Neil Denton wrote:

> "Gregory Morrow" > wrote in message
> om...
>
>>"Simone Kerby" > wrote in message
>
> news:<4046C770.6723.1DCF0FD@localhost>...
>
>>>AMERICAN FOOD vs EUROPEAN FOOD
>>>
>>>In general, which offers a more healthy diet?
>>>
>>>Americans tend toward fast foods, either take-out
>>>or home cooking that does not take too much time
>>>to prepare.
>>>
>>>In Europe, people still spend hours over a hot stove.
>>>People still stop at the market on the way home from
>>>work instead of weekly or monthly shopping as in
>>>North America.
>>
>>
>>Interesting...I've read that France is McDonald's single most
>>profitable market outside of the US. IIRC there is a French chain
>>that offers nothing but frozen food for sale...and it's very, very
>>popular.
>>
>>Many people in Europe shop just like Americans - in bulk and at huge
>>supermarkets, which in Europe are called "hypermarkets" (the
>>hypermarket being a French invention). They drive their cars to the
>>Tescos or whatever that litter the outskirts of most European cities
>>of any size - it's the same from Newcastle to Krakow to Palermo to
>>Oslo. Growth of this kind of shopping has been especially rapid in
>>the former Eastern Bloc states....
>>
>>Here in Chicago I shop just like an "old - fashioned" European - I
>>shop several times a week at smaller stores for my vittles. Don't
>>have a car, so I don't drive to Costco or wherever to shop, I walk or
>>take the bus. There are a lot of us like that here ;-)
>>
>>US - style fast food has established healthy footholds all over
>>Europe, from Paris and Rome to provincial Russia and other former
>>Communist states. Some of these firms are US, some of them are home -
>>grown e.g. in Germany you can find "Schnell Imbiss" outlets
>>everywhere, and there is a chain in Russia that offers "home - style"
>>Russian food fast and cheap. They mostly use the same marketing ploys
>>and technologies as McDo's, etc. Pizza is a very popular fast food
>>both in the States and everywhere in Europe - is this a "US" or
>>"European" phenomenon...???
>>
>>
>>
>>>What are your favorite American dishes?
>>>
>>>What are your favorite European dishes?
>>>
>>>What are your thoughts on the difference in these 2
>>>styles of cuisine?
>>
>>
>>There is increasingly a "world cuisine" that comprises stuff like Tex
>>- Mex, Asian (stir fry and sushi) hamburgers, Italian, fish and chips,
>>and many other things. In pretty much any city of any size all over
>>the world these "cuisines" are readily available. You can great sushi
>>in Vladivostok and pretty good Singapore noodles in St. Paul and
>>decent hamburgers in Kathmandu and tolerable pizza in Havana and and
>>fajitas and margaritas in Bangalore and Southern BBQ in London and
>>quiche in Beirut...etcetera, etcetera, etcetera....
>>
>>And what about those "Irish" pubs that are ubiquitous absolutely
>>everywhere? Those are big world - wide chain operations, not the
>>result of some disgruntled Irish ex - pat wanting to open up a wee bit
>>'o the old sod at the airport in Osaka or in downtown Santiago....
>>
>>I declare your questions as to preferences, then, as moot :-)
>>
>>--
>>Best
>>Greg
>
>
> I don't know the stats for Europe, but I heard reported that in North
> America (I assume USA and Canada were actually included), 75% of restaurant
> meals consumed involve a burger, and 95% involve fries....which is not to
> say that you can't find fabulous, healthy food in pretty much any
> reasonable-size city in those two countries, just that most people prefer
> burgers and fries.
>
>
>
On my visit to Europe, just about EVERY meal came with fries, whether
ordered or not. I can't imagine eating a burger 75% or my meals. In
fact, I think it has been 3 or 4 years since I have had one in a
restaurant. I like to KNOW what I am eating, and ANYTHING might find
its way into restaurant ground meat.