Posts from the ‘Chains of Love’ Category

Jun 1

Chain Links: Payback For the Banh Mi Onslaught

We just call them homeless. In Shanghai, working poor “McRefugees” have been treating KFC and McDonald’s as alternative bedding. As many as 30-40 men (it sounds like a male thing) show up nightly to sleep on chairs and in booths. The practice is not uncommon in South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. [Southern Weekly via Shanghaiist]

We don’t even have Carl’s Jr. in NYC yet Ho Chi Minh City welcomed one this week. It is the first American fast food burger chain to enter the country. Twenty-five more are slated for the next six years. [QSR Magazine]

Starbucks won’t be heading to South Africa but their coffee will be served in select hotels and casinos through a licensing agreement. Just in time for the World Cup. [Fast Casual]

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May 29

Chains For Good

I was like whatever when I heard about Blue Marble Ice Cream opening the new Brooklyn Bridge Park because big shared outdoor spaces are useless to me. (Seriously, I looked at a few One Brooklyn Bridge condos, and the neighboring park as selling point backfired. The Manhattan views were lovely, but you’d have to wear blinders. I’m trying to escape the families, bikes, strollers, dogs and lollygaggers of Carroll Gardens, not have hundreds of them concentrated outside my home.)

But Blue Marble Ice Cream in Rwanda? That’s totally different. The Brooklyn-based company has been involved in a training program teaching local women how to run a business. Inzozi Nziza, a.k.a. Sweet Dreams, touted as the country’s first ice cream show, will open June 5.

The big unanswered question is are Rwandans familiar with ice cream and do they like it? And even bigger—what will the flavors be?

So Cool: Blue Marble Opens Rwanda’s First Ice-Cream Shop [Grub Street]

Photo from Blue Marble Dreams

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May 26

Operation Dessert Storm

I like keeping tabs on American chains infiltrating other countries (by the way, Taco Bell is making its second attempt at getting the UK to embrace gorditas) but the Middle East is giving me a workout. They seem to have every franchise you’ve ever heard, making the region seem more American than chain-averse NYC. In fact, the latest company to land in Dubai is called Great American Cookies.

Luckily, I just discovered a food blog, B&D Kuwait, that is a treasure trove. It doesn’t appear that they are exclusively writing about American chain restaurants, but at first glance I spy Coldstone Creamery, T.G.I. Friday’s, Applebee’s and Burger King. Also, who knew Dean & DeLuca existed in Kuwait and Dubai?

It’s notable that even when a written language doesn’t use the Latin alphabet (Thailand was rife with these beauties) you can still recognize American brands from logo alone.

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May 20

The Poor Man’s Macaroni Grill Chianti

I don’t give much thought to wine lists in chain restaurants, though at a white tablecloth joint like Bonefish Grill (I mean that literally, not metaphorically, though on my last visit they’d stopped using tablecloths) I will order a glass or two even if the rest of the diners are drinking Diet Coke in glass tumblers. Bonefish also has inexpensive martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives, but that is getting off track…

Little did I know that Macaroni Grill has had its own house wines—Chardonnay, Chianti and White Zinfandel—since 1988. Maggiano’s Little Italy started their own label, Salute Amico, last month and un-Italian P.F. Chang’s just launched two private-label wines under the name Vineyard 518.

A few days ago this search string landed a poor misguided stranger here: I need names of wines that compare in quality to Macaroni Grill’s Chianti but not as expensive. That is awesome and so very specific. I wish I could help but the prices aren’t listed on their online menu so I’m not sure what not as expensive might mean.

Lilliputian Chianti bottle photo from Miniature Cottage.

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May 16

Chain Links: Chili’s Discovers Banh Mi

Do you know Nando’s, the South African chicken chain? I only do because I recently tried one in Penang (could’ve sworn I blogged about it but never did—my lunch, above). Even though they’ve been in England since 1992, The Guardian is positing that “The brand is now inextricably linked with a certain type of youthful, racially mixed, urban British pop star and, so, with modern, inner-city, multicultural Britain.” Er, if you say so. It’s a hefty article for such a subject. [The Guardian]

I often like The Wall Street Journal’s food coverage because they will take a subject like Asian flavors influencing barbecue and mention the obvious like Fatty ‘Cue and toss in a little David Chang while also getting some mainstream intel from Chili’s and posting a recipe from RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen (a Cheesecake Factory brand with only one location in LA). While not ground-breaking for a more cosmopolitan restaurant, Chili’s is aiming to be “first to market” with Vietnamese sandwiches and Korean quesadillas. Give ‘em a couple more years, and they’ll develop a fleet of food trucks. [Wall St. Journal]

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May 14

Chain Links: Fast Food Loves New York

American fast food chains abroad just can’t stop celebrating the mother country. McDonald’s UK is running its “Great Tastes of America” promotion with five geographically themed burgers: New York Special, Chicago Supreme, Miami Melt, New Orleans Deluxe and Texas Grande. Gone are the Arizona Grande and California Classic of the past.

This is not the first year or first country to offer these specials. Here’s a 2008 Swedish ad for the Miami Melt that channels the ‘80s. [Burger Business]

Why McDonald’s has been a positive force for change. [The Independent]

Also, Texas Roadhouse wants to take over the Middle East, or at least open 35 restaurants in eight countries by 2020. No pork or alcohol, naturally. Let’s hope they do keep the country line-dancing staff. [Business First]

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May 12

Chain Links: Israeli-style Hamburgers

Israel has 52 Burger Kings and 55 Burger Ranches. This summer that will change to zero and 107. According to a press release, “recent research indicated that the Israeli style of hamburgers was far more popular.” But they don’t explain what an Israeli-style hamburger is! I need to know. [Jerusalem Post]

I would’ve imagined that South Korea already had a fast food bibimbap restaurant, yet Bibigo, selling the mixed rice dish, just launched in Seoul Monday. The company has its sights set on Beijing, Singapore and Los Angeles for 2010. Maybe their wish to become the “McDonald’s or Starbucks of Korean food” will be realized. I would've worked in a Pinkberry reference. [JoongAng Daily]

Chart that needs no Hebrew skills to interpret is from Burger Ranch's Facebook page.

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May 10

Hospitaliano

If I sit on an idea long enough, someone is eventually bound to write about it. That is the dilemma of too many thoughts, too little time. I've come to the stark realization that if I spent even two hours per night in my room with my computer and the door shut instead of sitting on a couch watching TV with my laptop, I'd get a lot more done.

What is more important, after all? Finding out what's happening on Lost, Fringe, Breaking Bad or the new Dr. Who (still not sold on him) or getting to the bottom of what goes on at Olive Garden's culinary institute?

I can now delete Olive Garden cooking school from my to-do Word document. Today, CNN investigates the important story, while a little over a week ago Jaunted was on the same beat. I knew it existed in some form because Don Francisco from Sabado Gigante was just there a few months ago.

Speaking of dubious cooking schools (we were, weren't we?) I have this vague memory, for which I can find no support online, that when Mackenzie Phillips was booted off One Day at a Time and sent to rehab, her character's disappearance was attributed to her going to a doughnut-making school. Am I losing my mind?

Hamburger University photo from McDonald's.

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May 5

Chain Links: French Fried Chicken

After throwing in the towel 11 years ago, Dunkin' Donuts is returning to Russia. Part of their losses the first time 'round were attributed to "a rogue franchisee who sold liquor and meat pies."

Also, Russians don't really eat doughnuts. Nigel Travis, chief executive of Dunkin' Brands aims to combat that with a doughnut-like creation, "Without giving away too much, we've found that they favor something called scalded cream and a very nice raspberry jam as a pastry filling." [WSJ]

Last week Tokyo got its first "chic" McDonald's, a new concept swapping bright plastic for light wood, that will be rolled out across the city. Menu's the same, prices are higher. [CNNGo]

French-based KFCs make more money than any other location globally, so it's only logical that the chain plans to triple their presence in the supposedly fast food-hating nation by 2015, aiming for 300 stores. [WSJ]

Photo from Shibuya246

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Apr 27

Better Than Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks?

While McDonald's Germany names cupcakes after New York City neighborhoods, in Switzerland, the burger chain is celebrating the diversity within their own borders. Their "Swiss Weeks" promotion features three burgers, each based on a region of the country. The most interesting aspect is that the ads are in the language appropriate to each.

The McRomandie, using Gruyere and Paillasse bread is advertised in French, the McBärn with bacon, a hash brown patty and Emmentaler is in German, while the basil, mozzarella and tomato topped McTicino is in Italian.

In case you were wondering, the Swiss McDonald's site is in German. You can watch the ads there.

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