McDonald’s Is Moving Into The Louvre… Will We See The First Mona Lisa Happy Meal?
Well, well, well.
Looks like Paris will be mixing junk food and fine art.
Yes, McDonald’s is slated to move into the famed Louvre in Paris.
This news made me both cringe and laugh.
Even though there is an underground mall in the Louvre and a food court, I hardly think that picking McDonald’s as a gastronomic delight shows good judgment or taste.
Underground Mall In The Louvre
I find it very ironic that Paris chose to put a McDonald’s in the Louvre. Not only did they pick a restaurant that is a crappy corporate fast food chain, but they picked a food chain that pretty much screams The United States of America. Especially with France’s lonnnnng history of poo-pooing the US.
The US should be poo-pooed for their love affair with fast food. It’s sad that McDonald’s has become one of the symbols of US culture by many.
I would be happy if all the McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Kentucky Fried Chickens, and the rest of the heart attack restuarants would all go away. They lure customers in with convenience and low prices, and could care less about their customer’s health.Yeah, I know, everything in moderation, and it’s up to the individual if they want to eat there or not. But many people just don’t get how dangerous these places are to their health.The fat content and calorie counts are not in plain site for the consumer in these places, and I think they should be posted.
These restaurants (I use the term lightly) not only play a major role in US obesity, but other related health problems such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and many more.
WE SIMPLY DON’T NEED THEM FOLKS.
So, back to the Louvre…
The NY Post wrote:
PARIS — French culture and American convenience will come together in December — thanks to plans by the McDonald’s restaurant chain to hang its shingle in the shadow of the Louvre.
McDonald’s is delighted at the prospect of feeding hungry culture vultures. But not everyone is happy about mixing high art and fast food.
The McDonald’s will be installed in the food court of the underground mall adjoining the museum, known as the Carrousel du Louvre, as the fast food chain fetes its 30th anniversary in France, McDonald’s France said.
The pairing could serve the interests of both. The Louvre is the world’s most visited museum; France is McDonald’s top market outside the United States.
In France and elsewhere, McDonald’s is emblematic of U.S.-driven globalization and the homogenization of cultures. However, the fast food chain’s chief executive, Jim Skinner, said in an interview published Monday that the reason McDonald’s is such a hit in France, where it has over 1,000 outlets, is that “we are perceived as a French enterprise.”
The McDonald’s on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue is the most profitable in the world, he said. The interview was published in the economic daily Les Echos.
The Louvre refused comment on the expected arrival of its new neighbor. Spokeswoman Aggy Lerolle said only that it is not up to the museum veto McDonald’s arrival since the Carrousel is run by a private company rather than the state-run museum.
However, some French are indignant about mixing French fries and art treasures in the backyard of the former palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV.
The Web site louvrepourtous.fr, which is aimed at keeping museum visitors informed, is among those whose hackles have been raised at the coming of McDonald’s, even in a food court where a variety of restaurants offering cuisines of the world are present.
“Rendezvous in December for a Mona Lisa Extra Value Menu,” it wrote, contending that the Louvre could have, and should have, put its foot down.
Some saw McDonald’s taste for art coming long ago. In January 2007, the culture wing of the large CFDT union decried what it said was the “Disleylandization” of French culture, claiming the state is looking to turn museums into theme parks. It cited plans for the so-called desert Louvre, to open in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates, and the arrival of a Starbucks coffee house near the Louvre.
“When will McDonald’s set up shop?” the union asked, perhaps more presciently than it wished.
McDonald’s says no date has been set for its opening at the Carrousel du Louvre.
European art and what passes for American cuisine have crossed paths before. The former chief of Italy’s McDonald’s chain, Mario Resca, now supervises that country’s chain of
illustrious museums.
“The McDonald’s on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue is the most profitable in the world“.
In the world? Wow.
I also had no idea that there were already over 1000 McDonald’s restaurants in France.
So I guess they figure one more can’t hurt?
The one in the Louvre will probably end up outselling the Champs-Elysees Avenue location.
AND Starbucks, another more recent symbol of American culture (again, very sad) may be moving down the block from the Louvre?
I say anybody who is dumb enough to pay Starbucks for their over priced coffee concoctions can have them.
Hmmm… Remember France… those who throw stones….
But perhaps the Louvre can put a spin on this particular McDonald’s location and turn it into an artsy/educational approach for the kids.
Maybe they can have the very first ”Mona Lisa Happy Meal”.
Or perhaps something more catchier like the “Oui Oui Happy Meal”, (well… maybe not)
The kids can collect “Paintings of The Louvre Trading Cards”!
Although the painting below of Madame de Sorquainville by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau, in which he brilliantly captured the first official “purple nurple“ in oil in 1749, should be left out of the Happy Meal trading card collection in my opinion.
Hey Kids! Collect Them All And Receive Free Pommes Frites!
And what about the parents?
How about a ”McDavinci Sandwich”meal? It can come complete with secret codes that you must hold in front of a mirror and decipher for your chance to win a free McDe Milo shake or the grand prize of a family four pack of tickets to the Louvre. Dan Brown would be so tickled! (if this idea materializes… I want 10%)
So France… you took Jerry Lewis, (well, not really) and now you are putting a McDonald’s in the Louvre?
What’s next? A Dunkin Donuts selling “croissanwiches” next to the Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower?
So will the French become chubby from all the junk food they will be consuming? Only time will tell.
Some Americans love junk food SO much, they have become quite desperate!
Just ask Darrel Medley of Jacksonville…
A Jacksonville man has been charged for extorting a Jacksonville Dunkin Donuts for a croissanwich.
Darryl Andre Medley, 33, of Sherwood Road, was charged Friday by the Jacksonville Police Department with extortion and resisting a public officer.
Medley told another customer to go ahead of him in line, Capt. Billy Houston said.
“He told her she was going to pay for his too. She thought it was a joke until he motioned down and acted like he had a gun,” he said.
Medley was located about a block away from the Dunkin Donuts on Sherwood Road and U.S. 17 without a weapon, Houston said.
No injuries were sustained by the victim.
Bond was set at $6,000.
Wow $6,000 bond for a croissanwich heist!
Yeehaw! Totally worth it dude! *snort*
I swear, you can’t make this crap up.
FYI: “The kipfel – ancestor of the croissant – has been documented in Austria going back at least as far as the 13th century. The French version of the kipfel was named for its crescent (croissant) shape.”
Thanks Wikipedia!
AND many people also think that french fries were invented by the French. Nope!
French Fries first showed up in BELGIUM.
Thanks again to Wikipedia:
“Belgian historian Jo Gerard recounts that potatoes were fried in 1680.”
Gee, France…. can’t you come up with your own dern junk food for cripes sakes! *snicker*
So to the controversy…
Many people are outraged over McDonald’s moving into the Louvre. Some people think it’s a shock at first and that visitors to the Louvre and residents of France will get over it, and others could simply care less.
I am stuck between being a little dismayed, and not caring, mixed with a little bit of gloating over the fact that France seems to be getting more and more Americanized.
I do know I wouldn’t like to see a McDonald’s move into the MET.
So what’s your take on McDonald’s moving into the Louvre?
Should we have the same attitude as France’s former Queen, Marie Antoinette?
And say “let them eat burgers“?
Do you say, oui?
OR… non et non ! (absolutely not!)
OR… je m’en fiche! ( I don’t care)
Speak your mind and leave a comment.
Merci!
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jesus have you ever even had french food? that’s some of the most fattening stuff out there. obviously not as gross as McDonalds, but i mean, fois gras? i’m surprised i didn’t die of a coronary while in paris.
Comment by bb — October 12, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
and honestly, your whole thing on french fries is retarded. WE named them french fries, not the french. so the french didn’t steal anything, unless you consider our entire culture to have stolen pretty much everything.
i’m curious about this attitude that the french are all anti american. i don’t know if it’s because i live in the “liberal north east” but the idea of gloating over the “americanization” or france due to the adding of one more american chain to the ton that already litter paris seems really goofy…i kind of don’t understand what about that gives reason to feel glib or superior…
essentially the only thing deserving of the epic fail tag is the fact you spent time writing this. or i guess me for responding.
Comment by bb — October 12, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
Woah! Hold on there “bb” (I can certianly imagine what that stands for)
First off, yes I am aware how fattening French food is. DUH!
But it’s a known fact that the French remain thin mainly due to the fact that they eat smaller portions. I don’t see how this would be possible if they eat McDonald’s. Tee hee.
ALSO you make it sound like I am the first person to talk about French’s anti American attitude. I never went to France. But my parents did, and they were treated VERY rudely their whole vacation. My Dad was a WWII vet and he was VERY insulted. And they are two of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.
And you do not read very well. I said MOST people think that the french invented french fries. That’s all. MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT. Got it?
AND this quote from the article:
“Some saw McDonald’s taste for art coming long ago. In January 2007, the culture wing of the large CFDT union decried what it said was the “Disleylandization” of French culture, claiming the state is looking to turn museums into theme parks. It cited plans for the so-called desert Louvre, to open in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates, and the arrival of a Starbucks coffee house near the Louvre.”
Did you miss that part of the story??
I never said that adding one more McDonald’s will be the americanization of France. I think them adding one to the Louvre just adds to it..
Sorry you thought this article was so “fail”.
You never even bothered to tell your opinion about McDonald’s in the Louvre.
You are the glib one, perhaps you spent too much time over there!
If you don’t like my articles.Then perhaps you shouldn’t come back. Correct? n’est-ce pas?
Comment by Queen — October 12, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
bb is actually my initials though i’m sure you thought of something clever like big bitch or big bertha or something.
i think it’s lame that there’s going to be a mcdonalds in the louvre, but it’s not surprising, considering how many mcdonalds there are in all sorts of random places in europe where you wouldn’t expect to see a mcdonalds.
as per the french fry comment, while you did say most people made the incorrect assumption, you then went on to try to berate the french for stealing french fries from belgium, which doesn’t even make sense since the french naming of the word has nothing to do with france. so my reading comprehension is up to snuff, i think it’s your far reaching attempts to insult the french that fell short.
i just think that it’s a tired argument that the french are all jerks to americans. chances are more likely that paris is one of the biggest european destinations for americans and therefore americans have had more negative experience in paris since that seems to be one of the first cities people go to outside of the US. i mean, i used to live in london and boy they hated americans something fierce over there…i think it was easier to ignore/conceal since we as americans seem to find the british accent so darn charming.
Comment by bb — October 12, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
The Americans aren’t the only ones to be treated badly in France. Japanese people believe France to be “the best, dreamiest most romantic place in the world”, and then ball their eyes out when they realize how despicable the people are. My British friends who visited France were treated horribly, and even a black French foreign exchange student I roomed with for 3 years hated her own people’s attitude towards foreigners and people of her own colour. It’s not a secret that France and Italy are pretty much bigots to outsiders and those not of their fair, greasy complexion.
Comment by Mizzy — October 12, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
To bb…
Ahhhh you came back. Good for you.
Listen it’s my job to make boring stories controversial and poke fun here and there. IT’S ONLY A BLOG. Not a lesson in history.
How boring would these stories be if they didn’t poke fun? That is what gossip is all about.
AND FYI, both my mother and I are French Canadian. I know that is not the same..(before you jump down my throat) but I think you get it. Born and raised here and I don’t know a lick of French.
Back in the 80’s I was treated like complete an utter garbage in three seperate clubs in Canada, (in Vancouver) because I was from the US,(and one was a night club called NY NY!!)Of course once they found out I was French Canadian they changed their tune. SAD. Needless to say we left the club.
I still ADORE Canada and go once a year.
And I also have been treated like total garbage in the US in northern WA. state because I am French Canadian and part Canadian Indian! That is a double whammy to some folks there. Again SAD.
So…..
So are we good?
Comment by Queen — October 12, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
that’s so crazy that you went through all that, i always think of canada as being so level headed. though my experiences in canada are pretty limited (i live in boston now so i end up going to montreal a lot, and they seem pretty laid back there at least)
and yeah i get the whole need to make things silly, i do. i just get all cranky when i see things that seem too pro america, which is really stupid since i -am- pro america, just not when it seems like it’s at the expense of someone else.
i like the scientology stuff though
Comment by bb — October 12, 2009 @ 7:50 pm
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