Anyone reading this blog probably knows that America's 42nd president and I share an unhealthy (literally and figuratively) obsession with McDonalds. Not surprisingly, over the duration of this trip, my lovely wife has severely restricted my consumption of this fine "food". Oddly enough, this has had a positive effect on my waistline. But, that didn't stop us from noticing, in passing, some differences between the restaurants in the US and around the world:
Decor - While US stores are clearly targeted at children (cheap, cookie-cutter design, lots of hard plastic), non-US stores appear to target a more affluent customer. Seating areas have stylish, modern furniture, wi-fi/internet kiosks, flat-panel TVs, powerful fans that whisk away the smell of burger grease, and less humiliating staff clothing.
McCafe - Presumably to attract affluent customers while fending-off the impending arrival of Starbucks, the company created "McCafe", a high-end coffee shop that resides within a dedicated section of each restaurant. Here, you can drink speciality coffees and pastries, read newspapers and/or magazines, and listen to hipster background music. We tried this once, and it really did taste as good, if not better than Starbucks (disclaimer: I know I have no credibility on this subject).
Desert only stands: As burgers are priced out-of-reach for most consumers in emerging markets (particularly those in warm climates), we noticed numerous standalone desert-only stands/kiosks, where you can purchase lower-priced items such as ice cream cones, sundaes, and McFlurrys.
McDrive and AutoMac - other names for Drive-Thru
There is so much sugar in the hamburger buns that the government of Australia classifies them as cake.
Speciality foods
India: There are no hamburgers (religious beliefs); Big Mac is replaced by the Chicken Maharaja; more veggie friendly options.
China/Malaysia: Lots of chicken options (fried chicken, chicken teriyaki, etc.)
South America: We saw signs for Especiales del Chef, which are haute-cuisine versions of McDonalds classics created by chef Pablo Massey (their equivalent of Emril).
South America: McNifico burger (looks like a Whopper)
Buenos Aires: Kosher only restaurant in a food court
Rio de Janeiro: Super Big Mac (Big Mac with 3 patties of beef)
Countries we did not see stores/franchises: Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia.
Bottom line: Rest assured, I know how pathetic this posting is.
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