Recent article from ABC news -- McDonald's is introducing a new line line of "Italian" burgers. Where is the line in food that would make a food adopt a new identity? How does food become "ethnic"? What makes a food authentic?
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Even though I hate McDonalds and I believe there food is a threat to public health, I think supporting local products is a very smart marketing move, and very beneficial for local agricultures, because It's gonna have bring a lot of money to communities were this products are made or harvested.
ReplyDeleteGlobalization It's impossible to avoid or to stop, so It's good that transnational corporations adopt or at list offered products with a little local influence helps keep a bit of the long lost local culture.
I believe that the only thing McDonalds should be introducing is a Coronary Artery Disease handout. The Italians had it right the first time when they shun McDonalds.
ReplyDeleteSAYIN THIN THAT THE NEW ITALIAN BURGERS MAKE THEN ETHNIC, IS TO SAY THERE ARE READY WERE WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH THE MIC RIB.... THIS CHAIN IS STILL WHAT I STILL CALLED IT A CHAIN, OF NOT GOOD FOOD NO MATTER WHAT THEY PUT ON THERE MENU... TO BE ETHNIC I BELIEVE IS A FOOD THAT REMINDS YOU OF HOME, A REGION IN WHICH YOU ARE FROM... IF McD'S DOES THAT FOR YOU... I'M SORRY FOR YA
ReplyDeleteFlavor profiles, cooking methods and techniques, ingredients, tradition are all part of what distinguishes and defines ethnic food. I think it would be a misunderstanding to say that the Big Mac has been "Italinized"... because I think what really happened is that Italy has been "McDonaldnized". "Italian" has become yet another adjective that McDonald's has picked up on its cross global tour.It has no more meaning that "fish" before filet or "chicken" before nuggets or "big" before mac. I think the tragedy in the story is not McDonald's belittling of "ethnic" food, but that it may very well be an accurate gauge of the world's attitude about other cultures' food.
ReplyDeleteI don't think making "Italian burgers" is a good idea. I know, each country has their own different menu. This idea is just a trick of McDonald's business to make young people addicts of artificial flavor. In Korea, there are Bulkogi burgers at McDonald, which is a kind of meat with traditional Korean soy sauce flavor. Like this idea, Italy is just making their young generation get fat because fast food is just fast food. Even though McDonald says they care about Italian agriculture and the use of fresh ingredients, they still use unhealthy things like meat patties and fried things to meet their margin prices. Nobody wants to pay more than 10 dollars for a burger at McDonald.
ReplyDeleteMcDonalds isnt making an italian burger, its just a marketing ploy to steal some "pizza lovers" away from dominos, pizza hut, or sbarros.throwing some peppers, garlic, or olive oil on a burger should in no way qualify it as "ethnic or classic" Italian. McDonalds is not to blame, the consumer is. but whatever if you like it eat it! This is America, we are a melting pot, maybe they should have just named it the Italian-American line of burgers then there would be no argument. And for a 6 figure salary i would have no problem putting my name on every "italian burger" they sold.
ReplyDeleteIf McDonalds supports the Italian Agriculuture, it is at very least helping sustain the farmers of italy, but it doesn't give them the right to call it a italian burger because it has italian beef and olive oil, or panccetta. McDonalds needs to put more emphasis on the "Freshness" and "Nutritional Value" of there Menu Items just as much as where they are getting the ingredients.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations McDonalds,
ReplyDeleteNot only with McD's contribute to Italy's agribusiness, it will increase its popularity (now at 50% for those below age 30). This is another brilliant marketing tactic to work with regional tastes: wasabi nuggets in HK, meat balls in Sweden, Yogurts in Turkey, Kebabs in France for the less fortunate north Africans et cetera... McDonalds knows what their doing and I wish them the best, and hope they go global with the Italian produce. Its still McDonalds but by incorporating regional taste theyre reaching a larger market.
As a world traveler Ive seen many things. Ive been to the Dominican Republic where chains like Burger King and McDonalds have tostones (friend green plantains) on the menu in addition to french fries. Chains such as these have the intelligence to know and research what people like in the area. Take for instance NYC. if you go to the outer boroughs, you wont see a veggie burger but go to ANY McDonalds in Manhattan you will find it there. Its all about location and "knowing your audience". I may or may not agree with the McDonalds chain, thats an opinion I wish to keep mum out of respect as the culinary director is in fact an alumnus of CIA but I will say that with the high volume of media chefs get now and with their celebrity status it would only make sense to expand. This world is obsessed with food and the driving force is television. Why not market something that speaks to the community? (such as the italian burger) I wish I could pin point the where and how a meal becomes ethnic. To me, its all relative. If Im italian, an italian burger doesnt seem too far fetched but if Im an american who is used to the processed cheese and regular ketchup, the italian burger seems ethnic. If something is not in your spectrum of food knowledge, then I think to you, and maybe just you, it is ethnic... or foreign. Food's ethnicity does not mean it is authentic either. Ethnic food to one may be the same old meal to another. Authenticity is in the eye of the beholder as well. Out of the box ideas, something new and innovative speaks volume to someone who is looking for something original. Originality is the driving force of authenticity.
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I believe food is authentic through traditional preparation and ingredients of an dish. Since Mc Donald’s is using traditional flavors does it make it authentic? I believe it doesn’t. The dish has italian flair but it is not true italian. I think its great that they are stimulating the Italian agriculture industry. I also think that the reasoning behind this move is important because it is important for the new generation of on the go eaters experience their own culture and if they have to get it with Mc Donalds food then so be it .
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Well I kind of think McDonalds in a way is selling itself out going with the the sandwiches, but not in a way because they have always been doing that, like the new snack wraps or Angus burgers. They are always trying to do something new to keep from getting old, having more options. But what I dont think is right, is that it is just in Italy, they shouldnt put a trial on one area, this is a chain and world wide restaurant. How can people in America get it? They should have to put it out everywhere and not just in one area. And no matter what, I don't think McDonald's will ever be able to change from "Fast Food" to anything else, this is what everyone has been grown up around and they would need to make a drastic, drastic change for anyone to have a different perpective on, and if they were to try this, I believe most people wouldn't agree with it because it won't be what they are use too. That's just how people are. They can't change their ethnicity if you even could say they have one. What I would call their ethnicity is fast, greasy, American food. The US is known for its love of meat, burgers, steaks and chicken, I just dont think they could ever change from who they are. It just won't be possible. And what makes something authentic, is having putting the home-grown roots back into something and making it seem like you are in that location to make it seem that way.
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