Flipping through channels this past weekend, I found myself again pausing on the Food Network. The program of the day was talking about French cuisine. Again, I heard the clich, “Everyone eats to live; only the French live to eat.”
Au contraire mes amis! Perhaps the French hold the trophy in Europe, but on a global scale, the blue ribbon is certainly ours.
I’ve eaten in outdoor cafs on the streets of Paris, devoured meals almost too beautiful to eat at quaint little restaurants in the French countryside and enjoyed snacks from the French Riviera to Calais.
True to form, the French dote over the preparation of their food like a mother over a newborn. Their ability to turn the simplest of dishes into works of art is unsurpassed. But to find people who truly appreciate eating in its purest forms, we need to look no further than our own Miss. Highway 12.
Unwilling to be burdened with hours upon hours of preparation-five minutes or less is our standard-we enjoy eating the way it was meant to be. To hell with prim and proper, I’d like mine Biggie-Sized with a large shake. Eating, in its purest form, is about uninhibited over-indulgence.
From Hardee’s new Thickburgers to traditional favorites like Burger King’s Whopper and McDonald’s Big Mac, American culture has evolved a fast food cuisine that is under-appreciated and unfairly criticized.
Fast food has risen to answer the needs of a nation too busy to eat. Being a world leader is no easy task. Our time and resources are already in great demand.
To find hours in the day for long, relaxing meals is not feasible. Thus, we take what we can get-often at an odd time.
If it were not for the late night eateries, many students would find themselves in the throes of hunger as they struggle to meet approaching deadlines. Again, the fast food industry answers the call. Subway does not close business until 4 a.m. some mornings-long past close of business for Harvey’s, The Veranda and the like.
And for these gracious services, we repay this unsung hero with unfounded blame for the consequences of the lifestyles we have chosen. If the fast food industry is guilty of anything, then it is performing its job too well.
Americans are a fickle group-especially when it comes to food.
Sometimes all it takes is a single mishap to turn us away from a particular restaurant. We insist on the highest standards for customer service and order accuracy, all within a few minutes time. Fast food that takes a while, by definition, is no longer fast food.
Despite this, the industry has continued to flourish. Through modest pricing, growing choices and a dedication to customer satisfaction, fast food has built itself into a staple of American culture. Without it, our accomplishments and successes might have been postponed.
Perhaps in another time we will have the luxury of endless hours to prepare our meals. Until then, we must make do with what we can.
If this means a lifetime of combo meals, ketchup packets and fountain drinks, it is a fate I shall enjoy.
Joshua Welch is a graduate student in industrial engineering. He can be reached at [email protected].