Wow, fine dining in McDonalds?

It's finally time to update this blog!

Over the years, my friend and I have shared a love for McDonald's. We've been together for a long time, and have a tradition of always eating at a McDonald's when we meet up. (Good ol' Mickey D's!) However, as we started to travel more, we noticed that McDonald's is EVERYWHERE -- and also different in each culture. Some people will have the attitude of ignoring this American chain in favor of a more authentic restaurant, but those same people might be surprised at how the menu will adapt to fit the needs of the new culture. It's certainly amusing to see the people who crave an American meal and be shocked at what's available at the local McDonald's.

So let's begin! What's first? 'MERICA. It'd be a bit rude to ignore the American menu, which will become the comparison (or "control" for you science-minded people) to other countries' menus.

What do I like to eat here in my home country? I'm a crispy chicken sandwich kind of girl. I've recently gotten into making my own fresh-made burgers, so I kind of lost the taste for fast food burgers. However, when I'm on the go or on a trip, if find myself ordering the 10 piece chicken nugget meal. It's just so easy to eat, so when I'm traveling and my stomach is feeling the "I've been on the road too long and I don't know if I'm hungry or nauseous" state, the chicken nuggets are great since usually eating the first few makes me realize I was just hungry and I'll be able to finish the meal.

My friend and I have a nice tradition though, starting from when we were old enough to forgo the Happy Meals. Together we would order the chicken nuggets and two burger meal, and we'd share. It's still a decent size to eat, and we never change from the normal regular/medium size offered in meals. Upgrading to large would be too much fry grease for me. I am a small person though (5' 3"), so probably someone else taller could handle the upgrade.

It's also interesting to note the varying atmospheres offered in America. I once watched a show on TV that discussed the top strangest Mickey D's around. Some included a drive through with snowmobiles, some are even first-class restaurants, where the classic menu is served in fine-dining atmosphere as well as real plates and silverware.

Here is a similar one found in Canada: