Fast Food

[RedWine]

Fast food is food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant or shop at low cost. Fast food is a multi-billion dollar industry which is continuing to grow at a rapid pace in the early 21st century in many countries as fewer people cook at home.

Operations that specialize in one or two main entrees such as hamburgers, pizza, or chicken. These operations may also provide salad and/or ice cream service. Preparation of food products is generally simple and involves one or two steps Fine Dining Restaurant - provides a formal, structured dining experience at the high end of the market French Restaurant - specializes in French cuisine!

...And you. do you like it ? what you think about that ?

[soniq]

I love fast food,i eat fast food so much that i look like fast food

[Vandfald]

lol? :/ fast food, hmm i like fast food, but that's not what i always go after when i wan't to have some to eat.

[RedWine]

I am almost vegetarian ( just eatin sea food and vegetables) . and i am proud of it !

[jsmith]

haaaaaa
man ye zaman faghat fast food mikhordam
ye zaman ham too yeki az in fast food ha manager beedam vali aslan halam beham mikhord dige az fast food ke too oon zaman bishtar faghat salad khordam ke az hamishe felan laghar tar shode boodam lol

[Parinaz_M]

i hate fast food
why do you pay for something that is bad for you????

[khanoomi]

manam hamintor parinaz

[ali_shad]

I think sometimes fast food is good.

[Snow]

sometimes it's good, specially McDonald's food, french fries with chicken nuggets, oh man i'm craving McDonald's food :D :D

[kami joon]

I love fast food.
McDonald's, In-N-Out Burger, Carl's Jr., Burger King, Jack In The Box, KFC, pizzahut, ..............................:D

[khanoomi]

kami joon to age ye maghazeye fast food bezani hameye ghazahasho khodet tamom mikoni dige chizi be in moshtarihaye bad bakhtet nemirese albate snow ham miad 2 taye

[Parinaz_M]

khanoomi joon age snow bere to maghazeye kami, dige be kami joon chizi fekr nakonam berese. to chi fekr mikoni???

[donsaeid]

i hate fast food
why do you pay for something that is bad for you????


to az chi khoshet miad fast food dovomish bashe...

J/K

[Parinaz_M]

man az kheyli chiza khosham miyad, shoma khabar nadarid

[jjbb]

fast food = fat salt sugar perservatives

[IQ]

ENOUGH OF EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

[nanakhafan]

man az mc donald khosham nemiad .vali az wendys kheili khosham miad engar ghazahash khoshmaze taran

[donsaeid]

man az kheyli chiza khosham miyad, shoma khabar nadarid

khabaresho kei mididi?

[IQ]

I LOVE DENNY'S :)

[purrsian_cat]

I HATE fast food... never touch the stuff
I have enough trouble eating healthy food...

[Parinaz_M]

saeid joon list bedam khetmateton

[jsmith]

I don't like fast food as much as I used too, but sometimes I have to eat'em because my friends all go there and .......

[RedWine]

new users,vote pls ;) .

[jjbb]

ENOUGH OF EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
I agree with this idea.

[donsaeid]

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8109/Images/jpg/A0002/A0002629.jpg

نويسنده: تي، جي، اسنيت

آيا شما هنوز مك دونالديزه نشده*ايد؟



نويسنده مقاله با ارائه اهداف خود از اصلاح «مك دونالديزه» شده، ناگفته*هاي فراواني را در مورد عملكرد تبليغاتي اين شركت به ويژه در مدارس انگلستان ارائه مي*نمايد.


چكيده:

تأثيرات گسترده فرهنگي و اجتماعي و اقتصادي شركت «مك*دونالد» در نقاط مختلف دنيا و اهرم*هاي تبليغات آنان. نگراني*هاي زيادي را در كشورهاي دنيا به وجود آورده است. رستوران*هاي زنجيره*اي اين شركت كه همواره به عنوان نماد استعمارگري آمريكا در دنيا به شمارمي*روند، علاوه بر سركوبي خلاقيت كاركنان، ارائه غذاهايي كم كيفيت و اغفال كودكان با ارائه اسباب بازي*هاي عروسكي، تأثيرات پشت پرده گسترده سياسي و اجتماعي و اقتصادي و زيست*محيطي فراواني را براي مردم دنيا به ارمغان آورده*اند. نويسنده مقاله با ارائه اهداف خود از اصلاح «مك دونالديزه» شده، ناگفته*هاي فراواني را در مورد عملكرد تبليغاتي اين شركت به ويژه در مدارس انگلستان ارائه مي*نمايد.

مسأله و مشكل اساسي در مورد فرآيند مك*دونالديزه شدن دنيا، اين حقيقت است كه ديگران در قالب يك سيستم، الگوي زندگي ما را سازمان*دهي مي*كنند؛ به جاي اين*كه ما شخصاً زندگي خود را هدايت نماييم... شما براي اشتغال در شعب مك*دونالد، احتياجي به خلاّق بودن نداريد؛ به همين دليل هم، كارمندان پشت پيشخوان*ها، حركات و رفتاري ديكته شده بايد انجام دهند. در اين صنعت، نيازي به پخت خلاّقانه يك همبرگر نداريد، بلكه بايد تنها به دنبال كسي باشيد كه فقط فعاليت هاي روزمره را براساس دستورالعمل*هاي مقامات بالاتر انجام دهد. بدين ترتيب، شما همة كارهاي خلاّقانه را از شغل*هاي اين رستوران*ها حذف نموده*ايد و همه بايد فقط و فقط به فرآيندهاي ديكته شده شركت، تن در دهند. به همين دليل اين مشاغل از انسانيت تهي گرديده و انسان*ها را به شكل روبات*هاي انساني در آورده است.

آيا شما تاكنون چيزي در مورد «مك*دونالديزه شدن» شنيده*ايد؟ و آيا فكر مي*كنيد كه اين لغت ممكن است بر شما تأثير گذارد؟ و چرا شما بايد مراقب اين تأثيرات احتمالي باشيد؟

اما بدون ترديد با آگاهي شما از برنامه*هاي مك*دونالد براي تسلط بر دنيا، شما هم احتمالاً دلايلي را براي نگراني خواهيد يافت.

«مك*دونالديزه شدن» اصطلاحي است كه به*وسيله جورج رتيزر در سطح جامعه عموميت يافته است. در دوره كنوني كه ترديدهايي در مورد انگيزه*هاي واقعي اين شركت چندمليتي (و ساير شركت*هاي بزرگ فراملي) وجود دارد، اين اصطلاح از سوي كساني رايج گرديده است كه معتقدند، مك*دونالد با هدايت ناصحيح جامعه و تلاش براي تسلط بر جنبه*هاي اجتماعي، سياسي و زيست*محيطي آن، به دنبال دست*يابي به اهداف خود است.

شركت مك*دونالد از طريق ارائه تصويري كه به دقت طراحي و اجرا شده است، در سراسر جهان خود را به عنوان مؤسسه*اي خوب، سالم. مفيد و دوستدار خانواده معرفي كرده است.

برنامه*هاي عظيم تبليغاتي مك دونالد، همواره بر ميلياردها نفر از جمعيت جهان تأثير گذاشته كه خريد روزانه توسط 43 ميليون مشتري از اين شركت، باعث پشت*گرمي آنان مي*شود- هر چند براي بسياري از مردم، مك*دونالد تنها در قالب يك ساندويچ خلاصه مي*گردد.- به عنوان مثال، دامنه فعاليت*هاي مك*دونالد را در سال 1999 ميلادي در نظر بگيرديد. فروش جهاني اين شركت 38 ميليارد دلار بود كه سودي برابر با 2 ميليارد دلار را براي مك**دونالد به ارمغان آورد.

مك*دونالد داراي 27000 رستوران در 119 كشور مي*باشد كه البته رهبر بازار غذاهاي آماده (Fast Food) جهان نيز محسوب مي*گردد. البته مك*دونالد داراي شركت*هاي توزيع كننده ديگري نيز در صنعت غذايي مي*باشد كه در سال گذشته، بيش از 303 ميليون دلار براي مك*دونالد سود به همراه داشته*اند. بدين ترتيب، مك*دونالد مثال درخشاني از اين امر است كه يك شركت در سيستم بازار آزاد تا چه حد مي*تواند موفق باشد.

اما در فراسوي چهره خندان عروسك معروف مك*دونالد (رونالد)، ابر شركت چند مليتي خودخواه و منحصر به فردي قرار گرفته كه در برابر دولت*هاي ملي، قدرت زيادي را در دست دارد. البته مك*دونالد تأثيرات خود را تنها در جنبه سياسي منحصر ننموده است. آن*ها از پول*ها و اعانه*هاي خود براي هدف*گيري و سلطه بر آسيب*پذيرترين افراد* جامعه (افراد فقير) بهره مي *برند. مك*دونالد همه ساله بيش از دو ميليارد دلار جهت تبليغات خود هزينه مي*كند. لذا احتمالاً M كماني شكل آرم اين شركت در اكثر نقاط دنيا از صليب مسيح هم معروف*تر و آشناتر است.

اين ابرشركت در صدد آن است كه براي افزايش نفوذ خويش در جامعه، بر تعداد مشتريان آينده خود يعني كودكان بيافزايد. به همين دليل، مك*دونالد همه جا و از كلاس*هاي درس مدارس تا پيشخوان رستوران*ها، (اگر نگوييم از گهواره تا گور)، خود را با كودكان و نوجوانان همراه نموده است. در سال 1995 ميلادي و طي گزارشي اعلام گرديد كه مك*دونالد با ارسال بسته*هايي آموزشي به معلمان فاقد توانايي مالي، اهداف ويژه**اي را دنبال مي*كند، اما در واقع و از سال 1993 ميلادي، اين بسته*هاي آموزشي براي كليه معلمان مدارس انگلستان ارسال شده است. در پرسش*ها و تمرينات اين كتاب*ها، ارجاعات روشن و واضحي به رستوران*هاي زنجيره*اي عرضه همبرگر مك*دونالد شده است. به مثال*هاي زير توجه كنيد:

ـ كتاب تاريخ منطقه: تغييرات مكاني رستوران*هاي مك*دونالد را در چند سال اخير شرح دهيد.

ـ كتاب جغرافيا: آيا مي*دانيد كه واحدهاي رستوراني مك*دونالد در انگلستان، در كدام مناطق قرار گرفته*اند؟

ـ كتاب رياضيات: چند سبد مرغ سوخاري به سبدهاي كنوني بيافزاييد و حاصل آن را به**دست بياروريد.

ـ كتاب انگليسي: اين كلمات را تعريف نموده و با آن*ها جمله بسازيد: ساندويچ جوجه، غذاي كودك و پيش غذاي ويژه مك*دونالد.

ـ كتاب موسيقي: براي اين جمله يك آهنگ بسازيد: «مك*دونالد يك مغازه دارد....» بليندا ياكسلي از انجمن اوليا و مربيان انگلستان در اين مورد مي*گويد: «اين كار، نوعي شستشوي مغزي دادن آسيب*پذيرترين افراد جامعه ماست.»

به علاوه، دولت كنوني بريتانيا از دخالت شركت مك*دونالد در سيستم آموزشي در مدارس اين كشور خوشحال است. در سال 1998 ميلادي، ديويد بلون كيت و استيفن بايرز، وزراي آموزش و پرورش و صنايع انگلستان، به مك*دونالد اجازه دادند كه در ساخت آزمايشگاه*هاي آموزشي منطقه «نورث سامرست» مشاركت نمايد. همچنين در سال 1999 ميلادي، (اين سال به عنوان «اين سال به عنوان «سال ملي مطالعه» در انگلستان انتخاب شده بود)، شركت مك*دونالد با ارائه ظروف غذاي نهار مدارس خود با اين آرم، به جمع حاميان اين طرح پيوست. ديو موريس يكي از كارشناسان بريتانيايي معتقد است كه اين شركت، به بچه*هاي مدارس بريتانيا، به عنوان كارگران ارزان قيمت آينده خود و يا مشتريان نسل*هاي آينده خويش مي*نگرد. همچنين، قاضي يكي از شكايات مطرح شده عليه شركت مك*دونالد، تأثير قابل توجه اين شركت بر كودكان را تأييد نمود و اعلام كرد كه مك*دونالد كودكان و والدينشان را براي پيوستن به جمع خريداران غذاهاي آماده توليدي خويش، تحت فشار روحي قرار مي*دهد.

اما اگر اين شركت چند مليتي قادر است نظير ساير شركت*هاي بزرگ چند مليتي ديگر، دست به اين اقدامات غير مسئولانه و مجرمانه بزند، چرا ما در رسانه*هاي خود مطالب زيادي را در اين مورد مشاهده نمي*كنيم؟

بايد خاطر نشان كنيم كه مك دونالد مخالفان خود را به*دليل اتهام «دروغ*گويي عليه اتهام «دروغ*گويي عليه شركت» مورد تعقيب قضايي قرار مي*دهد. آنان حتي رسانه*هاي معروفي نظير «بي*بي*سي» و «گاردين» را تهديد به شكايت نموده*اند. لذا آن*ها تلاش مي*كنند كه از اظهار نظر*هاي آزاد افراد در جامعه مدني كه ممكن است بر فعاليت*هاي تجاري آن*ها تأثير بگذارد، جلوگيري نمايند. به همين دليل، تعداد رسانه*هايي كه به*دليل اين اظهار نظرها توقيف و يا تعطيل شده*اند، رو به افزايش است.

تنها گروهي كه اقداماتشان در مورد اهداف پشت پرده مك*دونالد موجب عكس*العمل شديد مديران اين شركت گرديد، گروهي كوچك از فعالان مسائل اجتماعي در شهر لندن بودند. در سال 1990 ميلادي، شركت مك*دونالد شكايت خود را در مورد جزوه منتشر شده توسط اين گروه با عنوان «آنچه در مورد فعاليت*هاي شركت مك*دونالد، اشتباه است.» به مراجع حقوقي ارائه نمود. مك*دونالد با هزينه*هاي زياد حقوقي، نسبت به استخدام و معرفي چند وكيل زبردست براي اقامه شكايت قضايي خود عليه دو عضو اين گروه شامل ديو موريس (پستچي) و هلن استيل (باغبان) اقدام كرد.

آغاز اين محاكمه پر سر و صدا در شهر لندن، با واكنش*هاي فراوان مردم انگلستان روبرو شد. مردم بريتانيا در مجموع 35000 پوند به اعضاي اين گروه جهت استفاده از مشاوران حقوقي كمك نمودند. در پايان اين محاكمه پر سر و صدا، دادگاه مقرر نمود كه در مجموع، 000/90 پوند خسارت به مك*دونالد اعطا گردد.
در پايان بايد به سخنان جيوفري گاليانو بازيگر اصلي نقش عروسك رونالد رستوران*هاي مك*دونالد در دهه هشتاد ميلادي اشاره كنم كه پس از عذرخواهي از مردم چنين گفت: «من كودكان و نوجوانان را براي انجام كاري نادرست، با شستشوي مغزي ترغيب مي*نمودم. من هم اينك مي*خواهم در اينجا از همه كودكاني كه در سراسر دنيا به دليل فعاليت*هاي من به خوردن غذاهاي مك*دونالد و در نتيجه، كشتار ميليون*ها حيوان ترغيب شدند، عذرخواهي نمايم.»
منبع: WWW. i-resign. com

[Nutcase]

there is some good fast food outhere that is not so harmful, besides the usual burger joints, u can always go to subway or quiznos for a healthier variety if u want it fast :)

[donsaeid]

in bergen we have a resturant called W Burger and it is vegetarian fast food joint :D

[zubin]

even if not harmful *sometimes*, fast food is part of a flawed economic system based on monopolizing, inequality and exploiting the exploitable. I'm totally against it.

are bacheha ghaza khordan ham siasiye :D

[jose_mourinho]

You should add another itam " I HAVE TO eat fast food ".
I don't like to eat fast food everyday , but I have to eat fast food at least 5 days a week ( dinner and lunch) due to my situation.

[Nutcase]

yes most people eat it cause not only is it quick but more affordable than restaurants, this way the fast food chains get more profit while the very people who eat their food get sick faster and obese and thus have to get medical treatment, thats where the pharmaceutical companies come in, its like this vicious cycle, both corporations are essentially in bed with eachother, its a dark world we live in, everyone should see the documentary "super size me", its quite an eyeopener, be safe everyone :)

[zubin]

I have to add two more groups that are cheating on us, politicians and, with or without knowing it, the medical/therapeutical field. doctors or what not instead of telling politicians to start fixing the social problems that lead to I don't know around half of cases of physical and mental disease tell their patients to just keep popping pills. as you said its a vicious self-perpetuating cycle. you keep the violence and disease going and you got companies and politicians (and doctors though they're not evil) constantly profiting from it. its got a damn catchy philosophy behind it too that its people's own fault that stuff happens to them, which for me just adds to the evil of it instead of being an expression of a shred of sense.

[BehnazNaNaz]

migan ziad khordan in noe ghazaha kolli bimari miare
rast migam
faghat balad nistam mesle drha kolli esme bimari radif konam

[mahsa88]

i like kfc :D ama hamash sali ye bar daramesh cuz itz so oilyy

LOVE SUBWAY :D nice and healthy

[BehnazNaNaz]

akhe sali ye bar khordanesh kheili hal mide

[mahsa88]

lool behnaz yeh i knw ey? once u eat u get sick of it till the nxt year

[donsaeid]

1989 McDonald's McRib TV ad

[mike435]

i love chipotle

[RedWine]

Because of its convenience, fast food is popular and commercially successful in most modern societies, but it is often criticized for having the following shortcomings, among others:

Many popular fast-food menu items are unhealthy, and excessive consumption can lead to obesity.
Exploitative advertising and marketing are used, especially directed at children (which can have an adverse effect on their eating habits and health).
It causes environmental damage through excessive packaging and clearing forests for animal rearing.
It reduces the diversity of local cuisines.
It survives on a low-wage, low-benefit employment model, promoting exploitative labor practices throughout the food and food service industry
Its franchising scheme (royalties).
Its often lower quality versus sit-down restaurants.
The fast-food industry is a popular target for critics, from would-be populists like José Bové (whose destruction of a McDonald's in France made him a folk hero to some) to vegetarian activist groups such as PETA.

In his best-selling 2001 book Fast Food Nation, investigative journalist Eric Schlosser leveled a broad, socio-economic critique against the fast food industry, documenting how fast food rose from small, family-run businesses (like the McDonald brothers' burger joint) into large, multinational corporate juggernauts whose economies of scale radically transformed agriculture, meat processing and labor markets in the late twentieth century. While the innovations of the fast food industry gave Americans more and cheaper dining options, it has come at the price of destroying the environment, economy and small-town communities of rural America while shielding consumers from the real costs of their convenient meal, both in terms of health and the broader impact of large-scale food production and processing on workers, animals and land.

Schlosser's critics respond that fast food companies merely provide something consumers want and that the economies of scale developed by the industry have had a net positive effect on the American and global economy. Defenders of fast food companies point out that they provide entry-level jobs to people with few skills who might otherwise be unemployed and that individual consumers should be responsible for their eating choices, not business. They say that Schlosser and other critics blame fast food companies for social problems that are not of their making.

[abadani69]

Top Ten Guilt-Free Fast Food Finds!

Just when you thought you had to ditch the drive-thru, Hungry Girl is here with some truly amazing finds! Here's our TOP 10 GUILT-FREE FAST FOOD FINDS (in no particular order)...

10. Burger King TENDERGRILL Chicken Garden Salad
(Salad without dressing: 230 calories/ 8g fat/ 11g carbs/ 3g fiber/ 3g sugars/ 720mg sodium/ 32g protein)

This tasty salad combines juicy chicken, tomatoes, crispy carrots, fresh lettuce, and THREE types of cheeses. All that for under 8 grams of fat. Top with half a packet (they're huge) of the Light Italian dressing (1/2 packet = 60 calories/ 5.5g fat) or Fat Free Ranch dressing (1/2 packet = 30 calories/ 0g fat), and give yourself a little pat on the back for making this smart choice (if you can put the fork down for long enough!).

9. Taco Bell Fresco Style Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco
(170 calories/ 4g fat/ 20g carbs/ 2g fiber/ 2g sugars/ 560g sodium/12g protein)

Just say the magic words, "Fresco Style!", and your Taco Bell order is instantly transformed into a better-for-you food choice! They swap out their usual cheese and sauce combo for a kicky blend of chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro (aka Fresco Salsa). That'll save you 10 grams of fat and 100 calories on this terrific taco!

8. McDonald's Apple Dippers with Low Fat Caramel
(100 calories/ 0.5g fat/ 24g carbs/ 0g fiber/15g sugars/40mg sodium/ 0g protein)

Mickey D's gets an "A" for creativity by managing to put a really fun spin on what could be a reeaaallly boring dessert option (c'mon...apple slices?!). Let's face it; their yummy low-fat caramel would taste good with anything dipped in it (fingers included), but this modern day version of a caramel apple gets TWO YUMS UP from HG!

7. Subway Soups - Chicken & Dumpling, Cream of Broccoli, Minestrone, Roasted Chicken Noodle, Spanish Style Chicken with Rice, Tomato Garden Vegetable with Rotini, and Vegetable Beef
(90-140 calories/ 0.5-5g fat/ 12-20g carbs/ 1-4g fiber/ 1-8g sugars/ 910-1,230mg sodium/ 3-7g protein)

While not all of Subway's soups are great choices (avoid the chili, cream of potato, chicken with brown and wild rice, broccoli cheese, and New England clam chowder), we were thrilled to put rich "Cream of Broccoli" and hearty "Vegetable Beef" on the list. And although stores usually only feature two soups per day, with seven great options under 140 calories, you've got a good shot of finding one at your local Subway on any given day. Soup-er!

6. McDonald's Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken
(Salad without dressing: 290 calories/ 10g fat/23g carbs/6g fiber/12g sugars/ 890mg sodium/ 31g protein)

This is definitely our favorite fast food salad of all time. It's got orange-glazed chicken, mandarin oranges, crisp veggies, toasted almonds, and even edamame!?! AWESOME! Top it off with half a packet of one of their low-fat dressings (1/2 packet = 20-45 calories/ 1-1.5g fat). There are many dressings to choose from, so read labels carefully!

5. McDonald's Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone
(150 calories/ 3.5g fat/ 24g carbs/ 0g fiber/ 18g sugars/ 60mg sodium/ 4g protein)

That Ronald really knows his way around a soft-serve machine. He's managed to conjure up insanely creamy ice cream that's actually delicious AND low in fat. Pssst...we think this frozen treat is one of the country's best-kept guilt-free secrets. Pass it on.

4. Taco Bell Fresco Style Grilled Steak Soft Taco
(170 calories/ 5g fat/ 21g carbs/ 2g fiber/ 3g sugars/ 560mg sodium/ 11g protein)

Yet another "Fresco" option from our amigos at the Taco Bell. This one's soft and tasty with real hunks of juicy steak. It's a must-chew for beef-lovers.

3. Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad
(Salad without dressing, almonds and noodles: 170 calories/ 2g fat/ 18g carbs/ 3g fiber/ 13g sugars/ 480mg sodium/ 23g protein)

By skipping the crispy noodles and almonds, this fast food salad achieves record-breaking low calorie and fat counts! And if you've really gotta have that added crunch, those noodles'll only cost you 60 calories and 2 grams of fat. We also recommend swapping the fatty, calorie-packed Oriental Sesame dressing for their Fat Free French (1 packet = 80 calories). HG Tip: Read dressing packets carefully (have we warned you enough about this yet?).


2. Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists
(160 calories/ 5g fat/ 27g carbs/ 1g fiber/ 10g sugars/ 780mg sodium/ 1g protein)

Dessert at the drive-thru doesn't have to mean sundaes and hand-held pies exploding with fat and calories. Our friends at Taco Bell are offering up a sweet option with these twisty, cinnamonlicious little critters. Flaky and crunchy, these seriously hit the spot. Yet another fast food secret courtesy of your pal HG.

1. Subway 6 Grams of Fat or Less Subs, 6" Turkey Breast w/ Honey Mustard and Cucumbers
(310 calories/ 4.5g fat/ 54g carbs/ 5g fiber/ 13g sugars/ 1,130mg sodium/ 19g protein)

We love Subway's 6 Grams of Fat or Less Subs. Their Turkey Breast with Honey Mustard and Cucumbers Sub is particularly yummy and sweet. Feel like being extra careful? Skip the honey mustard and you'll save about 30 calories!

[abadani69]

Zagat recently released a series of lists ranking the nation's top fast-food picks, a survey done in conjunction with TV's Today show. Zagat readers and Today show viewers sorted their experience into four subcategories: food, facilities, service, and "overall." There are overarching categories for "Mega-Chains," "All Chains" (large and small), and "Full-Service Chains" (think Outback Steakhouse, which placed first overall, or Chili's or Olive Garden).

The best-overall category pretty much breaks down along fast-food party lines. The best burger, for example, is Wendy's, which uses fresh, not frozen, meat, and which, in my burger-eating opinion is head and shoulders above McD's or BK. Best fries are McDonald's, which, in my book, are the standard when it comes to fast food spuds. Best shakes, Dairy Queen; and best chicken, Chick-fil-A.

It's in the All Chain category where things get interesting: The megachains take a beating by the smaller guys. For instance, Wendy's is the only mega to crack the top 5 (in the "food" category). Instead, the names here are Panera Bread Co., Quizno's, and Sonic Drive-In.

In Full-Service, Outback Steakhouse takes top food and top overall. And there's a surprise showing (or perhaps not) by Hooters in the "best service" list (sex sells, people), itself one big 5-way tie.

That I do not see a mention of Applebee's or T.G.I. Friday's (both of which make insipid burgers) on any of the lists bolsters my faith, as does the fact that I see Red Robin on there for No. 2 "top food" in full-service (it does make a pretty good burger).

[RedWine]

Fast food bad hast,nakhorid baba !

[Dokhtar Bandari]

Burger King and Chick Fill A ... all the way.