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October 8, 2007
MONDAY'S BIG INTERVIEW (#2) -- 10 QUESTIONS FOR THE FAST FOOD MAVEN
Welcome to the second installment of Monday's Big Interview (MBI). If you liked the first MBI, you're bound to like this one too (especially you, Stu... I think you actually requested something along these lines).
This Monday's Big Interview features The Orange County Register's Nancy Luna a.k.a the Fast Food Maven. A mother first, full-time journalist second, Nancy's love of fast food restaurants and the marketing and business decisions that drive them, led her to launch a blog that deals exclusively with all things related to fast food. While most of her writing focuses on fast food establishments and related news in Southern California, occasionally--like a few weeks ago when she traveled to the Big Apple--Nancy's coverage includes other areas of the country as well.
Without further adieu, here is my interview with Nancy Luna the Fast Food Maven:
- Let's start at the beginning: What qualifies you to be considered a fast food connoisseur?
Maven: A few things. First - like any Southern California kid, I grew up eating fast food. Drive-through eating is a way of life here. My fave item as a teen was Taco Bell's Taco Supreme. I just loved the sour cream in those things. These days, I've definitely upgraded my tastes. I go for fresh-Mex whenever I can.
My job requires me to cover the Southern California restaurant industry, which includes some of the nation's largest and most popular fast food chains. (Taco Bell, Del Taco, In-N-Out Burger, Carl's Jr., Wahooís, Rubio's, Jack in the Box.) I've been covering this beat for almost three years. I've written hundreds of stories on fast food - from legal flaps at In-N-Out Burger to E. coli messes at Taco Bell.
As a professional writer and an everyday consumer, I think I bring a unique, fun and trusted viewpoint in my Fast Food Maven blog. So please check it out.
- How many times per week do you eat fast food?
Maven: More than I care to count. Probably about five times a week. (And, before you say, "She must be fat." I'm not.) I try and make healthy choices such as eating tacos or salads with chicken and shrimp. It's rare that I eat a burger and fries. But, my biggest weakness is tortilla chips, especially salty ones.
- Count 'em down for us, 1 through 10... in your professional opinion, which fast food chains are the best and which are the worst?
Maven: I donít believe in Top 10s. So, here's my Top 5 Favorites:
1. In-N-Out Burger (burger) 2. El Pollo Loco (chicken) 3. Wahoo's (fresh-Mex) 4. Super Mex (traditional Mexican) 5. Panera Bread (sandwich)
Note: List is for Southern California chains, not independents.
- Fast food chains are notorious for debuting and then removing specialty items from their menus. For instance, when I was kid, McDonald's offered--for a limited time only--a rib sandwich (I think it was called the McRib); and more recently, Carl's Jr. had a Philly Cheese Steak Burger on its menu, and sadly, it is gone also. If you could bring back any one limited-run menu item from any fast food chain, what would it be and why? (Feel free to name more than one.)
Maven: The biggest scandal in fast food history is the demise of the crinkle cut fries from Carl's Jr. Those fries were the best. I will never forgive Carl Karcher and Co. for getting rid of those fries. I'm also bummed that Baja Fresh recently removed its shrimp tacos from its menu, and I would love to bring back the taco salad cup at Naugles, (re-branded as Del Taco years ago.)
- Whose French fries are better... Burger King or McDonald's (or someone else's)?
Maven: None. Both leave a bad taste in your mouth.
- If you were forced into becoming the day-shift manager of a fast food restaurant but were given the choice of picking the chain, which one would you chose?
Maven: I'd work for Chipotle. I like the idea of being in charge of one station, like the gal who asks you what kind of salsa you want. They make it look so easy. Plus the chips and guacamole are so good there. I'd eat it as a snack on every break.
- Which fast food chain has the best television commercials?
Maven: Funny you ask. I just wrote a blog entry on commercials, and posted a Poll to go with it. Click here to cast your vote on your favorite ads. When you read my blog, youíll see my fave choices. (Hint: Think CEO with a golf ball size head.)
- What's the next great fast food concept (something you've seen that has yet to make it nationally and has the potential to reach millions of stomachs once it does)?
Maven: I'm interested in The Counter, an up and coming burger joint that acts like a Subway or Chipotle. You essentially "build your own" custom burger. There's one coming to Orange County soon, and I can't wait to give it a try.
- Which fast food chain makes the best malt or shake (my favorite, in case you're wondering, is Arby's Jamocha Shake)?
Maven: Dairy Queen, of course. (And, yes, that's fast food.)
- With your passion for fast food, do you think you could do what Morgan Spurlock did--eat three McDonald's meals a day every day (and nothing else) for 30 days, opting for the "super-size" option whenever it was offered? If your gut (no pun intended) instinct is to say no, what is the least amount of money you would accept for taking on and completing the challenge?
Maven: First of all, super size is not an option anymore at McDonald's. Though, I suppose you can order "double" of anything, anywhere.
I would never do what Spurlock did to his body - not at any price. I just don't think my stomach could take that kind of greasy abuse. In fact, I know it. In the summer, I was researching a piece on fast food breakfast trends. I drove to Wendy's, Wienerschnitzel, Del Taco and Burger King to get several different breakfast items: tater tots, hash browns, egg sandwiches, etc. I tasted nearly all of them when I got home, and felt sick the rest of the day. I didn't barf, but I sure felt heavy and tired all day.
Feel free to comment on today's MBI by clicking on the "Comments" link below. While Nancy is a pretty busy lady, I'm sure she'll check in from time to time to answer follow-up questions and see what everyone thinks about her observations. (To read Nancy's blog, simply click here.)
Posted by Mikal at October 8, 2007 1:05 AM
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Nice one Mikal! You never cease to amaze me.
I'm going to agree with her and say that In-n-Out has the best burger, and that So Cal in general has some of the best fast food joints around. Baja Fresh is on the top of the list!
That was AWESOME!
When I was 18 and 19, I ate out (usually at Wendy's) up to 15 times a week. Great times those days. I would travel the state, comparing foods at different franchises of the same brand.
And you know -- even within the state -- McDonald's, BK's, Wendy's, Taco Bell's... they are not the same. I expect things to be a bit different in, say Maine, than in Utah (thanks mainly to the difference in altitudes), but I have found that management and the type of employees they hire (and how they are treated by management) makes a big difference... which is why I never eat at the McDonald's on Center and State in Orem and try to avoid the fries at the Wendy's at about 14th South and State.
The most consistent joints? Arby's (although my favorite is the one in AF), Utah's own Arctic Circle (my favorite shakes overall, although I do love the Arby's Jamocha!), and Sconecutter (another Utah chain).
Oh yeah... and I really miss the McRib. That was a tasty sandwich, despite its made-of-compressed-pork-scooped-off-the-butcher's-floor look.
My favorite burger joint: Utah's Apollo Burger (whose fries are dripping wet with lard, but oh so good!)... although Emmett's in Lehi takes a very close second, while a little house-turned-burger-joint in the tiny town of Eureka comes in third.
Sadly, as I age, my body is no longer able to handle fast food 15 times a week. I'm down to 5-7 per week these days.
I was really hoping for a winner if the "Best Fries" category between McD's or BK. I do concur that Inn-N-Out is the best!
Hmmmmmmmm. I suppose I should start by saying I don't usually eat fast food, but I did enjoy the interview with the MAVEN.
As a SoCal resident, I admit I'm anachronistic (I don't drive, for example), but I am getting kind of annoyed at the fast food chains taking over the Moms & Pops. For instance (and this will only resonate with Southern Californians), what of the Shake Shack, The Jolly Roger and Woody's? These are all local restaurants that have been (or will be soon) replaced by fast food.
While I do like Wahoos, I LOVE Taco Loco. Not only do I feel better physically when I eat there, I also feel better mentally that I am supporting something local and more organic than the corporate Leviathan (or is it a Behemoth?).
There is little doubt that fast food restaurants will continue to thrive in Southern California as long as people continue to spend as much time in their cars as they do. But then again, with temperatures going through the roof (did you see what the humidity in downtown L.A. was yesterday?) and oil becoming a scarcer resource, shouldn't we be moving away from that car culture (and, dare I say it, the attendent fast food restaurants)? Just a thought.
Thanks again Beliblogger and Maven...great stuff as always!
I have to admit, the only fast food chain I eat at is Subway, and not very often at that. I will only eat at a fast food restaurant if it's my only option, which usually happens when I travel. When I was a kid the local fast food joint was Burger King - I loved the strawberry shake and fries; and Dairy Queen. I'm a health food nut, so I don't think I could be a Fast Food connoisseur like the Maven, but it does sound like fun!
Question for Nancy, the Fast Food Maven: What is your favorite FF sub shop? And what kind of sub would you normally order?
She eats fast food regularly and is still not fat???ÖIs Maven 14?? Is this going to be the next Hollywood mega diet? You have Billy blank, Pilates, and now Mavenís ìloose your fat, faster then you can eat fast food. I wonder if there is some serious enemas involved in this diet. Either way I am in, starting tomorrow. But I have to say there is something magical about you Maven and I mean magical like a leprechaun is magical. Not a unicornÖa Leprechaun. Keep up the work on expanding our minds into the world of corporate food.
To Ginger: I did not say In-N-Out had great fries. They do have great burgers.
To Eljuan: Your comment prompted me to write an entire blog entry dedicated to your "fat" comment. See my post Wednesday morning, at www.ocregister.com/fastfood.
As for subs: I really am not a fan of sub sandwiches. I hate Togos (too much bread) and I think the meat quality at Subway is low grade. I love a good Po'boy, and Philly cheese steak, but unfortunately I haven't found any good fast food joints that can fill that bill in my region. If you can make any recommendations, let me know.
To all: Thanks for reading Mikal's interview with me. He certainly had some great questions. I plan to post my own interview with him later this week, so hang tight.
Nancy, you said you even write about all the different diseases that go through the different fast food chains (ex. E. coli at Taco Bell). I think if I were writing about different diseases it would turn me away from ever eating at those fast food chains again.
Is that a problem for you or do you feel they do a good job cleaning those "messes" up?
Have you ever fell victim to one of those diseases?
Excellent interview and discussion Mikal and Maven. For what it is worth, my favorite fast food chain is Chipotle. Not only do they have fresh ingredients, they have naturally raised meats, sour cream free of rBGH growth hormones, etc.
Maven, do you see a trend in fast food chains and restaurants moving towards a more environmentally sustainable direction in terms of local/organic/natural ingredients? How about in terms of reducing their environmental footprint, such as purchasing carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions, recycling fryer grease for biodiesel, or more eco-friendly packaging/composting/recycling programs to reduce the trash they produce?
For the Maven: I feel Burger King has McDonalds beat when it comes to freshness. I base this on the fact that McDonalds fries their burgers in batches (slightly) ahead of time and has burgers made up and on hand for up to ten minutes. While BK makes burgers as their ordered. I think one of the best things in the world is a Whopper at 8AM - it is the freshest burger in the Fast Food world in my opinion. What are your thoughts as to freshness?
I love the questions. Keep them coming.
Heap: Unfortunately, nothing feels safe these days. I'm even afraid of the toys I buy my kid, given the lackluster oversight of imports by our government. That being said, I still believe -- for the most part -- that America's food supply is safe. I have to eat fast food to do my job, so I can't hide at home. I toured a produce plant for a major SoCal fast food chain for a three-part series I wrote about produce safety:
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/article_1620982.php
I learned a lot from that story: FF chains and their suppliers go to great lengths -- and at much expense -- to ensure food is safe. Testing for pathogens is key, and many suppliers don't do this. So, even though, eating at independent joints is very cool, I am perfectly satisfied eating at a large corporate chain, with a big food safety budget (Think McDonald's.)
Good segue to Steve's best burger ?: I do like Whoppers. So given a choice between a burger at BK vs McDonald's -- hands down I'd agree with Steve. BK is best. However, I think Carl's Jr.'s charbroiled burgers are just as good. But, you're talking to a person who lives near several In-N-Out Burgers. Given the fact that I don't eat burgers very often, I have to choose INO as the BEST BURGER EVER! I also did a tour, by the way, of In-N-Out's patty making plant. Really interesting. They use two different chucks (from steer and cow) to make their burgers. They wouldn't break it down any further for me, but clearly they're doing something right. Plus, each burger is fresh, not frozen.
Speaking of good for you -- let's talk eco-friendly trends, as suggested by Ford Church. Yes, going green is hot in the retail and restaurant industry. I just wrote a story about Macy's, Kohl's and Wal-Mart installing solar rooftop systems in Orange County, and California. Many restaurants and cafes around my region are using biodegradeable takeout containers, too. Store designs are also changing so buildings are more energy efficient. Eco-friendly is not a flavor of the month trend. It think it is here to stay.
Okay...now I'm just getting jealous. As a Midwesterner I've never heard of half the restaurants that the Maven mentioned...and those I have heard of she's putting down. Why is it that everything is so much better on the West Coast?
To the Maven: How did you get into such an interesting field? Where did you get your start writing about food? I'm always interested, when I hear of people with unique jobs like yours, to know how they got into it.
Hello, again. I have been patiently (and expectantly) awaiting the MAVEN'S words 'o wisdom on my philosophical question...but alas, nothing. Please, Maven, oh please... (for the record, here it is again: "There is little doubt that fast food restaurants will continue to thrive in Southern California as long as people continue to spend as much time in their cars as they do. But then again, with temperatures going through the roof (did you see what the humidity in downtown L.A. was yesterday?) and oil becoming a scarcer resource, shouldn't we be moving away from that car culture (and, dare I say it, the attendent fast food restaurants)?")
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