way to carry butter, eggs, flour, milk, sugar and fruit preserves from the summer on a trip. I don’t know about the ingredients in Krispy Kremes, but my son has explained to me that using corn syrup as a sweetener accounts for never feeling full and always wanting to eat more. I don’t eat donuts, but I’ve noticed that effect after consuming a couple of slices of store-bought raisin/cinnamon bread. I end up hungrier than if I hadn’t had any breakfast at all.
I’d be surprised if those German bakeries have switched to corn syrup.
- http://northcarolinapeople.blogspot.com/ Bill Phillips
  
  Well, Monica, we do have our one German bakery here, called Guglhupf (http://www.guglhupf.com/) which I can’t pronounce, so I call it Google Hump, and it is exquisite. The pastries are art objects, food for the gods, to be eaten while listening to Beethoven’s 5th, and priced accordingly. Krispy Kreme, I would say is more like Fanfare for the Common Man. There’s place in my life for both.
Mark Riley

Donuts are such an ingenious invention -- magical ingredients locked inside or smothered on top, portable, have a built-in handle, no front or back, aerodynamic and their arc makes for a perfect entry into an open mouth. Bill is onto the healing powers of donuts after a bad day, plus you don’t have a hangover (except for your belly is you overdo it).

On a recent business trip I stayed at a nice hotel with a complimentary hot breakfast buffet. They had every breakfast item known to man, except for donuts. Across the street was a Dunkin with a batch of fresh chocolate frosted beauties. I could not resist the magnetic powers of those donuts, so I blew off the omelet bar and devoured two delicious, sticky darlings. I did not regret my choice for an instant. Long live the magical, orbital food…
- http://northcarolinapeople.blogspot.com/ Bill Phillips
  
  Mark, what a great idea, edible frisbees. Next time we play cornhole in the backyard, I’ll get a dozen KK’s and start sailing them through the air.
http://bigboomtheory.blogspot.com Will Cantrell

Thanks for writing this piece, Bill. I enjoyed it very much. You make me feel much less guilty that I just ate two Krispy Kreme’s … and with a Coke too. Moderation is overrated. Thanks again. Will
- http://northcarolinapeople.blogspot.com/ Bill Phillips
  
  Krispy Kreme and Coke, the perfect blend of North Carolina and Georgia. Good idea, Will. And, your quote of the day, “moderation is overrated.” I’ll have to think about that one.
Del Olds

My favorite is the Pumpkin Donuts that Krispy Kreme makes in the fall. What a yearly treat. Buy a dozen. Have two every morning with coffee until they run out, then go get another dozen. Just have to work out more and eat less, but it is worth it. Moderation in all things, nope, one excess to enjoy, another excess to work it off.

Too much of a good thing is excellent.
- http://bigboomtheory.blogspot.com Will Cantrell
  
  Hmmmnnnn. “Too much of a good thing is excellent.” My sentiments exactly! … and the way that I have endeavored to live my entire life, sometimes despite the best judgement of others. (Methinks that they were just jealous.) Del, I hope that you won’t mind if I steal this ‘very excellent’ quote. Will
  - Del Olds
    
    Honored to have you steal it. I think I stole it as well, but I do not remember who. 8-(
http://northcarolinapeople.blogspot.com/ Bill Phillips

Yes, Del, the specialty donuts are a treat. I particularly liked the Cheerwine Kreme filled ones that came out for a month last summer. Couldn’t do that often, but I hope they do it again for a month next summer. And, now they have just come out with a Banana Kreme Pie. It’s outstanding. In Greenville, NC, home of East Carolina University, they do a football shaped one in the fall with purple icing (ECU’s color) and dark brown laces on the seam.
You know, I’m pretty picky about what I eat… doesn’t sound like it, but I am. Most of the time, I’m an organic, whole wheat, beans and sprouts guy and I do a lot of good cooking at home. And, I don’t like junk food, which really doesn’t taste good. But, Krispy Kreme is different, sort of like a step into Candyland after staying way too serious most of the time.
judy mccarthy

In my childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, I often overnighted with my city cousins who lived within walking distance of a Krispy Kreme. Donut holes began to be passed out at 7:30 a.m. and we were almost always on the line. Years later when I was a student at Michigan State University, as I drove home from classes my first stop was at Krispy Kreme. And, of course, I properly educated my children in the delights of a Krispy Kreme. I celebrated with my daughter via email when the first Krispy Kreme opened in New York City. (She lived in Brooklyn.) Dunkin’ what?

Judy
http://michaeljwrites.com/ Michael J. Solender

I live for Hot and Now -- Thanks for firing up the Jones in me to go find one in the rain..
John D

When I was 16, I dated a girl who worked the counter in a donut shop in Warner Robins -- not KK or DD, some other period brand, but KK-style. It’s funny, though, that while enough years have passed that I can’t remember the girl’s name, I can still remember Donna, the black lady who made the donuts, letting me sneak in the back door for a gamut of free samples while I waited for what-was-her-name to get off work. The apple cinnamin filled from KK never fail to mentally take me through that back door again to this very day. Thanks, Bill, for promopting the memories! I know where I’ll be headed when I get off this afternoon….

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