“There used to be hundreds of pie and mash shops in London. Now there are barely more than 30. Can social media attention and a push for protected status ensure their survival?”
fast food
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Recommending stories from Yasmin Tayag, Elliott Woods, David Ramsey, Larissa Diakiw, and A.S. Hamrah.
Can Jollibee Beat American Fast Food at Its Own Game?
“The U.S. introduced fast food to the Philippines. Now Jollibee is serving it back to America.”
Pizzastroika
“In 1990, in the last breaths of the Cold War, a delicious act of American subversion unfolded in Moscow. It’s long been forgotten. It shouldn’t be.”
How America Got Its Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back
“Chili’s was once a relic of the ’90s. Then it blew past its competitors—and conquered casual American dining. In its Texas test kitchen, I saw how.”
The Tale of the Early-Round KO of Muhammad Ali’s Champburger
“Ali may have continued to get his free burgers, but he never did get those hundreds of locations.”
Is It Okay to Like Chick-fil-A?
“Boycotted for years by liberals—and now by conservatives, too—the Christian-driven brand is trying to walk the narrow path toward growth. What happens next will be enlightening for businesses everywhere.”
How a McDonald’s Knockoff Became the Immigrant Dream
“Chances are you’ve never heard of Burger Baron unless you grew up in Alberta, Canada, in which case it’s a cultural icon.”
Seagulls Who Eat People Food Poop People Food on Protected Lands
Fast food is killing the human world. Now it could be killing California gulls’ protected island habitat.
Hard Shell Tacos Aren’t As Hardcore Gringo As You Think
The origins of hard shell tacos are hazy, but certain things are clear.
