McD's- A contrarian view
Oct 29th, 2007, 09:14 AM
#42
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Not to change the target of your ire, but we found Starbucks in Paris to be a godsend. There was one close to the bus stop near our apartment and, when we missed our bus, we had a choice of getting a tiny cup in a local cafe, and missing yet another bus while we waited and waited, or grabbing a huge cup of really good coffee at Starbucks.
The "coffee to go" concept seems to be catching on in France, as we saw lots of local folks contentedly sipping from a Starbucks insulated cup on buses and the Metro.
We didn't do Micky D's while in Paris, but that was only because we found that when we were in a hurry any Traiteur would put together the most wonderful sandwiches on a baguette for much less than one would pay in a Subway.
The "coffee to go" concept seems to be catching on in France, as we saw lots of local folks contentedly sipping from a Starbucks insulated cup on buses and the Metro.
We didn't do Micky D's while in Paris, but that was only because we found that when we were in a hurry any Traiteur would put together the most wonderful sandwiches on a baguette for much less than one would pay in a Subway.
Oct 29th, 2007, 09:21 AM
#43
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"Cooked to the French taste"? What the F?
McDonalds french fries have sugar on them. High fructose corn syrup, to be precise. That's the crispy coating on the outside. That's why they taste good -- sugar cooked in fat and then covered in salt goes immediately to the "yum" center of your lizard brain.
But they'll burn your tongue off if you eat too many of them, and you'll never taste anything again.
Same goes with the burger -- it's packed with HFCS. The bun is actually sweet to the taste, and the meat is pumped full of corn sweetness. Sugar, fat and salt, these are primary tastes. Kids love 'em.
Grownups have usually developed more discriminating palates, though. It's certainly possible to find worse food than McDonalds in Ireland or anywhere else, but why would you want to?
McDonalds french fries have sugar on them. High fructose corn syrup, to be precise. That's the crispy coating on the outside. That's why they taste good -- sugar cooked in fat and then covered in salt goes immediately to the "yum" center of your lizard brain.
But they'll burn your tongue off if you eat too many of them, and you'll never taste anything again.
Same goes with the burger -- it's packed with HFCS. The bun is actually sweet to the taste, and the meat is pumped full of corn sweetness. Sugar, fat and salt, these are primary tastes. Kids love 'em.
Grownups have usually developed more discriminating palates, though. It's certainly possible to find worse food than McDonalds in Ireland or anywhere else, but why would you want to?
Oct 29th, 2007, 09:46 AM
#44
According to McDonald's France, the average urban dweller in France goes to McDonald's about once a month. Naturally there are plenty of people who eat there 20 times a month, but once you average it out with the people who would never set foot there, it comes to one visit per month.
Meanwhile, they have just introduced carrot and corn croquettes as an alternative to french fries, for health reasons. I highly recommend a trip to a French McDonald's from time to time, because it is the laboratory for innovation for the entire chain -- McDonald's salads were invented in France, for example.
Throughout the year, the menu continually changes with things like Roquefort burgers, Moroccan burgers, curry burgers, etc. Every now and then, they come up with a winner.
The French CEO of McDonald's France became the CEO of McDonald's Europe a few years ago, and apparently he is slated to become the worldwide CEO soon. After all, McDonald's France is the most profitable branch of McDonald's in the world.
Meanwhile, they have just introduced carrot and corn croquettes as an alternative to french fries, for health reasons. I highly recommend a trip to a French McDonald's from time to time, because it is the laboratory for innovation for the entire chain -- McDonald's salads were invented in France, for example.
Throughout the year, the menu continually changes with things like Roquefort burgers, Moroccan burgers, curry burgers, etc. Every now and then, they come up with a winner.
The French CEO of McDonald's France became the CEO of McDonald's Europe a few years ago, and apparently he is slated to become the worldwide CEO soon. After all, McDonald's France is the most profitable branch of McDonald's in the world.
Oct 29th, 2007, 09:55 AM
#45
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<According to McDonald's France, the average urban dweller in France goes to McDonald's about once a month>
<After all, McDonald's France is the most profitable branch of McDonald's in the world>
so i guess the 1 in 20 figure is the highest in the world, meaning French patronize Mac Donalds in world record numbers
And if my French middle class inlaws are any gauge the French go to other restaurants even much less
<After all, McDonald's France is the most profitable branch of McDonald's in the world>
so i guess the 1 in 20 figure is the highest in the world, meaning French patronize Mac Donalds in world record numbers
And if my French middle class inlaws are any gauge the French go to other restaurants even much less
Oct 29th, 2007, 09:59 AM
#46
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Lots of interesting opinions reading this thread.
However unsure why PQ says, "McD yukkie food whereas it is healthier by far than the usual fish and chip shop serves up"
Fish not as healthy as hamburg with "special sauce" (mayo), ketchup, etc?
Thin cut fries (McD) at 15% fat compared to thick cut (chish and fips) at 7%
Probably fried is marginally better than deep fried
No white bread bun with fish and chips
However unsure why PQ says, "McD yukkie food whereas it is healthier by far than the usual fish and chip shop serves up"
Fish not as healthy as hamburg with "special sauce" (mayo), ketchup, etc?
Thin cut fries (McD) at 15% fat compared to thick cut (chish and fips) at 7%
Probably fried is marginally better than deep fried
No white bread bun with fish and chips
Oct 29th, 2007, 10:30 AM
#48
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kirbyks wrote: "Well, what's your strategy [for picking restaurants]? My Irish friends would like to know also."
Avoid:
- places where is food is cooked before you arrive;
- places where the menu reveals a lack of ambition;
- places with lots of plastic, especially brightly-coloured plastic;
- places with lots of schoolkids;
- franchise operations.
Seek advice from other people whose opinions you trust. Read restaurant critics' reports. Use trusted guidebooks. When you enter a place, look and see what other people have on their plates (especially important in judging pub food, which is highly-variable in quality).
Etc.
Avoid:
- places where is food is cooked before you arrive;
- places where the menu reveals a lack of ambition;
- places with lots of plastic, especially brightly-coloured plastic;
- places with lots of schoolkids;
- franchise operations.
Seek advice from other people whose opinions you trust. Read restaurant critics' reports. Use trusted guidebooks. When you enter a place, look and see what other people have on their plates (especially important in judging pub food, which is highly-variable in quality).
Etc.
Oct 29th, 2007, 10:32 AM
#49
PalenQ, your statement makes no sense since I only referred to urban dwellers and your idea of 'profitable' does not take into consideration what the average customer orders and how much it costs.
In the US, I have seen those McDonald's deals 'Cheeseburgers 29c - limit 20 per customer' -- because college students buy them and stick them in the freezer. Selling for a loss just to get customers does not create profit. McDonald's France invents new and not necessarily cheap products to entice the clientele.
In the US, I have seen those McDonald's deals 'Cheeseburgers 29c - limit 20 per customer' -- because college students buy them and stick them in the freezer. Selling for a loss just to get customers does not create profit. McDonald's France invents new and not necessarily cheap products to entice the clientele.
Oct 29th, 2007, 11:21 AM
#50
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I eat at McDonald's when on business abroad because I don't like to travel and I don't like to eat weird foods. I just eat when I'm hungry, and the most efficient way to do that is at McDonald's. It is predictable, fast, and cheap.
Oct 29th, 2007, 12:42 PM
#51
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AnthonyGA wrote "I eat at McDonald's when on business abroad..."
Your palate, your stomach, your choice. I don't have a problem with that.
Good choice of verb: eat. When I'm out, I think of dining: it's a different thing, involving expectations of enjoying the experience as well as keeping the body going.
Your palate, your stomach, your choice. I don't have a problem with that.
Good choice of verb: eat. When I'm out, I think of dining: it's a different thing, involving expectations of enjoying the experience as well as keeping the body going.
Oct 29th, 2007, 12:47 PM
#52
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and who's to say one can't 'enjoy' the McDonald's experience - think more than Big Macs too - like Kerouac says lots of local specialties
go to the Rome McDs by Spanish Steps and the fare is so Italian in addition to the burgers, which most Italians however order.
I can enjoy dining at McDonalds as much as at a ***-Michelin restaurant - hard as it can be to for other more effete culinary tastes can imagine. In Paris it's a joy to sit by the large windows in a smoke-free environ and watch the passing show - bellied up to other sidewalk cafes of the more traditional type.
go to the Rome McDs by Spanish Steps and the fare is so Italian in addition to the burgers, which most Italians however order.
I can enjoy dining at McDonalds as much as at a ***-Michelin restaurant - hard as it can be to for other more effete culinary tastes can imagine. In Paris it's a joy to sit by the large windows in a smoke-free environ and watch the passing show - bellied up to other sidewalk cafes of the more traditional type.
Oct 29th, 2007, 12:54 PM
#53
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My teens tried McD's in Europe once and were disgusted...they said it was nasty. (And they liked it at home.)
We found lots of wonderful meals in Ireland.
Your colleagues need to eat at better restaurants! They must be eating in tourist traps.
In Europe it's easy to see where the locals are eating...just listen to the accents. Our favorite restaurants in Ireland were in towns that don't even have a McD's. Restaurants full of locals. And great food.
We found lots of wonderful meals in Ireland.
Your colleagues need to eat at better restaurants! They must be eating in tourist traps.
In Europe it's easy to see where the locals are eating...just listen to the accents. Our favorite restaurants in Ireland were in towns that don't even have a McD's. Restaurants full of locals. And great food.
Oct 29th, 2007, 01:41 PM
#54
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You know, the most interesting thing always about Mickey D's is how it 1. adapts to the regional tastes/local cuisine within the US and 2. adapts to the local food culture of the country it is in.
Why, I just learned over in the Lounge very recently that up Maine way, MickeyD apparently serves BETTER LOBSTER ROLLS THAN SOME OF THE LOCAL LOBSTER PLACES AROUND! Talk about knocking me over with a feather! Next time I'm up that way I absolutely DO want to try one of those, I mean, who knew? McD's? Lobster rolls?
And in Hawaii, for breakfast, as is custom, eggs and rice, char siu, (Chinese pork buns), various and sundry other quite good Asian items have always been on the menu.
Now in Austria, I went to MickeyD's for mineral water, and it was, no lie, set up like a cool jazz lounge with the "McDonald's channel" playing on the flat screen TVs-jazz music, and DIFFERENT, waaay different McD's commercials, European, flirty-very cute-NOTHING CHILD ORIENTED WHATSOEVER! There was also info. that they used 100% Austrian beef and other products for their food, etc.-I found it quite interesting, actually, and pleasant to spend a half hour in, -the Vienna McD's was filled with locals because McDs stays open much later than even the local fast food joints (other than the outdoor kebab stands).
And in Japan, McD's is so much a part of the culture there that a survey once found that the majority of Japanese believed it to be a Japanese owned enterprise!
But it is in Rome, Italy, where McD's scores big. One need only look at the LOCATION LOCATION of McD's in Rome-and how could they not be? Smack dab there in in the Piazza del Pantheon, also Trastevere-how they snagged those locations in Rome I don't know, but McD's there is always a low cost alternative for the tourists from around the world and the kids who are with them-someplace the tourists instantly know, where the quality is consistent, and where they can get a break from the local cuisine in favor of what McD's does best: good old burgers and fries-the McD staple.
As for me, I don't eat meat, and I rarely go in a McD's but I do understand that in some places you can get veggie burgers (why in every McD's I don't know) and once in Cairo several years ago, I went in to get a vanilla milkshake-I still remember it-I hadn't had a milkshake that tasted that good and rich in a long time.
There's no question that the locals frequent McD's in Europe, but to a lesser degree than the tourists I'd say (European snobbery about their food culture, coupled with an anti-American statement) however, in OTHER parts of the world, particularly Asia and the ME, McD's is as much a part of the food scene as the local cuisine, and totally accepted as such!
Why, I just learned over in the Lounge very recently that up Maine way, MickeyD apparently serves BETTER LOBSTER ROLLS THAN SOME OF THE LOCAL LOBSTER PLACES AROUND! Talk about knocking me over with a feather! Next time I'm up that way I absolutely DO want to try one of those, I mean, who knew? McD's? Lobster rolls?
And in Hawaii, for breakfast, as is custom, eggs and rice, char siu, (Chinese pork buns), various and sundry other quite good Asian items have always been on the menu.
Now in Austria, I went to MickeyD's for mineral water, and it was, no lie, set up like a cool jazz lounge with the "McDonald's channel" playing on the flat screen TVs-jazz music, and DIFFERENT, waaay different McD's commercials, European, flirty-very cute-NOTHING CHILD ORIENTED WHATSOEVER! There was also info. that they used 100% Austrian beef and other products for their food, etc.-I found it quite interesting, actually, and pleasant to spend a half hour in, -the Vienna McD's was filled with locals because McDs stays open much later than even the local fast food joints (other than the outdoor kebab stands).
And in Japan, McD's is so much a part of the culture there that a survey once found that the majority of Japanese believed it to be a Japanese owned enterprise!
But it is in Rome, Italy, where McD's scores big. One need only look at the LOCATION LOCATION of McD's in Rome-and how could they not be? Smack dab there in in the Piazza del Pantheon, also Trastevere-how they snagged those locations in Rome I don't know, but McD's there is always a low cost alternative for the tourists from around the world and the kids who are with them-someplace the tourists instantly know, where the quality is consistent, and where they can get a break from the local cuisine in favor of what McD's does best: good old burgers and fries-the McD staple.
As for me, I don't eat meat, and I rarely go in a McD's but I do understand that in some places you can get veggie burgers (why in every McD's I don't know) and once in Cairo several years ago, I went in to get a vanilla milkshake-I still remember it-I hadn't had a milkshake that tasted that good and rich in a long time.
There's no question that the locals frequent McD's in Europe, but to a lesser degree than the tourists I'd say (European snobbery about their food culture, coupled with an anti-American statement) however, in OTHER parts of the world, particularly Asia and the ME, McD's is as much a part of the food scene as the local cuisine, and totally accepted as such!
Oct 29th, 2007, 02:54 PM
#55
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In Dublin a couple of years ago, we had wonderful food in a little restaurant upstairs above a bar. We kind of stumbled upon it because we saw a little sign and started looking for the restaurant. I can't remember the name of it, but we will be in Dublin again in a few weeks, we will go back and I will post it for travelers to Ireland.
As for McD's. There is an organization that now rates businesses for their efforts to help the environment - the Go Green concept. Ratings are 0 - 100. McD's scored in the 40s. While that doesn't sound good, Burger King and Wendy's scored 0.
McD's also has more franchise owners who rose from the ranks than other fast food chains, a program for helping employees get college degrees and a special program for employing handicaped people.
While I am not a fast food fan and my two or three times a year won't make much difference, those ratings and thinking they might treat their employees a bit better, make me inclined to patronize McD's over others if I should want a quick burger.
I am not associated with McD's in any way - don't even know anyone who works for McD's. I learned about the green ratings from a PBS program and the other things from an some article I read a while back.
As for McD's. There is an organization that now rates businesses for their efforts to help the environment - the Go Green concept. Ratings are 0 - 100. McD's scored in the 40s. While that doesn't sound good, Burger King and Wendy's scored 0.
McD's also has more franchise owners who rose from the ranks than other fast food chains, a program for helping employees get college degrees and a special program for employing handicaped people.
While I am not a fast food fan and my two or three times a year won't make much difference, those ratings and thinking they might treat their employees a bit better, make me inclined to patronize McD's over others if I should want a quick burger.
I am not associated with McD's in any way - don't even know anyone who works for McD's. I learned about the green ratings from a PBS program and the other things from an some article I read a while back.
Oct 29th, 2007, 03:27 PM
#56
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I don't think people need to justify eating at McDonalds, it is just a quick meal. Not every meal in your life or on your vacation has to be gourmet in my opinion. Just grab a quick snack at McD's and be on your sightseeing way!
Oct 29th, 2007, 04:02 PM
#57
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SeaUrchin: I totally agree!
I can use days to plan where to eat dinner on my travels, but I also stop at McD to grab a bite. Why would I not? It is cheep, efficient and some of the food is rather healthy these days. Even the coffee is rather good I think, when I am on the run and need a coffein fix.
I can use days to plan where to eat dinner on my travels, but I also stop at McD to grab a bite. Why would I not? It is cheep, efficient and some of the food is rather healthy these days. Even the coffee is rather good I think, when I am on the run and need a coffein fix.
Oct 29th, 2007, 04:07 PM
#58
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Thank goodness for that <b>e</b> there, Loveling, for you almost wrote getting a <b>coffin</b> fix from McDonalds!! You surely don't want a coffin fix, do you
Seriously, while putting a disclaimer first that I DO eat at McD roughly once a month, any of you ever read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan?
Seriously, while putting a disclaimer first that I DO eat at McD roughly once a month, any of you ever read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan?
Oct 29th, 2007, 05:52 PM
#60
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We were in Ireland in September and found uniformly good food there. Not every meal was great, but some were excellent.
One of the outstanding places was the Westport Inn bar. We had a couple of meals there. Deee-licious! I'd say that most of the meals we had were very good.
One of the outstanding places was the Westport Inn bar. We had a couple of meals there. Deee-licious! I'd say that most of the meals we had were very good.
