UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

[Labarum]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=BLOGDETAIL&grid=F11&blog=yourview&xml=/news/2008/01/02/view02c.xml

[not2late]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

Gosh, I know this will sound really stupid, but every time I tune into "East Enders", I hardly ever see the regular Enders running to Ian's and Laura's shop (we're about 6 years behind the BBC here) and having fish and chips a couple time a week for supper. Usually, Dot, Pat, Pauline, etc. are always fixing up meals for their families.

[*Emma*]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

that chip shop is still in the current one and you still never see the regulars going into it, though i bet if a macdonalds was built on the square it would be used.

[not2late]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

that chip shop is still in the current one and you still never see the regulars going into it, though i bet if a macdonalds was built on the square it would be used.

Maybe because Ian is such an unlikeable weasel?

In addition to McD's, what other fast food places are in the UK?

[Labarum]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

In addition to McD's, what other fast food places are in the UK?

Burger King
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Pizza Hut

1000s of Indian and Chinese takaways
Lots of trad Fish'n'Chip Shops
(some selling crazy thing like Mars Bars deep fried in batter)

http://www.chocablog.com/reviews/mars-bar/

Pie and Pastry Shops

[kate58]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

McD, Burger King, Subway, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Starbucks are all well established here in Ireland. Like the UK we also have lots of Chinese and Indian restaurants, even small towns will have at least one or two, but they are mainly one-offs, not chains. Also loads of chip shops, which are again rarely part of chains.

We have a good few home grown chains - Supermacs (a burger place mainly, though with a much wider menu than McD's and good salads made to order) Eddie Rockets (like an 1950's American Diner, serving burgers, pizza etc), Abrakebabra (kebabs), The Bagel Factory (which markets itself as "The Healthy Alternative". mmmm) and O'Brien's Sandwich Bars (which is also a very good salad place).

However from visiting the US I can say that there tends to be a lot more one off owner run cafe/restaurants here than there and in general fewer fast food outlets or chains. But that's changing.

[DuchessOfDork]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

Abrakebabra?? That sounds awesome!! I -wish- we had a kebab chain around here. Chunks of meat and veggies on a stick? I'd be in heaven.

[kate58]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

It isn't the type of kebab on a stick, it's a donor kebab. Using what I believe in the US is known as gyro meat - this is a pic from their site.



You know I always looked on them as poison cos of the high fat content, but thinking about it, without the bread, they are probably ok for this WOE. Would have to find out what is in them apart from lamb though - fillers maybe?

[*Emma*]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

yeah it is FULL of fillers, i always request a chicken and lamb tikka kebab rather than the donner meat.

[sadie147]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

doner kebabs and gyros are similar but doner kebabs are turkish (i think) and gyros greek .

never had a doner kebab but i do think the gyros here taste like they have fillers in them, they've always had kind of a meatloaf texture to me...sort of formed meat? i don't take my chances with them :-(

[DuchessOfDork]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

What a bummer! I love lamb. You know what's great on this WOE, is Mongolian grills. You don't have to add noodles, and there are sugar-free options for the sauce.

[Labarum]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

You should look for a proper greek or Cypriot kebab - solid cubes of pork on a cooked on a skewer and served in the pitta with salad. They also do them with little sausages or half pork, half sausages.

Eaten without the pitta they are perfect for Atkins.

[sallyseachange]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

I seem to remember that in the UK the doner kebab meat was always like mincemeat/meatloaf (correct me if I'm wrong anyone).
Here in Italy, where kebabs are fairly new, they have what looks like "real" meat around the pole. You can see the chunks layered on top of each other. I think they use veal rather than lamb (which costs a fortune here), but they'll serve them with extra meat and minus the bread, happily. The kebabs don't look or taste as though they're full of fillers, and if they are, the proprietors certainly aren't telling.. but then, this is Italy!
We're either lucky or deluded!

[Richt]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

It isn't the type of kebab on a stick, it's a donor kebab. Using what I believe in the US is known as gyro meat - this is a pic from their site.



You know I always looked on them as poison cos of the high fat content, but thinking about it, without the bread, they are probably ok for this WOE. Would have to find out what is in them apart from lamb though - fillers maybe?

Loving the way they call it "succulent meat". If succulent is another meaning of the word, fatty / greasy then I understand

[*Emma*]

Re: UK overtakes US as Fast Food Junkies

lol yeah ditto!

tisnt usually mayo on them either, or crispy lettuce, lol.

we have the elephants leg here (the lamb[if you can call it that]) then we have another one which is like you described Sal - though its chicken, real good and legal, though would have a carb count thru tonnes of spices!! and they'll quite happily give you a tray of any of the meats with a salad instead of the bread.