Starbucks Paris

[Busboy]

Where is that free wi-fi McDo's? thanx!

One could have made a bundle betting me that I'd ever post a link to McDo on this board. Here's the link to the McDonald's France site. They use pop up windows and/or frames. You'll have to click through to find the Wi-Fi locations. Click "entrez" on the homepage and click "Le Wi-Fi Chex McDo" under the "Guide des Restos" pull down menu. On the next page, click "suivez le guide!" Enter the départment number in the box on the next page (75 for Paris) and click "valider." Another screen will pop up with a scrolling list of about 27 McDo Wi-Fi locations in Paris. They say it's free. I have not yet had the chance to try it out.

I'm also told that in addition to the (expected) frîtes and the (unexpected) wine, MoDo in France also serves espresso. Europe is such a civilizing influence.

And, as we all know, they have quarter pounders with cheese. Of course, they don't call them quarter pounders...

[Bux]

Busboy, thanks for that link. I forgot all about the little popular lesson in cross cultural understanding from Pulp Fiction. The funny thing is that if you've been to France, but have avoided McDo, when Vincent says they call a Quarter Pounder a "Royale with Cheese" you're likely to assume he's full of shit. One might well assume fromage would have worked its way into the name, but on the McDo France site, there it is--"Royale Cheese."

[Louisa Chu]

Sadly there will be no reciprocal cross-cultural cheeseburger with the now retired 280 gram cheeseburger - le deux cent quatre-vingt.

[jeunefilleparis]

I think it's great Starbucks has finally arrived here in Paris.  There is room for both traditional cafes, where the French sit and smoke and debate, as well as quick and convenient alternatives for those of us who want it.  It can be lovely to linger for hours over a cuppa, but it's not always possible, and sometimes it's just not what one feels like doing.  I, and most of my younger French friends, welcome the addition.

I m sorry but I have to completely disagree with everyone who thinks that Starbucks is a great addition to Paris or Europe. They still serve the same overpriced crappy coffee that they do over in the US and they still dont pay their bean growers enough money. I d love to know what they actually pay their baristas in the states, probably not enough though....

Starbucks is no different than any other greedy corporate chaiin trying to sink its teeth into some more money.

I remmeber how sad i was in Prague years ago when I went to this one area and it was literally, a Burger King, Chilis. TGIF's and pizza hut in a row.

It will be interesting to see how all these other cultures will be affected by our disgusting food. We are seriously promoting our bad habits abroad. great job USA!

AT least they use their own meat and not our really great and healthy FDA approved meat....

Edited June 4, 2004 by jeunefilleparis (log)

[Louisa Chu]

There's a certain French gesture - not that one - that suits the kind of funny/kind of interesting American outrage against Starbucks in Paris. You shrug your shoulders, purse your lips, and exhale. It's kind of a gesture of resignation - it's not that big of a deal. You live in Paris long enough and you realise that the city - and the citoyens - have lived through a lot worse - a LOT. The thing is - bad iconic American junk food has not overrun Paris - we are not the Land of the Inflated People. And if we want one 3000 calorie Gigantico Caramel Frappucino every six months or so - it's nice to have that option. Not many people are going to go there for their daily cafe - and those who do I don't want to know.

[jeunefilleparis]

There's a certain French gesture - not that one - that suits the kind of funny/kind of interesting American outrage against Starbucks in Paris. You shrug your shoulders, purse your lips, and exhale. It's kind of a gesture of resignation - it's not that big of a deal. You live in Paris long enough and you realise that the city - and the citoyens - have lived through a lot worse - a LOT. The thing is - bad iconic American junk food has not overrun Paris - we are not the Land of the Inflated People. And if we want one 3000 calorie Gigantico Caramel Frappucino every six months or so - it's nice to have that option. Not many people are going to go there for their daily cafe - and those who do I don't want to know.

I guess you're right, i just feel its a slap in the face to the french. If some other country came over here and decided to sell hamburgers we wouldnt be very pleased, and personally i just see starbucks as a un fair greedy corporation, i d hate to see them anywhere, but in Paris its especially an eyesore. thankfully i never hang out in that area anyway so i would never see it

maybe it will fizzle out, maybe the novelty will wear off,,,,,, i guess we ll see