Would you eat in a McDonald's vegetarian restaurant? {debate}

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/06/mcdonalds-vegetarian-restaurant


McDonald's has announced it is to open vegetarian-only restaurants in India. Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

McDon't do it

As a lifelong vegetarian and as an Indian living in Bangalore, I have been eating cheap fast food all my life. But not the skanky plastic garbage peddled by Maccy D's, KFC and their ilk. Instead, I might have a crisp, lightly browned dosa (rice and lentil crepe) with coconut chutney for breakfast, pav bhaji (bread rolls with a buttery vegetable hash) for lunch and chaat (a spicy mix of potatoes, yoghurt, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and crispy bits) for a snack. Usually, these will cost me about Rs 50 (about 50p), less than a McDonald's veggie burger, which goes for Rs 59. They will be healthier, tastier, fresher.

The recent announcement by McDonald's that it is launching a veggie restaurant in India had me bellowing "What fresh hell is this?" It's the culinary equivalent of selling ice to Inuits. Inuits may not have more than a hundred words for snow – apparently it's an urban myth – but I can assure you that Indians have many more than a hundred varieties of veggie fast food, not just a plain one-size-fits-all potato patty.

***SNIP

I'm lovin' it


There are few more powerful symbols than the Golden Arches. For me, they represent at once the homogenising influence of market forces, the evil of industrialised agriculture, the obesity crisis. And the last time I was truly happy.

McDonald's, from the first time I crossed its air-conditioned threshold, has offered a place of sanctuary and calm. The smell of whatever-that-smell-is wafting through the air and the happy children, joyous with additives swirling around their blood streams. This is where I've had my best thoughts, my most cherished memories. This is where I can truly be me.

[cali]

1. No. I don't eat at McDonalds because I don't support the fast food franchise

version of "food".

[nopedontlikeitatall]

7. Yup is ClownBurger really food?

IF and that is a big IF, I am on the road and have to go to the bathroom, clown burger is usually handy place to stop for a fast wizz and because I am not a total scum who just rolls in uses the bathroom and goes, I at least buy something to drink. Ohter then that I avoid the place

[iralarry]

14. Don't support FF franchises either.

In addition, I don't patronize chain restaurants either. The authors point about homogenization synchs but I admit wanting to revisit PF Changs occasionally.

[longship]

2. Nope. Not a vegetarian

Anyway, every time
I eat falafel,
I feel awful.

[xchrom]

3. i'm not a vegetarian -- but i do love falafel.

i've also discovered -- it seems to be hard to get a good falafel.

[nopedontlikeitatall]

8. So true yet when you do find the good one, you are loyal to it.

at least I am.

[iralarry]

15. Here is a great and consistent Flafal eats...

267 Columbus Ave
New York‎ NY
United States
Sido
Will be no regrets.

[xchrom]

17. thanks for that! -- here's a good recipe

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/recipe-of-the-day-falafel/


Recipe of the Day: Falafel
By MARK BITTMAN


Falafel
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Time 1 hour, plus 24 hours

Patrick Farrell/The New York Times
First, keep the amount of water you use when grinding the beans to an absolute minimum. More water makes grinding easier, but it also virtually guarantees that the batter will fall apart when it hits the hot oil. If this happens, bind the remaining mixture by stirring in a little flour.

The second essential step is to get the oil hot enough: 350 degrees or a little higher. If you don\'t have a thermometer, just wait until the oil shimmers and then add a pinch of the batter. When it sizzles immediately, sinks about halfway to the bottom, then rises to the top, the oil is ready. If it sinks and stays down, the oil is too cold; if it doesn\'t sink at all, the oil is too hot.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cup dried chickpeas
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 small onion, quartered
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
Scant teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
1 cup chopped parsley or cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn, for frying
Method
1. Put the beans in a large bowl and cover with water by 3 or 4 inches; they will triple in volume. Soak for 24 hours, adding water if needed to keep beans submerged.
2. Drain beans well (reserve soaking water) and transfer to a food processor. Add remaining ingredients except oil; pulse until minced but not pureed, scraping sides of bowl down; add soaking water if necessary to allow machine to do its work, but no more than 1 or 2 tablespoons. Keep pulsing until mixture comes together. Taste, adding salt, pepper, cayenne or lemon juice to taste.
3. Put the oil in a large, deep saucepan to a depth of at least 2 inches; more is better. The narrower the saucepan the less oil you need, but the more oil you use the more patties you can cook at a time. Turn heat to medium-high and heat oil to about 350 degrees (a pinch of batter will sizzle immediately).
4. Scoop heaping tablespoons of batter and shape into balls or small patties. Fry in batches, without crowding, until nicely browned, turning as necessary; total cooking time will be less than 5 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

[Nedsdag]

43. Falafel fan here as well.

They sell them at the cafeteria where I work.

Very filling.

One time, McDonalds sold a burger made out of seaweed which wasn't bad, but it was only for a limited time.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. Probably not.

If their vegetarian food is of the same quality as their regular items, I'm sure it's McNasty as hell.

[xchrom]

5. i think it's mcdonalds -- israel has a kosher franchise there

rumour has it it's pretty good -- and i think india mcdonalds have been serving vegetarian dishes along side there other menu items.

***that being said -- i still don't want to eat in a corporate chain like that -- it just diminishes all of us some how.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. I'll try anything once - Well almost anything - except incest and folk dancing

[Bluerthanblue]

27. clogging is fun-

[DontTreadOnMe]

9. McCurry & Pepto Bismol!

my ass hurts just thinking about it... but seriously.

I stop eating McDonald's about 5 years ago. But about once a year, I am stranded somewhere and I grab something, like a BigMac or a Filet-o-fish -- and within 30 minutes of eating I swear to myself my stomach gets a negative reaction. And I think it is the vegetable oil they use on their fries or something in the buns.. some preservative... but my body just does not agree with it. It tastes fine going down, but I get a stomach ache and feel like throwing up... and I swear to myself.. that it's the "last time".. then a year goes by and I make the same mistake again. Up to my 30s', I ate McDonald's all the time. Now I am 50, and the food just doesn't agree with me. Have they changed the food, or is it older age?

[xchrom]

10. i've found sometimes it depends on the airport you're at.

the only thing you can grab quick is a mcdonalds or burger king -- something like that.

it's what there is to eat.

[PONTING12]

11. Spam deleted by Violet_Crumble (MIR Team)

[Marrah_G]

12. If I was traveling and I needed something quick, sure.

[mucifer]

13. They got sued for lying about putting meat in their french fries.

No I'm not going there again

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-511109.html

[pecwae]

18. Holy shit!

I have to thank you for that. I'd never read it. When traveling it's so hard to find something quick and vegetarian. I thought fries were safe. Now I don't trust any fast food place for fries! What could they be putting on their salads?

[mucifer]

23. Yeah I've been a vegetarian for 30 years and used to eat their fries a lot before they were sued.

The good thing was I lost a few pounds cutting out that crap. If you really think about it, they are probably using the same oil for the chicken nuggets anyway. Nuke a potato. Traveling is difficult. Gotta do the best you can.

[iralarry]

16. Please, watch Supersize Me.

Once you watch this documentary, you will not eat at McDonald's ever again.

[Avalux]

19. No. Because even labeled vegetarian, it would still be processed crap.

McDonalds will always be what they are no matter what they serve.

[zen_bohemian]

20. Probably would look at their menu and try it once

I don't like the non-vegetarian McDonalds as it is now.

[hobbit709]

21. I wouldn't eat at McDonald's no matter what they served even if it was free.

[etherealtruth]

22. I travel a great deal for work

... if I am driving, I will stop at McDonald's because they generally have the cleanest restrooms. I don't purchase burgers or fries, but i routinely buy their yogurt parfaits.

I guess mt choice is self centered but clean safe restrooms, on the road, are a high priority for me.

[slackmaster]

24. No, never.

They gave me food poisoning one time too many. I haven't eaten there in about 20 years.

[HopeHoops]

25. No. And we made red lentil dahl last night - no dosas, so we used pita wedges instead.

Veggie or not, it's still McCrap.

[ananda]

26. No.

Can you imagine the way they'll cool those veggies?

Dough, transfats, salt, and so on.

[GoneOffShore]

28. No - McDonald's is hand in glove with Monsanto.

Totally evil in all respects, despite the whole Ronald McDonald thing.

[RKP5637]

29. I would be concerned what was "really" in it ... I don't trust McDonald's. n/t

[dkf]

30. Wow that current list of what he eats sounds delish!

The Fiesta salad is ok but not that great. Doggone I'm hungry now.

[LynneSin]

31. I'm not a fan of McDonalds but I think they should offer Vegetarian options

But I will admit once a month I have a small chocolate shake and small fries. That's about it.

[fishwax]

32. not if I had another option

I don't really care for their non-vegetarian food, so I doubt I'd like their veggie-burger.

[formercia]

33. Corporate Fast Food is Poison

I quit eating that crap, have lost 20 lbs and feel a lot better.

When we travel, I bring my own snacks. It's cheaper and healthier.

[xchrom]

34. images of mcd's food in different countries

http://bizgovsociii.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/glocalization/

Glocalization and the Future


This motto has helped McDonald’s flourish in the global marketplace. The term “glocalization” is a combination between “globalization” and “localization.” The neologism represents the key to successful international business. Without understanding local cultures, traditions, and lifestyles, multinational companies will not be able to compete in different markets. For example, McDonald’s did enough analysis to know that cows are considered sacred animals in Hinduism. By selling a veggie burger, they attracted the vegetarian market, a large population of India. For now, cultures of the world remain safe.

However, what happens in the future when the globalization grabs the world and kneads it like a ball of dough until everything is homogenized? Here is my hypothesis:

There are no “third-world countries” as all parts of the world are developed. In fact, there are no countries. Just one unified planet.
There is one currency. Everybody is part of the same economy.
There is one unified language. After a couple millennia, the languages of the world slowly, through linguistic Darwinism, dissolve or mesh until there is one unified language spoken by everybody. Of course, different parts of the world will have their own accent of this ideal language.
Everybody uses the metric system. Enough said.
There are no official religions. The majority of the world’s population is atheist due to the scientific progress made.
Google takes over the world.

[cynatnite]

44. The McCurry Pan looks good. n/t

[lastlib]

35. I'd have to wear a coat....

...cuz it'd be a DAMN cold day! (in a warm place....)

[Zorra]

36. I'm a vegetarian, and I wish the US had more, and more accessible,

vegetarian restaurants.

When I'm really busy or traveling and I need a quick meal in my vehicle, I usually have little choice but to eat a Taco Bell veggie burrito, or a veggie burger, or burgerless cheeseburger deluxe (cheese, tomato, lettuce on cardboard) and fries from some burger chain.

Sometimes I can quickly find Mexican fast food joints that serve reasonably priced decent veggie burritos, too.

If there was like a Trader Joe's type chain that opened stores everywhere and sold reasonably priced quick whole food veggie meals I'd definitely be a frequent customer. I'd rather support a mom and pop veggie place, but they are rarely close to interstates and I usually don't have time, or want to use the gas, to hunt for them.

Bringing my own food works, but this can be time consuming and requires extra hassles.

[hunter]

37. Maybe McDonalds is seeing the future...

... where the average person can't afford meat.

The way that climate change is going, I can see the transition happening over a single summer.

First the price of hamburger and other processed meats will will collapse as dairies, feedlots and other factory farms shut down because of feed shortages, sending their animals to slaughter.

By Christmas, most people in the USA won't me able to afford meat or dairy products except for special occasions.

A few consecutive seasons of bad growing weather in the Midwestern USA and inexpensive meat and dairy products will never come back.

But McDonalds will be ready.

[RebelOne]

38. I am a vegetarian and do not normally eat McDonald's food,

but if there was a vegetarian one here in the Atlanta area, I would like to try it.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

39. Anyone ever try the veggie burger at Burger King?

It's supposedly lower in cholesterol and saturated and trans fats than beef hamburgers. I like the taste of the veggie burgers I buy at the grocery, like Boca burgers. Grilled up and with onions, pickles, and tomatoes I can't really notice a difference with real meat, but then I'm not a big meat eater.

[pecwae]

40. I tried it once.

It wasn't cooked well; mushy inside.

[spinbaby]

41. If I were in India

I'd probably eat there just to say I'd done it.

[cynatnite]

42. I'd try it. n/t

[Nedsdag]

45. Burger King sells a vegetarian burger.

It's the only thing worth buying there.

[Raine]

46. I'm a vegetarian and NO I wouldn't eat there. I don't trust them, I remember they LIED

before claiming they had taken the animal fat out of the french fries and they hadn't. They had riots in India and destroyed some MacDonalds when they found out the truth. I'm glad that even with their claiming they had taken it out I still didn't go there. I would never trust them to keep their word.

[Initech]

47. The food in the first paragraph sounds amazing. McDonald's? No so much.

[AsahinaKimi]

48. I don't really care much about McDonalds and don't do too many fast food places...with one exception

I just love the panda!

[hunter]

53. What Taco Bell is to Mexican Food...

I like how Taco Bell says it's "inspired" by Mexican food.

Panda Express is the same sort of inspiration.

I confess our family will sometimes stop at Panda Express or Taco Bell even though we have many authentic locally owned Mexican and Chinese restaurants in town. (But we do eat at those more often...)

[AsahinaKimi]

54. I do not know many places that makes the orange chicken like they do

I have had lemon chicken and orange chicken but its not the same.

[LadyHawkAZ]

49. I'd try it n/t

[rrneck]

50. Their regular food is bad enough.

Take away the fat, sugar, and salt and there's nothing left.

[AnnaLee]

51. Then it must be the sugar thing for me

Because I love their ice cream.

[dembotoz]

52. at the disney world coka cola exhibit a few years ago

they gave away free samples of coke from all over the world.
each dictated by local tastes.

some were downright nasty.

i credit mickeys for doing the same

i like the idea of healthy options
i like the idea of lower cost healthy options

mickeys is the gateway restuarant for lots of families with small kids with their happy meals.
a veggie option would be nice
would it be as organic as a super militant vegitarian restaurant?

no but a mass produced fairly good option at a reasonable price would be better than a big mac.

and would have to be better for kids than chicken nuggets....