McDonalds Captures La France

I was just speaking with a French friend who has JUST returned from spending three hours at McDo's with four children.

It is 100 degrees in the shade in Provence and he said he couldn't wait to feed the children and watch them in the air-conditioned playground.

He took something to read. The McDo's in Orange has bleechers to sit on facing the children -- to watch over them.

Rene says it's the best of both worlds.

If you want a good feel for what could happen, read "Monsieur Pamplemousse and the Secret Mission." I guarantee that the author's description of events will leave you breathless with laughter. The other MP books are good also, if the idea of an inspector for a food guide as a protagonist appeals to you.

This had me laughing out loud--I've never gone into one of those things for the same reason.

So sorry Stacy, I stand corrected...(Sorry, no emoticon for red face)...
I should have been more specific...
Indeed, "mes pommes frites" were renamed "Freedom Fries" by the Washington idiots...
However, our "favorite establishment" for answering the call of nature while abroad, did called their delicious potatoes "Liberty Potatoes" as shown below...
http://uncoveror.com/fries.htm
Back then, I suggested that we should have a "Bobbing for fries contest" between George and Jacques...
The winner could have called those "delicacies" whatever he likes...
Mike (Not a Sir, just a plain Geogia "Redneck" by adoption )

Actually, I try to avoid them whenever possible, but once in a while Mother Nature or my traveling/meal companion wins out and I end up seeing them now and then.

Cap10Mike -- that's "Freedom Fries" to you, sir, thank you very much!

In your quest for the best "pissotières" while visiting France, you are forgetting one of the best thing that McDo has to offer... Leurs pommes frites...
Non, non and non ... Please don't call those delicious potatoes "French Fries" there are no such things as "French Fries", only in the mind of those that do not know their potatoes from "horse apples"...
Frites are a Belgian things, and therefore when the Washington morons changed the name "French Fries" to "Liberty Fries" a few years ago, they only made "trous du cul" out of themselves and insulted Belgium, not France...
In France long ago, one could stop by a street vendor to buy a delicious "Cornet de frites"... Back then, they tasted a whole lot better than what is being served now in the French restaurants or anywhere else...
Then came McDo... Oh mon Dieu, I could not believe it, their frites tasted good, just like the ones I used to buy from the street merchants in Rouen before the "health Fanatics" made McDo alter their recipe...
Back to the best place for one to answer the call of nature...
Moi, I suffer from "pissotièrephobia" when I am in France...
I have this fear of using those funny cubicles in the streets of Paris, fear that the "Wash Cycle" will start before "Mission accomplished" giving a new meaning to the expression "Caught with your pants down"...
Of course, one can always go to a café for a drink and to use their facilities while performing a delicate "balancing" act at some old places, but why not just go to a McDo for an order of "Fries" if need be and use their "High Tech" WC?
Or, is there such things as "BP" stations in France???
Mike

Al: It's one of the most valuable things one can know -- when in distress. I remember -- it was 20 years ago -- when my (then teenage) son taught me that the BEST free restroom in Rome was at McDo's at the bottom of the Spanish Steps. I go always visit it -- out of nostalgia. And NEED.

Hey, Stacy....looks like you're our BP authority on restaurant rest rooms!!!

For the restrooms, I wonder if it depends on the location... because I've been in a few different McDonalds in Paris and in province and the restrooms have always been free with unlocked doors.

In one "Quick" restaurant in Paris, I saw the code system frenchgirl mentioned, but it was definitely not in an area most tourists would frequent!

I remember it well. In fact I was wondering why Chinese was the only foreign food one could get in France but then I realized it was vietnamese. The "foreign " food that was offered in France was from the ex French colonies especially from North africa. About the only place in Europe that offered varied ethnic food was London.

"and BPAL....
I would like to rectify a mistake....
Restrooms in MacDo are not free....we have to make a code to enter in! (a code wich is given when you pay the food) "

Whoops....Perhaps I have to give credit to London for this benefit too.

There are more MacDonalds in France than 30 years ago, that's a fact.
I don't like this kind of food because for me it's not food.
But it's like that, I don't want to judge this trend to severely .

If I were the "avocat du diable" , I would say it can be a proof that the French are more open to foreign cultures (if we can name a hamburger "culture").
Because don't forget that the French haven't only discovered the american food!!!! In the same time, a lot of japanese, chinese, oriental, african, turkish restaurants have opened too...
Many years ago, the French were only eating French food. Now, thanks to the "choice", they discovered very multicultural ways of eating...for the best, and for the worst!

But I don't think MacDonalds are a bad thing for France...Now, we just have the choice!
(The "Spice Girls" didn"t do prejudice to classical music...because these 2 styles of music didn't fight on the same ring! So is MacDonalds toward the good true food...)




and BPAL....
I would like to rectify a mistake....
Restrooms in MacDo are not free....we have to make a code to enter in! (a code wich is given when you pay the food)

Vraiment...and again that's my point. Many BPers continue to utz about this American "cultural contribution" and this posting is my way of saying "forgettaboutit".

And Karen....another reason for McDoo aside from a cold coke is their wonderful free access to great restrooms. Enough to shout out "Vive les Etats Unis"!! ;-)

Al: Why argue over something that's here to stay? Please remember that ALL of the McDo franchises in France are owned by the French.

Plus, their advertising states people shouldn't eat there for more than one meal a week.

If the truth be known -- there are a few times I do go to McDo's. I grab a diet Coke or a yogurt with fresh granola and use their FREE WiFi.

That's my point. To some it is beyond redemption.

Al: No one said the food was great for the kids. But, the playground equipment is. And many children who've never seen these mega structures have the opportunity and work off a lot of energy while parents socialize.

In Provence, the playgrounds are frequently in a glass structure and there's air-conditioning. Isn't it interesting there's an official McDonalds cost of living index comparing and contrasting countries throughout the world.

I don't frequent McDo's often -- but I never say never.

In a lead article in today's Business Section of the NYTimes it is explained that despite boycotts and picketing McDonalds has turned the tables on anti-Americanism and is very successful in France , to say the least.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/business...artner=homepage

While I am not a McDonald customer it is amazing to me how some people of diverse nationalities get all worked up over McDoo's success. It is interesting to note in this article how important this operation is to many people both in France and the USA. In fact in a recent posting one BPer "explained away" McDonalds success in France by saying it was good for the kids.....So???