Taste Test: McDonald's Vs. FEBO
Written: Dec 14 '00 (Updated Dec 15 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: At least the Groenburger didn't have beef in it
Cons: Not as good as FEBO!
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| Kallisti's Full Review: McDonald's |
When in Holland I was compelled to make a near-obligitory trip to the Amerikkan mecca of fast food. I was curious to see if McDonald's offered a McKroket for their Dutch customers.
"Krokets" -- or "croquets" -- as some of you may know, are the Netherlandic fast food items of popular choice. The Dutch equivalent of, and competitor to, McDonald's is FEBO (pronounced FAY-bo)-- a place which sells deep fried lumps mystery mash, mad cow burgers and some very distinctive milkshakes that taste like absolutely nothing else on earth. The milkshakes and "krokets" are a quickly aquired taste, especially after you've visited one of the coffeshops and are hungry enough to eat almost anything.
The McDonald's in Amsterdam (just off the Leidseplien) did, indeed, offer a McKroket. The menu also offered a Groenburger which is Dutch for Green Burger, not Groan Burger. As I studied the menu I decided to skip the McKroket since I had previous read a report on the spread of "mad cow disease" to neighboring Germay, and I didn't know if the McKroket came with beef chunks or what. So I ordered a "Green Burger."
Food:
The offering to vegetarians was pretty good. Possible better than any of McD's American offerings. It was a vegetable patty with a slight hint of curry and cumin. A breaded yellowish mush that contained little cubes of carrots and whole peas, not unlike the little chunks of vegetables you might find in a Campbell's vegetable soup. I wondered why this wasn't available on US McDonalds menus. I would rather eat these than the weird chewy meat patties with little bits of broken bone in them that McDonald's peddles here.
I was, however, dissapointed to see that McDonald's served the "Green Burger" in the old-style styrofoam boxes that I thought were phased out in favor of environmental concerns. I'm sorry to report that the green colored styrofoam wasn't "green" in the political sense at all.
Decor:
The Amsterdam McDonalds appeared to be more modern and trendy than the US decor McDonalds. The interior color scheme was dominantly black & chrome with a secondary tone of green. Quite different than the white, yellow and red of the US McDonaldlands.
This was also not a "family crowd" as one has grown to expect in the US. The clientele appeared to be an international collection of trendy college students. There was not a child or a playground in sight.
Special Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations:<hr>Although I did not try the McKroket, I'd suggest sticking with FEBO for fast food in Amsterdam.
Sure, FEBO food is basically deep friend lumps of glue, but it's cheap, filling and hot. Even the food that's been sitting in FEBO's automat-type vending machines is fresh (sort of) and piping hot. FEBO is also the only place in Amsterdam that I could find that offered chicken wings capable of satisfying a Buffalo NY native. Unfortunately FEBO has not yet adapted the custom of serving the chicken digits with hot sauce. I suggest bringing one's own hot sauce.
Also try FEBO's Kalfsvleeskroket, Rundvleeskroket, Satekroket, Bamischijf, Speciaaltje, Loempia, Gehaktbal and my favorite -- Kaasouffle! Deep fried breaded cheese lumps! Yum! De lekkereste! And all for under $1.00 in US funds!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Kallisti
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Location: Stick a fork in it.
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