How will this work out: new McDonalds mode in Italy

Most fast food places start with a "not bad" idea, and manage to screw it up with the heat lamps and the steam table. To get a fresh hamburger from McDonald's what you do is go into the store and tell them you have high blood pressure, and that you need salt-free burgers and fries (another trick is just to place a special order, such as a quarter pounder with cheese, onions only). Make sure you pick up some salt packets before you place your order. They salt the patties when they fry them, so if you order salt-free burgers, they have to fry you fresh ones as a special order. You also get fries fresh from the deep fry that way. If they are really busy, the "onions only" special order works just as well, because they'll be pumping out the burgers, and they'll use fresh ones to prepare your special order.

In my experience, a McDonald's burger is not bad if you get it fresh. The same thing applies to other fast food chain stores. Wendy's (which i would be surprised to learn is affiliated with Burger King) makes some of the best fries you can buy--if you get them fresh from the deep fryer. If they sit around even for a couple of minutes, they suck. Burger King used to offer all of their burgers "your way," when they stopped that, i stopped going there.

I still find EZ PASS- BK's that make a really good bacon double cheeseburger and you can get em with mayo and mater and onion slice.

I always liked their double cheese burger best, but i haven't ordered one in a coon's age. The no-salt trick works with them, too. The last time i ate at a Burger King was here in Trana, where you can get your fries "super sized" by ordering poutine.

Burger King did come up with a heart attack breakfast sammich--ham, sausage, bacon and cheese. I love those.

I like that "no salt" trick. Ill have to try it when I want it my way and really fresh.

ONE thing I fuckin hate is one of these suprehiway mega restaurant "malls" where they have like 9 different franchises, most of which couldnt give a **** about what their food tastes like. Roy Rogers used to be one of the worst on the NJ turnpike. They would put out these wrapped hunks of fried chicken that are undoubtedly made fresh last week.

SBarros sucks too. Dont even talk to me about Subway, their entire restaurants are one big yeast infection.

I like the BKs breakfast smmich on a buttery croissant. I dont like bisquit breakfasses, especially if Im driving. The bisquit always gets stuck in my throat and can cause choking at 75 mph, that could be a problem if your eyes begin to water as youre coughing.

There was a Sbarros in the city center mall in Columbus. The only exposure i'd ever had to them. Yeah, it sucked the big one. What was amazing is that the place was always packed. I only ever ate there when i was with someone who wanted to eat there. So much for "Italian" food. It cracks me up when You're-a-peein's whine about American food. There is not a national cuisine on earth that can't be totally f*cked up, and i've had the worst of every nation's offerings.

Ive eaten sushi AT Camden yard (Orioles park) and it was really great.

THIS has become a "ROAD FOOD" digression osso, I think Set and I probably drive alot in our work.

all of them, generally with fried chips and grilled vegetables.... And hamburghers, beer, hot dogs, but with better quality then McDonalds'

There was a grocery store chain (i sh*t you not) in Canadia, T & T's which was Chinese, and has now been bought out the by Canajun grocery store giant Loblaws. They had not just a deli and bakery, but a dim sum counter and a sushi counter. Fantastic food, low, low prices, and a long line up. Completely worth the wait.

Glad to get Raphillon's take! I'll back off as long as they don't just take over local food. Still musing about the potential for more factory farm stuff, I don't know how much of that may already be in place there.

Road food - I always used to turn at the town of Hollister and go two miles over to San Juan Battista, home of the Mission Cafe - my number one spot for good biscuits and good gravy, eggs done as you like, country potatoes, good bacon, good coffee. Highlight of the california drive...
In the Eureka/Arcata area I liked stopping at Tomo's deli: gyogi, sushi, handrolls, all great. Going to san francisco, I liked stopping at Healdburg's Oakville grocery deli for a mediterranean chicken sammich.
But none of those were drive-throughs..
On chains, the fish burger at BK; I can live through going to IHop if I order an omelette.

Oh, farmerman, digression always welcome on my threads..

I noticed that, too.

But I've also noticed - since we stayed there - that in the university district (San Lorenzo) not only small pizzerias but any other (Italian) restaurant is what is elsewhere in such an environment is a 'burger shop'.

I have a video game from a German company, produced by an Austrian company--Anno 1503. In the pirate havens, the busiest shop is the one with the word "Hamburgers" emblazoned over the door.

I don't recall noticing too many restaurants other than Italian when I was in Italy. They were certainly not as common as here.

I was prompted to go and find out where Strove was, after seeing Osso's pics. Sheesh - not far from where we were staying - and I missed it. We wandered about several towns around there, though.

I had a burger and fries at McDonalds today.

Go to jiffy lube, didja?

Strove is a couple of miles from Monteriggioni. I was crazy about that area, as you know.

On restaurants, I figure Milan would be the most cosmopolitan italian city - but I haven't spent much time there.

I never did spend much time in malls in italy; that could account for some perception differences.

Yeah - got to Monteriggioni - some interesting town, but Strove...maybe next time!

Just went to McDonald and ate a McItaly... Not bad. The big problem with McDonald is bread, for me and there is asiago, ok but such a thin slice that you can't even taste it... The rest is actually good, hamburgher, insalata and "pasta di carciofi" (I don'k know how to say that in English, sorry) which gives a particular taste to everything...

Well, it's ok, I guess, but the highlight of the afternoon remains the visit to palazzo venezia and "Il potere e la grazia" (Power and grace). My personal thanks to louvre museum for lending us Leonardo's "San Giovanni Battista", just wonderful, took my breath away for about 15 minuits...