Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Actually, I did pop in there this morning. Some dodgy savouries, some sickly sweet bakeries (circa 1960) and, surprising, a chilled shelf of Pret style baguettes. Perhaps someone for everyone. Moved on to a new tea room and had a very nice Chai of some sort (£3.25).

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Because there is no dedicated donut thread...
One of Germany’s richest families, whose company owns a controlling interest in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Panera Bread, Pret a Manger and other well-known businesses, plans to donate millions to charity after learning about their ancestors’ enthusiastic support of Adolf Hitler and use of forced labourers under the Nazis, according to a report Sunday.
https://globalnews.ca/news/5096397/k...eme-nazi-past/

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

For me, it's the hot stuff.
No shortage of fast food, Tacos, wraps, pizza slices, sandwiches and all the supermarkets have their hot food areas for 'meals' and I can pop over to the hospital where a Lebanese/Indian take-out place (that operates three miles from me) has a stall selling samosas that are still hot for lunch when I get back home.

But sausage rolls, steak bakes, chicken bakes, cheese pasties, steak and kidney pies, chicken and mushroom pies, cheese bakes, philly steak bake, bacon and cheese bake and all the rest...I can't believe they wouldn't be popular for people nipping out of the office to get something to snack on at lunch time.

It seems the only way you can get anything resembling these things is to make your own, buy frozen or get in your car and go to a specialist place that might have one or two hot pastry items instead of a shop full. Unless, of course, you just happen to work near such a place.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

I do like samosas. I think in recent years I have gone off shortcrust pastry (which for the waistline is no bad thing).

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Costa is the best without a shadow..best food selection also..actually coffee shop food selection in Canada is sheet

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

That's because you go to coffee shops, especially the chain ones.

Independent coffee shops often have better baked goods because they buy from independent bakers, not the chain-designed and pre-baked. Many of them then ask their regular customers to report back on new products! Plus they often make their own sandwiches, paninis, etc ........ and will often make them to order whenever possible.

But you really should go to Coffee Shop AND Bakery, or Bakery AND Coffee Shop ................. they have the baked goods you might desire.

I've had delicious Cornish Pasties, meat pies, sandwiches, sweet pastries at such places ................ The Other Paw Bakery and Coffee Shop in Jasper was one.

Also look for independent doughnut bakeries ........... they are much better than any of the chains you've all named. The chains pre-make their food in a central place, then deliver them to the franchisee stores, where they are either baked or re-heated.

Tim Horton's does that with their doughnuts and fritters, part of an on-going battle with franchisees and management, especially in Ontario. Some Timmies had started making sandwiches to order as a trial back in ca 2015........... I don't know whether that has continued.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

So far the best coffee outside of home I've had in Vancouver is Cafe Artigiano. Waves is alright followed by Tim Hortons. Starbucks I find is too bitter. I've had Costa coffee in Vancouver from automatic machines in gas stations. It's not bad either and tastes the same as in the UK. Some of the cafes on Commercial have good coffee.

In the UK I never went much to Greggs much except to buy pastry occasionally. I remember these foamy white coffees that were mostly milk and were common in independent coffee shops in London - bit bland.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Cappuccinos or lattes?

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It was called 'white coffee' and it was mostly milk with a dash of coffee.

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It's only superior if they have shops selling hot pies and pasties over here. :)

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Ah! I now see the error of my ways :o. Bird's is based around Derbyshire/Staffs and Notts. I'm rather partial to their Elephant's Foot, which is basically a giant profiterole. I'm not one for pies and sausage rolls, though I do love a good Cornish pasty. I had no idea that Gregg's were in Canada too. I do remember enjoying a sausage butty from Gregg's when I was working at an hotel in St Helens back in 1983.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Greggs is disgusting. Horrible chavvy chain food. In that respect it is a perfect equivalent to Tim Hortons even though they do different types of food. It's basically eating for morons.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Tell us how you really feel about Greggs :eek:

Go to any Tim Horton's in Canada on the edge of a town and you'll be sure to find 'folks' who rail against the 'guvnmnt' and read the local version of the 'Sun' all the while drinking beige water.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Does Greggs promote littering? Pollution? Obesity? Swerving all over the road?

I would say these are the key brand identifiers for Tim Hortons. If Greggs constrains itself to poisoning its customers then it is a better corporate citizen than Tim Hortons.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Obesity? Greggs' causes pedestrian chaos due to the multitude of mobility scooters dumped on the pavement outside every shop.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

They're not. There's nothing like it combined with the easy availability - popping out from work at lunchtime.

I meant that Greggs could only be superior to anything similar in the UK if they also had shops in Canada and the "anything similar" didn't. Or vice versa :lol:

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

While I admit they're deliciously chavvy, they fed me (mainly chips) almost every lunchtime in secondary school.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Cheap Pies and Packaged sandwiches at a price you never see for anything in Toronto!

The cheapest lunch options here are Subway and Tim Hortons.

I have an affinity with Greggs in the same way I did for the good independent sandwich shop one would find in the UK when I was a travelling Salesman.

Maybe things have changed! When I lived in England I missed Hooters and sweet potato fries. You can find the latter no problem nowadays.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

That is a latte!

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Aren't they two different types of places? Bit of overlap but I don't see the two as similar. I like Tim's for breakfast bagels and their dark roast is ok. Greggs was great for pasties etc. and coffee had improved. Both are horrible for the sweets though... waaaay too much sugar, but I would go Greggs on this as well if pushed.

Once Tims do a sausage roll or a corned beef pastie, we can compare better.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

I was not happy to see either of the two in Norn Iron. Give me a local bakery any day of the week.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Absolutely. That's the main thing that struck me when I read it.

But they are arguably icons for each country though. Tim Hortons definitely is for Canada and while Greggs (in name) may not be as British as TH is Canadian, it's because there are others - like those mentioned. I've been racking my brains trying to remember the name of a similar place by Bristol Bus Station many years ago and it just came to me. Devon Savouries. There were other branches too.

For this it's the idea of readily available pasties and pies (even if called a steak bake ;)) be it a specialist shop or just sold in a regular baker's shop, pub or chip shop just as a Timm Hortons is found almost in any direction you look in. :lol:

Or a steak bake, chicken bake, bacon and cheese bake, cheese and onion bake cheese pasty, beef and veg pasty.....
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...bf52659fa2.png

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

I lived in Geordieland for 15 odd years so it is certainly an icon up there.

I could murder a nice sausage roll right now.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Us posh UK southerners go to Starbucks for coffee.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Just gave my ears a blasting

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

I can't even remember if there was a Greggs in Chorley in 1988 before I left. Lots of local pie shops though as it is only about 9 miles from the pie capital of the world Wigan and its famous pier. Over 30 years since I have walked into a chippy and ordered a Hollands steak pudding and chips and mushy peas or devoured a butter pie or proper steak and kidney/ meat and potato pie.
I did find the potato and bacon soup at Timmies OK at first but it now seems to be watered down somewhat as it used to be. There are much better places serving coffee than Tims and for baked sweet treats I prefer the local outlets.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Tim Hortons Fruit Explosion muffins saw me through the day on hospital visiting a few years ago. But I recently discovered some great muffins at Sobeys, including a greek yogurt berry thing which was heavenly.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Very into Greek yogurt lately. Usually that Total brand which is now called Fage. It's very, very morish.

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Before Greggs came to Gloucestershire i used to regularly go to the Little Chef for the all day breakfast, was excellent.
Home | Little Chef

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Little Chef. Excellent. Didn't expect to see those two words on the same sentence.

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OOOO CHEESE AND ONION PASTIES - NOM NOM NOM NOM......

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No franchises where I live - just individual cafes and coffee shops, all run in a unique way !

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Ooh, that's a bit too close for comfort.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Ooh...I used to love the Mapleen Syrup Pancakes when I was a kid. My dad's name is Geoff and he's only 5' 8" so they were known as Little Geoffs to us! He would always stop off at one wherever we went.

In St Helens the best bakery for pastry goods was Pimblett's. Known locally as Pimmy's pies.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

Starbucks doesn't do very well in NZ as coffee making is classed as both an art and science here. Loads of independent cafés that make much better coffee than Starbucks.

Re: Greggs or Tim Hortons?
 

I've heard that. How long has the 'coffee culture' been going strong down there?