Is Mom a Tim Hortons fan? Maybe a Timbits Bouquet for Mom's Day?

This is the first Mother's Day since Tim Hortons restaurant re-entered the Twin Cities market late last year. If Mom has become a fan, she might get a chuckle receiving a Timbits Bouquet ($8) on her big day, available Sunday at participating Tim Hortons restaurants.

Only the Minneapolis location (612-729-2108) at 3600 E. Lake St.is selling the bouquets in the Twin Cities. The donut holes on sticks, er, stems, are packaged in a lovely red gift box with a tasteful tissue wrap. They will only be available for sale on Sunday A limited number of 30-40 will be available at the Lake St. restaurant.

"We're so new to this market that we have no idea what kind of demand to expect," said Paul Durigon, chief executive of Restaurant Development Partners. The Lake Street restaurant opened in a former White Castle location last March.

The 24 Timbits (donut holes) in the bouquet include a variety of flavors such as Birthday Cake, Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate Glazed, Old Fashion Plain, Honey Dip and Apple Fritter.

Tim Hortons, Canada's popular all-day restaurant chain, has been aggressively expanding in Minnesota. Locations at the Mall of America and in Dinkytown opened last November to throngs of enthusiastic fans. By the end of the year, 17 Minnesota locations are expected, said Durigon.

A new location in Brooklyn Park on Xylon Ave. opened last week. Locations on Hwy. 13 in Savage, Rice Sreet in St. Paul and Bemidji will open by July, Durigon said.

Tim Hortons boasts more than 3,600 outlets in Canada and about 800 in the U.S.