As I stumbled down memory lane last week, another restaurant came to mind. That’s right. I’m talking about Red Lobster. (Red Lobster?) Oh. Did I say Red Lobster? I meant McDonald’s. I get those two mixed up all the time.
Now I’m quite aware of the issues surrounding this particular restaurant chain. The food sucks, it’s unhealthy, there are environmental issues, the food sucks, etc. But remember, I’m talking about the McDonald’s located at 1407 Memory Lane, Anytown, USA. When you’re eight years old, it’s a completely different story.
And speaking of a story…
McDonald’s was started by … well, the McDonalds, believe it or not. Dick and Mac McDonald created the restaurant in 1940 and had a small franchise of several stores by 1954. It was around that time that a milkshake mixer salesman named Ray Kroc stopped by. He took one look at the place and said, “I bet I could open thirty thousand of these restaurants across every continent and sell a hundred freakin’ billion hamburgers. In fact, I bet I could even get Willard Scott to dress up like a clown too. How much do you want for the place?!” The brothers agreed to sell and the rest is history. (Little known fact: The reason Ray Kroc was such a genius is because he attended my high school.)
About twenty years later, I started attending McDonald’s fairly regularly, myself. I was pretty radical at the time too: always ordering a burger, fries, and shake. (I know! Livin’ on the edge.) My earliest memory of the food was, “Wow. This stuff tastes good.” And it’s not by chance either. That stuff is genetically engineered to taste like a little slice of greasy heaven.
Which is probably why now, another thirty years later, I’m still lovin’ it. I know it’s wrong, but I really can’t help it. Big Macs, Filet o’ Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries. Icy Coke, Thick Shakes, Sundaes, and Apple Pies. They have it all.
[This is the part where someone from McDonald’s Corporation reads my blog and sends me a giant stack of $5 Gift Certificates.]
But as much as I like the Big M Supper Club, I am an adult and I realize that their food—no matter what it tastes like—isn’t what I need. If I go three times a year, I’d be surprised. And in fact, I think that might just keep the food special. If I had it once a month (or once a day) it probably just wouldn’t be the same.
So go ahead. The comment form is below. Hit me with it. Tell me I’m bad and evil and deserve ten lashes with a soggy french fry. Or be brave. Come out of your McCloset and join me. Let’s find a McD’s and I’ll even lend you one of those free gift certificates. They should be coming any day now.
Yep. Any day now.
on November 21, 2008 at 1:58 am
This is too funny. I JUST talked with a co-worker about this same topic. We both said that we rarely eat at McDonald’s or Burger King. We would rather save our money and do nice sit down dinners at healthier places than eat out a couple times a week at a fast food burger joint.
I agree with you that as a child/teenage I thought fast food was the bomb! But now I find that I get stomach aches, headaches, and it makes me soooo slleeeeppppyyyy…. Grrr….
Since we are in Germany we pay WAY too much for a ‘value meal’ and it turns out to be a non-value meal. $7-10 for a burger, fries and coke is not my idea of a value. At that price per person I can make a nice steak/potato dinner at home for my hubby and me. And it is healthier.
Great post, Charlie! 🙂
on November 21, 2008 at 4:53 am
I used to really like those McDonald’s apple pies. I wonder how they’d taste now. Probably still kinda good in a good-but-bad kinda way.
BK. I’m a vegetarian so one of the things I used to order was a “veggie whopper” which is basically like a mayo sandwich. Disgusting. Now I think it’s really funny that in my early veggie days I would still eat at meaty fast food joints. Just goes to show how long it took to shake the tradition (and the minced meat) out of my loins.
on November 21, 2008 at 4:59 am
Back in the mid 70’s, before McDs added the breakfast menu, I used to work at one of these joints. It was my first exposure the goings on in a fast-food kitchen. Very scary.
In those days, we got a $0.25/hour allowance for food. Yep, a whopping $2 for an eight-hour shift. But, then again, a Big Mac was about $0.55. I ate one every day for nearly a year.
In the last two years, I have been to McDs once. In the Orlando airport. Less than a week ago.
As I sat there staring down at my Big Mac, that now costs as much as a pound of dry-aged tenderloin, I thought of my days in the “kitchen.” I took a bite.
I really hate to admit this, but I enjoyed it. And the fries were crispy, too. For about 30 seconds, I felt like I was 16 again.
on November 21, 2008 at 6:06 am
My favs are the original hamburger…no cheese! And the first 3 or 4 fries when they are really hot. When they cool down, they are horrible! I used to crave the fish filet sandwich, but luckily for me, they seem to have changed it and I don’t find it so appealing anymore. Nothing is that bad if you eat it occasionally. We just need to eat the healthy stuff the other 98% of the time!
on November 21, 2008 at 6:35 am
It’s the damn Sausage McMuffin with Egg and Hashbrowns that called my name, um, maybe three times a week at times!
Proud to say, I haven’t had McDonald’s since September 2, and only ONE Taco Bell Taco in almost 3 months – a huge victory for me!
Although I remember one time Mom stopped at McDonald’s when Hannah was little and ordered her chicken nuggets – when she got home she realized it was a Big Mac! Hannah was four at the time and Nana said “they gave us the wrong thing, do you want to try a Big Mac?”
She ate the whole thing!
on November 21, 2008 at 7:16 am
I have to admit, about 3 or 4 times a year — I DO have a big mac attack. I don’t go as so far to get the milkshake (mmmmmmmm) but I always go for the 2 cheesburger special with a DIET COKE of course (heh).
I also went through a phase where I was obsessed with Oreo McFlurries. Something about eating with that weird big hollow spoon.
I think on one bender I did try their “Angus” 1/3 pound burger. I’ll say that it was a pretty delicious (goes to look up calories) 860 calories.
on November 21, 2008 at 7:28 am
OK, don’t tell anyone… BUT…last week I went through the drive through for MacDonald’s breakfast (after I already ate my healthy breakfast at home, so my husband wouldn’t suspect)…. ONE mcmuffin combo never fills me up, so… I ordered TWO sausage and egg mcmuffin combos, large size, both with coffee and TWO Cinnamelts (tried those yet? heaven…). All this just so the guy at window wouldn’t know I was going to eat it all myself (like he cares).
on November 21, 2008 at 7:43 am
How could you possibly go wrong with a restaurant (and I use that term loosely) that has a promotion now of 2 triple cheeseburgers for $3.00? Like one triple by itself wouldn’t come close to filling someone’s big toe, they needed to offer two.
Going down memory lane may be all they left of you if this is your feedbag item. Time to grow up as there’s nothing happy about this meal.
Sorry Charlie, but I have to give the thumbs down on this one. I gave this place up just like cigarettes a long time ago. I just don’t know which one was worse for me.
on November 21, 2008 at 8:35 am
I remember going to eat at McDonald’s was a HUGE deal back when I was a youngster. That was before they had an eat-in part of the restaurant. Mom & Dad in the front, 3 kids in the back all eating hamburgers, fry’s and cokes. MMMM the good old days.
on November 21, 2008 at 8:55 am
I, along with a couple of other kids, won a contest in second grade and the prize was a trip to McDonald’s with our teacher (this was back around 1970 or so). I sat there with my cheeseburger, fries and chocolate milkshake and watched another kid pop off his lid and dip a fry into the shake and eat it…of course, I had to copy him and it was bliss!!! It only works with hot-out-of-the-fryer fries, though. Damn, now I have a McCraving, and I have been off that crack for 6 months now!
on November 21, 2008 at 9:01 am
Their strawberry milkshake is the best hangover fixer ever. STILL when I caved in and had one this summer it was the first time I’d set foot in a McD’s in over six years.
It’s just like you say – it tastes GREAT but we’re adults and we know now that food is actually fuel. And McD’s is cheap, bad quality fuel. We don’t want to run a sports car on that stuff. So it’s for treats only.
STILL I think McD’s gets a bad rap. There’s tons of restaurant food out there that is just as bad for you, if not worse, and the company are a whole lot more ethical than they used to be.
TA x
on November 21, 2008 at 9:06 am
Favorite item at McDonald’s was the pizza… before they went to the pre-made ones. Not sure if they were available everywhere or not… but it was the best pizza ever. Now I rarely go to the place and if I do, I get one burger. Not worth the extra jiggle on the body for me.
on November 21, 2008 at 9:44 am
I worked at a day camp one summer, and we toured McDonald’s. That was in 1996. I think I’ve eaten at McD’s three times since then.
I will, however, do Hardee’s. Not that there are any on the west coast. And I’ve done Jack in the Box. And Wendy’s. But no McD’s. Not ever. (Supersize me kinda reinforced my McD’s gag reflex.)
on November 21, 2008 at 9:53 am
Speaking of Fast Food Joints…when Wendy’s opened up thier first place in Charleston, WV in the 70’s I just had to hit it the first week. I even called ahead to place an order thinking they were like a pizza joint. Ordered burgers and fries for the whole family at the drive through and proceded home with them. I’m thinking that was the first drive through place in our area and just couldn’t resist the new experience. When we unwrapped our burgers there wasn’t any meat on them! I was appalled and called to see what they would do. They actually told me to bring back the bag of stuff and they replaced it and added shakes to the mix for free.
Mickey D’s? Haven’t been there in 2 years and haven’t really thought much about it but now you’ve got me cravin’ a Big Mac. Thanks alot…sigh…I’ll take one of those coupons when they arrive!!
on November 21, 2008 at 9:57 am
Remember the sixty-nine cent cheeseburger? I live on those in college – you could buy a sack full with the change you found in the car!
I got a kick out of the McD’s sponsored Miatas at our track (when Miatas were new) – they were numbers fifty-nine and sixty-nine, and we called them “hamburger” or “cheeseburger” when we referred to them.
I still like Mc D’s and probably grab a heart attack in a sack a couple of times a month – usually when I am on the run and suddenly realize I haven’t eaten in twelve hours – and enjoy every bunless bite (yeah, I peel the buns off, because everyone knows that makes the food healthy).
Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who is now hungry)
on November 21, 2008 at 10:36 am
My husband is a letter carrier, and he’s given all sorts of gift certificates at Christmas time. Last year, he got $30 worth of certificates for McDonald’s and I was thinking “What the hell are we gonna do with these?”
Well, I discovered that they have HOT FUDGE SUNDAES (small cup of soft-serve ice-cream, generous dollop of hot fudge sauce, and tiny little pack of crushed peanuts) for ONE BUCK. Not exactly health food, but hubby and I don’t feel the least bit guilty about stopping at McD’s for a treat at the end of a long bike ride.
Not only that, but my lactose-intolerant body doesn’t have any trouble digesting them, which leads me to believe there’s not actually any real dairy product involved in their ice-cream. No, I don’t want to know what it’s really made of.
on November 21, 2008 at 11:45 am
I loved McDonald’s as a kid. Remember when the first Happy Meals came out….and then they did Star Trek Happy Meals? I like to tell my daughter I was alive before chicken mcnuggets were invented. That always amazes her.
Anyway. I had like 5 or 6 birthday parties at McDonald’s.
Now I never go there.
on November 21, 2008 at 11:56 am
When we are on the road.. we travel by motorcycle for vacation time a lot.. McDonalds is a good standby food if nothing else is around.. we usually try to go to Subway … but a small burger with ketchup , lettuce and tomato and a diet coke works for me.. So to me.. as long as it is not a regular part of your meal plan.. McDonalds can be a nice every now and then treat.
on November 21, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hey, I do eat at McDonald’s usually about once a month or so… I love their Southwest Salad with grilled chicken. And the parfait. Yum!
And, I usually grab a couple of fries from the kids first thing, too.
Long John Silvers is my kryptonite, now. I used to LOVE it as a kid, and now the thought of it makes me sick.
on November 21, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Wow! For the bad rep that McD’s have, everyone alive must have tried it!
When I was a kid my Dad used to take us for a Sunday day out to McD’s! The nearest one was about 20 miles away, but we only used to go for the shakes! Not really a burger family, thankfully!
I havne’t tried one in about 20years! Are they still really thick and icy cold?? MMMmmm!
I remember the reason I stopped going there 20+ years ago was because I bit into a piece of cardboard in my apple pie! I was put off till this year, when i tried another one, and it was lovely! I also love their ice-cream. I never eat burgers so that’s not even a temptation. But their ice-cream….mmmmmm! I haven’t tried a shake tho as they are about 500 calories per cup…………….shame!
Tusc :o)
on November 21, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Thirty years ago, I was a Burger King girl, back in the day when you could “have it your way.” I worked the closing shift so I can’t even begin to tell you how many drunks wanted to tell me what their way was LOL! Anyway, I got so sick of the smell of fast food that I never went for years and years. While I never go to BK anymore, I’ll admit to the occasional Egg McMuffin or Yogurt Parfait. Trying to be healthy you know! If I’m feeling really wicked (or maybe had one glass of wine too many-ha!) there’s nothing like a Double Cheeseburger with a chocolate shake.
BTW I’m just catching up this week and when I read back over the other entries I saw that I was your 1000 comment. Not as good as winning the book, but still pretty nice even if some of it was spam.
on November 21, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I used to use double cheeseburgers as a hangover cure… and I had a lot of hangovers back then. 🙂
on November 22, 2008 at 10:49 am
I love McDonald’s too, mostly due to my father taking my sister and I there every Thursday after school because it was pay day. What once was Happy Meals turned into a Super Size Number One and here I am overweight and constantly craving McDonald’s! If I am in the middle of a particularly intense craving I will beg my Fiancee to go but he is so against it! As it turns out I only hit up Mickey D’s once in a very long while, but that doesn’t stop the cravings. I guess I will wait until I get pregnant and eat whatever I want! 🙂
on November 22, 2008 at 11:09 am
I just had a double cheeseburger and fries, without the pickle, that way you are sure it will be hot! Cheap, cheap lunch and always yummy. From a “you gotta eat bad once a week” 65 year old Granny.
on November 22, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I actually like McDonald’s and eat there a couple times a month. I usually get a happy meal to keep the calories to a reasonable amount
on November 23, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I like McDonalds! I know it’s bad for me, but I like it!
on November 24, 2008 at 12:08 am
Now that I think before I eat, I usually have one of their salads (asian and southwest are really good, surprisingly) when I go with my little girl.
However, I still love a good cheeseburger and their fries. Probably will always love it. Even though it makes me feel gross after I eat it.
on November 24, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I am a vegetarian — but one of my favorite childhood memories is of eating my very first Big Mac. I was 8 and my mom, brother and I were at a McD’s, sitting outside at a table in the spring sunshine. I ate my hamburger and asked Mom for a bite of her Big Mac. I liked it so much, I finished it off. I wouldn’t touch a Big Mac now (or even touch anything that had touched a Big Mac, for that matter) but it’s a happy memory.
on November 24, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I grew up in a rural area, and we didn’t have McDonalds or Burger King. What we had was Carolls, which eventually turned into Bob’s Big Boy. My mother was a perpetual weight watcher and while she never ordered fries she always ate mine and my brother’s!!
on November 25, 2008 at 12:09 am
For me, the memories are of Burger King. Being the oldest kid in my family, my father used to take me to help him Christmas shop for my mother.
One of the most favorite parts of the trip was our stop at Burger King for a Whopper. We each had one, with fries of course.
It’s amazing how food brings back memories…………..:)