Monday, March 12, 2007
Small, Hot Square and Healthy?
| Sometime, many months, someone asked me if Krystal made a Krystal on wheat bread. At the time I laughed, since the concept seemed too bizarre. However, as you have probably figured out, I seem to enjoy the bizarre. The idea stuck with me. I sadly have forgotten who it was that asked about the wheat krystal, but I believe it was Brian. Well almost 3 months ago, I happened to be walking through my local Kroger and noticed a package of 12 wheat dinner rolls. The thing is, they were square. My first thought was "Hey, Krystal sized!" I bought them immediately. Then I had to figure out how to make a wheat Krystal. I went with the simple obvious method. I bought a cheese Krystal, then extracted the burger from the regular bun and placed it on the wheat roll:  Krystal buns are steamed right on top of the meat and onions. They get the flavor cooked right in. My "bun transplant" was with "virgin buns." They had no real flavor other than wheat. I knew the only way to get a true Wheat Krystal was to somehow get it made from scratch. Sadly, I do not work at Krystal so I eventually let the idea go. Until 2 weeks ago. The Wednesday before I left for South Carolina I was up at Krystal talking to the super manager, Bernida. (Bernida happened to have recently won a regional store manager award, cause she's just that awesome!) I was showing Bernida my pictures of the food from the Brainerd Rd. Krystal in Chattanooga. She was quite excited by the Toaster sandwiches. While we were discussing the toast vs bun concept, I casually asked if it would be possible one day for me to bring in a pack of wheat rolls and get some Krystals on wheat. Bernida never skipped a beat. Not only did she like the idea, she said she'd thought about it herself. Apparently she was in Kroger one day and saw some small square wheat rolls and thought to herself "Hey, Krystal sized!" So plans were made for when I got back from my trip. Now I do love creating and sharing recipes with you here at Krystal Adventure, however this one may be one you cannot do on your own. You need to "have people" so to speak. Just another reason to get in tight with the folks who make your Krystals. Now I wish it was as easy as getting the rolls and going to Krystal. The problems started with getting the rolls. Last Monday I went to kroger to get the wheat rolls and was horrified to see they had none. I asked at the bakery section and the lady said they don't make them too often because they don't sell very well. She advised me to "call first thing in the morning" and they'd make me some. Now one person's "first thing in the morning" is another persons sleeping in time. Especially since I get up at 4-4:15am. So Tuesday after I got off work I went to Kroger to place an order in person. I felt like a tennis ball as the lady at the bakery counter told me to go to the deli, and the deli sent me back to the bakery. Being a computer programmer, I quickly identified the infinite loop, and did the equivalent "three finger salute" (control-alt-delete for you non-geeks). I went to the store manager. I held up a pack of white rolls and told the manager I wanted some but made with wheat. He walked with me to the bakery, and got the dough-ball rolling. It would be ready after 3 on Wednesday. So Wednesday, I hustle out of work and zoom over to Kroger, pick up my rolls and then return home. Krystal buns are pre-cut but the rolls are not. So I whip out my electric knife and get to work. (Chris knows of my trick using an electric knife to cut rolls.) I quickly cut the rolls in half, bagged them back up, and it was back on the road to Krystal.  As I pulled into Krystal, Bernida and hand full of other Krystal folks were outside. Half for a smoke break, the other half for a pow wow session. As I pulled in, Bernida saw me and smiled and waved like she always does. I casually picked up the bag of rolls and smiled and waved back. This drew a lot of odd looks and questions from everyone. Bernida and I explained our plans to make a whole wheat Krystal. And since I had 12 rolls, I told them I would be having 4 and they could all split the rest. So there was a mad dash back inside to get started. Sadly, I don't have a picture of everyone crowded around, but there were at least 8 people behind the counter watching.  Bernida stackin em up!  Chef boxing them up!  First of all the wheat bread had more texture to it. It's a bit more chewy than the regular bun. Second, there are a occasions while you are chewing that you get that hint of wheat bread flavor. It's not overwhelming like my first attempt, but it reminds you that it is there. All in all it was pretty darn good! If you can find a way to get yourself one, I say go for it! Bernida wanted to know if I would be passing the idea along to KHQ. Apparently the store gets lots of requests for wheat toast in the morning. Krystal doesn't currently have wheat toast. I wonder if Krystal could support wheat and white bread Krystals. Bernida thinks they can, at least as a short time novelty. As for me, I can mark that off my list of things I wish I could try. I never in a million years thought it would happen. But in hindsight, I guess when you have wants and needs that are a bit outside the norm, perhaps you can share your hopes and dreams with the manager. It worked for me at Kroger. It worked for me at Krystal. Who knows where it might work for you. If you try!  |
Labels: Cheese, Onions, Recipe
