Burgers

I recently read an inadvertently hilarious article in the New York Times business pages, a section that usually induces more sorrow than laughs.

The headline read,”A Visit to McDonald’s, Celebrity Chef in Tow”. The piece began by noting McDonald’s drop in sales for the last five consecutive quarters and Consumer Reports ranking its burgers the worst of 21 chains. Then the reporter and his invited lunch guest, a celebrity chef, visit a Manhattan McDonald’s to critique the situation. The article notes that the chef serves a burger and fries at his own restaurant for $22.00, supposedly making him an expert on burger matters.

After taking a bite from a quarter pounder, the chef delivers his verdict: “The food could be better”.

Who among us could not have written this assessment?

The super star chef goes on to give thumbs up to the fries and coffee. The fact that McDonald’s serves killer fries is not a revelation: it is common knowledge that the fries are killer good and that they will kill you if made a daily part of your diet.

McDonald’s coffee is not a thumbs up; it is not even half a little finger up. The truth is that their coffee ranges from passable in an emergency to so awful it is undrinkable. And unless you’re a refugee from the Good Ship Lollipop needing a serious sugar fix, avoid McDonald’s “lattes”.

I’ll conclude with the scariest line in the article. The esteemed chef states, “I can assure you that if they had a great story and a better company culture, the same burger would taste a lot better.”

No it wouldn’t. Sometimes even a great newspaper can serve up junk.

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4 thoughts on “Burgers”

  1. This reminds me of my dear sweet departed father in-law. He loved bacon & he was told it was bad for his health. He loved eggs and butter, and he was told it was bad for his health. He loved coffee with a lot of cream & sugar, and he was told it was bad for his health. When he was laying on his death bed with a lung disease he told me “now look at all of the good things I would have missed out on if I had listened to other people.” We rarely eat at McDonald’s however, I do love their french fry’s, McGriddle’s, nuggets, etc. True, if we ate there everyday our arteries might become sluggish like the plumbing in our old house, I’ve had my knees replaced, cataracts removed, tonsils & appendix removed, cancer & colon removed, and when I’m laying upon my death bed I can say “now look at all the good things I would have missed out on if I had listened to other people.” Somewhat silly, but true.

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  2. My mind tells me to agree with you, Mary, but my heart’s still hung up on the Big Mac and those great fries. And like Karen, I find myself ordering that ridiculously simple Fishwich over and over because my palate has it memorized, and I always know exactly what I’ll get. I’ve eaten at Five Guys and Red Robin and they’re good but a lot more expensive, and I’ve got to believe a Five Guys burger is a lot worse on the body than anything from McDonald’s. As for the yellow arches’ coffee, I agree: it’s horrible! Give me Dunkin’ Donuts anytime.

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  3. That was a very silly article! Now, when Phil and I are on the road, we opt for a 20 piece McNuggets, which we eat when driving. Better than coffee in keeping us awake. And after serious dental work, we head there for shakes. In our area, it is hard to buy shakes, so I have to admit, it gets our money in the middle of summer, too. McD’s has *great* bathrooms and their latest remodeled stores are right on! The one near us in Edgewater is now so cozy I like to go to it as a treat. Great decor! I also like their fish sandwiches. I usually buy 2, then put both filets on a single bun. …. after a season seeing programs like “kitchen disaster,” which showcases the dirtiest restaurants in the USA, we’ve come to appreciate McD’s corporate kitchen as we find it along freeways. We even ate at McD’s in HongKong along with thousands of Chinese! And in HongKong, their coffee is most excellent as is their cappuccino and French pastry!

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