McDonald's - Let's Be Honest

I can claim a certain amount of foodie street cred. I have eaten in some of the best restaurants in Tokyo and Firenze (names to be provided on request) as well as several Michelin three-star establishments in Provence and Paris (credit card receipts not to be provided on request). But I happen to like McDonald’s.

Now I don’t think it’s good for me (neither were some of those three-star joints), but I like the taste of Big Macs and McDonald’s fries. The late Julia Child was a great admirer of those fries, as I recall. So, although I have not seen the documentary – Super Size Me – discussed in David Adesnik’s entertaining post today (ht: Glenn), I am skeptical of its premise. I don’t think the popularity of McDonald’s is all about advertising or giveaway toys. I think people like it. They just don’t want to admit it. And I’m including here those David Brooks “Bobos” Adesnik thinks feel superior to the Big Mac munching hoi polloi. In fact, the French woman who introduced me years ago to most of those three-star restaurants used to go to the “McDo” in St. Germain at least once a week. Only she would do it quickly, looking around to make sure no one was watching.