Jingsamichty

I've eaten from Tim Horton's, of course I have. It's a fast-food shop, no issues there... it's the national veneration of that fast-food shop that irritates me.

The UK likes it's fish and chips, for example, but it doesn't venerate a particular brand of fish and chip vendor.

BristolUK

I have no problem with Tim Hortons. The one coffee I had from there was very nice.

Their donuts are better than Dunkin Donuts (which aren't here) but Superstore's are better.

What I do find odd is the number of people buying a coffee to drink upon arrival at work (and arrival at home) when they could surely make a nice cup at work (or home) for a fraction of the cost and without risk of burning by steam or liquid.

Auld Yin

Unlike many on this site I choose to not expose my private life to all and sundry.
Suffice to say "they" won't need to hold a flag day fo me.

Souvy

There are numerous MD's and Timmies close to me. I never go into them. We use ones at truck stops because they have bogs. I do not partake of the produce.

My missus recently bought a can of TH coffee, instead of our usual Van Houtte French blend. She wanted to see if I noticed. After the first sip, I asked if the milk had gone off. The coffee was undrinkable.

Shard

+1

It's only coffee, there are plenty worse and some better. The fact that a Canadian fast food chain can compete in scale with the big American chains is something positive, surely.

Jingsamichty

Positive? Are you nuts?!

"Woo-hoo, we've got our very own chain to pump our people full of fat, sugar and HFCS! And we've convinced them that it's almost their patriotic duty to get diabetes! But at least it's Canadian diabetes! Aren't we great?!"

Oink

Because the narrative of TH represents a wider manifestation of cultural mediocrity and that a society would so intimately identify and internalize such characterless dross as a symbol and representation of Canadian identity is puzzling.

Shard

Well, it is fast food, and budget fast food at that. You have to consider it in context. As with any fast food menu, there are (somewhat) healthy choices too. But I would concede that Britain has done much better with Pret a Manger.

Shard

It's all in the advertising, innit.

PeterF

and the queue up in a 40 car line, often out into the road, for the privilege.

Oink

No wonder Canadians are fat.

Almost Canadian

Are there any national fish and chip vendors? I can't think of any.

I understand all that you are saying. I just don't understand the obsession with this particular coffee or another. I assume people drink what they like and I am happy for them to do so.

Auld Yin

Ditto for UK soccer.

dbd33

Football doesn't define the UK and it's not synonymous with the UK. Morris dancing might be a better comparand, something specifically British that leaves the rest of the world nonplussed.

Novocastrian

I once spat out a ham and swiss sandwich with honey and mustard dressing. On another occasion I sipped at a TH "coffee" at a meeting and then had to go home.

I've owned up before that in the past the OH had a liking for an Iced Capp when on a longish drive in the heat of summer. I've sipped that too without ill-effect.