Supporting local has become impossible in some parts of North America, especially in some suburban areas. Colorado Springs’ suburbs and the bedroom communities west of Edmonton are especially bad when it comes to franchised chains being the only option.
I used to be more more of a snob about eating at chains and fast food restaurants.
I try to support small business when I can, but I’m not going to burn up fossil fuel to go 5 miles out of my way to get a coffee at an indie coffee shop when there’s a McDonald’s or a Starbucks in front of me.
I also like trying new things, and sometimes the new thing is offered by a chain or a fast food resto.
I realized last week, that I am probably better off sticking with a small meal or sandwich from a known chain, than a meal at a restaurant I’ve never visited, when I’m on the road and I have a long drive ahead of me the next day. My sleep was disrupted by a salty meal from an indie restaurant. I know what I’m getting when it’s food from a national chain, whether it’s fast food, fast casual or a family restaurant with service. The same thing happened to me 3 years ago, when I ordered an Italian dinner from an indie Italian restaurant in Ottawa. I was up all night guzzling water. I would have been better off, in terms of a good night’s sleep, ordering a Cobb salad at Wendy’s, or getting a slice of pizza from a pizzeria.
I’ll watch that on the road today — in the passenger seat, natch!
I’ve never “had to” peruse chain food. I’ve tried a few FF places that were unfamiliar to me previously, like Popeye’s, KFC, and Krispy Krunchy Chicken, but those were pretty much one-offs. As for fast casual, I’ve tried Outback, Chili’s, Applebee’s & TGIF exactly ONCE. Nope. Both the saltiest and blandest food at the same time — not sure how they pull that off
I guess I plan ahead well enough to not find myself in a situation where a chain is the only choice — be it by eating before / making sandwiches to have for road trips, or doing sOmE rEsEaRcH on places/areas/towns I am about to visit.
I absolutely hate eating mediocre food — including my own cooking fails, but I hate even more paying for mediocre food.
I feel similarly. If I am in need of a morning beverage and Starbucks is the only option, I get their iced black tea. The coffee is always burnt, no matter where I am in the country. And I don’t want any of the sugary beverages on offer. For other fast food/fast casual, I will make an exception for Five Guys, specifically our very local one. They put out a good burger and fries and are consistent, when I am in the mood for that. The ones in the local bars these days have been inconsistent lately. Often, I’ll make my own.
We haven’t set foot in an Applebees or similar for at least 20 years now, since BF’s parents (who enjoyed those places) moved to Florida.
I’ve never tried Popeye’s. I might at some point. I’d rather save fried chicken for when I am visiting Las Vegas and can get to Best Friend.
Oh, you mean the bookstore bathroom smell? Let me explain.
Strand bookstore in Manhattan has bathrooms on the second floor in the back of the store. The back windows of the Subway around the corner are across from the bathroom windows. The aroma of the bread wafts up into the bathrooms. So anytime I pass a Subway, guess what I am reminded of?
That’s hilarious. Especially the people basically subsisting on Chipotle. An intern I had last summer ate Chipotle for lunch and Chick Fil-A for dinner almost every single day. Ah, the joys of youth!
I think, for those who are food is fuel types, the ability to just walk down a cafeteria style line and pick out items to plop in a bowl or wrap is probably a comfort. Not a lot of thinking, can eat at your desk and get on with the day.
I think it was Patton Oswalt who referred to a burrito bowl from Chipotle as a “sadness trough”.
My Strand visiting days were either long before that abomination moved in… or I never had to use the bathroom there (my buddy lived just down the road on E 12th)
I almost never get coffee out, except for when we’re in Berlin, but that usually means going to a proper cafe where there’s likely also good pastries/cake/etc. to be had. But the Kaffee & Kuchen culture is pretty German
It totally makes sense for hospitals to farm out food options, + they collect rent with none of the hassles/costs of running a food operation. Sucks for people visiting but worth it for the hospitals.
The Subway at NYG was the only food option open after 5pm unfortunately.
It makes sense to a hospital administrator who is watching the bottom line and doesn’t care what food is being served.
Before the fast food chains took over, it was a regional caterer called Beaver Foods who had kitchen staff cooking healthy meals at the hospital cafeterias, university cafeterias and high school cafeterias in southwestern Ontario.
If they were feeding patients from the fast food courts, I would tend to agree with you. I’ve personally never had an extended stay in a hospital, but both my parents did before they died, and I was more concerned about the treatment and care that they received than the choices I had in the food court.
I want patients to have good care at the hospital and I want the hospital cafeteria to serve healthy food to its staff, outpatients, and visitors.
I also would prefer that nurses and doctors have access to healthy food at their cafeteria.
The cafeteria used to have vending machines containing sandwiches and fruit 24 h. Toronto Western Hospital still has these 24 h sandwich and fruit vending machines.
The hospitals in London, ON only have candy and chips in their vending machines.
