McDonalds?

I have no idea how the whole conversation started, but I believe it was that I mentioned my friend Marie, who is coming to visit in less than a month, had a lay over , I think, on the big island (Sao Miguel) and that is where there is a McDonalds.  The Azores have NO fast food as we know it in the states.  In fact, even their version of FAST food is anything but fast.  Oh, here I go lying.  The base does have a subway.  As far as fast food is concerned, I am glad there is a subway on base and not any of the other really awful choices.  Not only am I a vegetarian and therefore no burgers for me, but people would flock to a burger joint since they don't exist off base. Ok, back to the my story, where was I...oh yes, Marie...her layover is short, so she is probably NOT going to McDonald's. 

But the point being she would be close, and Ryan does like meat and he tends to eat way more fish than usual here since the steak has been hit or miss.  Well, as I was talking about this I hear him say "there is a McDonald's on this island".  I tried hard not to laugh because I knew this was not true.  I was like "um no" and he was like "um yeah" and I was like "um no" and well you get the picture.  In the end he confesses it was a knock off and not really McDonalds, but the closest thing this island has.  Some of the guys told him about it.

Then the next day we were driving around to get pictures of spirit houses (more to come on that) and we drove through Vila Nova.  Some ways down the road he mentions the burger joint is in Vila Nova.  The he says it is called Setenta's and I was like "OMG, really? Cause I saw that on our way out this morning".  I remember this clearly because I said the name outloud and thought "boy they must have family in Canada" (not uncommon for here).  The place has a maple leaf on the front and so I though it looked like the Canadian flag.  So on the way back...we stopped.

Welcome to the Azorean version of a McDonald's...

Ryan was delighted to bite into this bad boy...

Good thing they had a salad on the menu since there was nothing else I could really eat.

Well except for these too.

Of course I had to enjoy my latte.

So, that was a lot of fun.  We must have had good timing since they didn't reopen until 5:30 and we pulled up at 5:00 and someone was just getting back and unlocking the door.  Gotta love how things work out.  We drove past this place the first time since I saw it when we were coming the other direction and so we went past it and then turned around and came back.  Had we found it the first time driving by they would have been closed and not been there opening the door and we would have left.

Which brings me to the spirit house thing.  This is a picture of a spirit house.  I will have more pics and full details coming in the future, but I wanted to let you see what a spirit house looks like.

Also while we were out searching for spirit houses in the villages, we found this cute market in Biscoitos by the natural swimming holes. 

They even had some backed goods.


So that was a little of our adventures out and about over the weekend.

I found some random pics that I don't think I ever posted.  This was a dish made from left overs/new dinner idea of the Chinese noodles from my lo mein and I put a Morningstar Farms black bean burger on top with some melted mozzarella cheese.  This was delish.

This was a new concoction I made for lunch at school last week.  This was some canned (ok, bagged) salmon from Chicken of the Sea.  I mixed the laughing cow cheese in...

And made a faux lox and cream cheese spread for my bagel.  It was very tasty.

I also got a chance to enjoy some cottage cheese and mandarins.  This made a great preworkout snack until I was able to get to lunch after my workout.

I hope everyone is having a great week.  If you didn't see our from scratch adventures from this weekend...we made Middle Eastern food and bagels over the weekend.

GIVEAWAY UPDATE:
Krittie is giving away some Barney Butter.  Ends Jan 21.

QUESTIONS: Have you ever lived somewhere without fast food chains?  Have you ever had timing work out so well, almost like driving by something happened for a reason or missing a train happened for a reason?

I once left my passport in my hotel room in Spain in Granada and I NEVER EVER have done that before, or since.  It made me miss my bus to Sevilla, but I got my passport back.  I got on the next train and I am not kidding there were 2 girls sitting next to me in the back of the bus that I knew from my summer camp.  I hadn't seen them in a few years, and I was actually on my way to Sevilla to meet up with another camp friend.  Sometimes I think things happen for a reason.  Strange!

12 comments:

Beth said...

Ah, fast food. I'm not really a fan, but (surprise, surprise) Noel is. It's funny, because he will often go during lunch (on those days he conveniently forget to pack) and I can still smell the grease on him at the end of the day. Ick!

MelissaNibbles said...

I haven't had fast food since high school. At least you were able to get a good salad!

Anonymous said...

Melinda - what a great post! That burger looks amazing!

Not sure my husband could live without fast food though! :D

I plan on making gnocci in the next week or so - I didn't post the recipe from the class because I didn't really like how hers tasted - too mushy.

It is really simple though! I'll leave a comment when I make them!

FoodFitnessFreshair said...

I've never lived somewhere without a fast food chain! This wouldn't bother me at all though. I thought McDonald's was everywhere! It's refreshing to hear it's not.

Gina; The Candid RD said...

Oh wow, what a story!! I don't have any stories like that, that I can think of...
I can't believe your island doesn't have fast food. Seriously, can I move there with you please?! Did oyu know that America has over 85,000 total fast food restaurants?! AHHH!! And to think that the only fast food restaurant you have is SUBWAY! Very nice. Of course the place you and Ryan went to looks pretty similar to McDonalds, although Mcdonalds doesn't have giant olives to go with their giant salads!! Score!

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

I have never lived anywhere where there wasn't fast food... We don't really eat fast food anymore, but I have to say Ryan's burger looks really good! :) And I love all the olives on your salad.

I love the spirit house; can't wait to read and see more about it...

Julie said...

sadly there are about 40,000 fast food options about 5 minutes or less from me. they even put a new popeyes in town and that place is buzzin all the time.

that burger is MONSTROUS! glad you found an option for you and you had a good time :)

Tricia said...

Smart thinking with the laughing cow cheese. That stuff is so versitile!

Anonymous said...

When I studied abroad in Italy, there were a few fast food chains. McDonald's was one of them. My friends wanted to eat there one night and I remember being bummed. There is all this wonderful Italian food and you want McDonald's!?! And also,they charged extra for ketchup..the things you take for granted in the states.

Mari said...

I don't eat fast food all the time but I don't think I could live somewhere that didn't have a mcdonalds lol...sometimes I get a mac attack lol

sophia said...

Hey, I like McDonald's ice cream cone. But that's about it. That's so cool that the island doesn't have McDOnald's...their version look so much better though!

Unknown said...

In Brisbane, Australia they had Micky D's even in the train station-I know this because coming back from drinking at City Center, we were waiting on our train so we grabbed an ice cream! In fact- they have a three or four story Hungry Jack's (their exact version of Burger King) that stays open 24/7. I was kicked out of an Irish Pub there (yeah-I had a bit too much to drink)and tried to sober up with a burger-and I remember the place being ridiculously packed at 1 am! Don't scold me-I was on vacation! I actually am trying not to eat fast food anymore...it's very rare if I do indulge maybe once every 6 months or so now. I'm trying to eat sorta healthy in 2010! Oh and yes, you gotta hand it to fate once in awhile....everything happens for a reason!

Post a Comment