I’d just like to say…

Good evening.

This week is dedicated to the fast food chains.

Specifically the ones that make burgers or fried chicken.

Also, specifically the ones I usually don’t like.

This isn’t a gripe though.

I am not a fan of certain fast food chains. It’s not ethics, though there may be ethical reasons not to, nor is it a damn the chain type thing, there are a few chain fast food places I like (Hi Sushi Train). It’s mainly that I prefer different foods now. If they ever have a brains and bacon burger I will race through the door and order ten. They don’t, and I am genuinely not here to complain about that.

I do want to say thank you to them.

To all the McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s (or Burger King depending on your location). To all the KFC and the Red Roosters (though I do still like red rooster occasionally). To all the placers we loved as kids, trashed as teens (be it verbally or physically) and took our own kids to as adults (your own includes the kids of friends and anyone else you are part of the village for).

This is the thing about these places, regardless of what they are, that I am grateful for. There are times when you may not want to cook. Maybe your parent isn’t the best cook. Maybe you can’t afford to go out for steak. It doesn’t matter. There are places you can go that are affordable, thanks to chains like these.

For some families this is their weekly, fortnightly  or monthly treat. I remember being super excited to go to McDonald’s when I was a little kid. We didn’t go that often, so when we did it was always special. I vaguely remember the first time I was able to eat a whole big mac on my own. KFC was in the same boat, something that we had very infrequently and was a huge treat when we did. I

I like a huge variety of flavours now, that places like that can’t cater to.

Some people prefer a smaller choice. Some people find comfort in the fact that no matter where they go, certain things will be the same. While this is not something I need to worry about, if the only food you can eat comes from a McDonald’s or a KFC when you are out because you know what is in them, then I am glad there is somewhere you can go and eat when you are sick of your own kitchen.

Thank you McDonald’s and KFC from the little kid I was. Thank you Big Rooster, wherever you went.

Part of the reason for this, is that on Saturday we went to Ribs and Burgers for dinner. I like Ribs and Burgers. Their ribs, while not the best, are good. Their burgers are also pretty good. I suspect that the food in every Ribs and Burgers will be pretty much the same. I have yet to test this theory, but it has a good chance of being true. Apparently their milkshakes are pretty amazing. again, I personally have not tried this but I trust the source.

I had beef ribs. I couldn’t remember how many came in the large, so to be on the safe side, I got the regular. I don’t learn somethings very quickly. I remember getting regular ribs from there in the past and thinking I should have gotten the large. Hopefully next time I will remember. The ribs were pretty good. The sauce was nice, the meat came off the bone pretty easily and they weren’t too fatty. All in all, good ribs.

As I was chatting with my friends, while I was eating, I looked around at the people who were there with their kids, and with their loved ones, friends or family. That was when it occurred to me. I was very grateful to all these places, for the atmosphere they provided. The food, bland as it might be, that meant you knew what you could get regardless of where you were.

Thank you.

Not to the moron’s they decide what they want when they get to the front of a long fucking queue. You can go to hell.