[lginlg]

The Stamford Development thread took a tangential swing last week when the application for a new Shake Shack in Darien inspired a debate whether fast food business models made sense given today's culinary tastes. Shake Shack in particular had its fans and its detractors,

Since the conversation veered off topic, the mod asked we return to Stamford's Development. Thus I'm starting a separate thread on the subject of fast food and Connecticut's culinary tastes and health concerns.

Is there anything wrong about a Shake Shack (or Five Guys or Five Napkins, et al) opening chain restaurants in our great state?

[beerisgood02]

I don't think so - the one in Westport is always busy.

When I think of fast food restaurants, Shake Shack certainly isn't the first to pop into my head.

[kidyankee764]

Fast food is absolute junk and there's no way around it. Even healthier choices, such as Chipotle, are filled with sodium and chemicals. It's not just fast food, but chains, too. Chilis, TGIF, etc - you ask for a grilled chicken salad and the grilled chicken taste like it was encrusted in salt. Nasty.

I read somewhere recently that CT has the second least amount of fast food/chain restaurants per capita and that couldn't make me happier. There's nothing wrong with a business wanting to open in the state and a town can't reject it outright if the zoning is there. I just won't go there if they don't offer quality food. I tend to frequent non-chains. I don't even go to the smaller chains anymore because from what I've seen, places like Maggie Mcflys, Plan B and Barcelona have seen their food quality and ingredients steadily decline since opening several locations. More processed junk to save money.

Although I have two cheat meals per week - one lunch and one dinner - I consider myself to be a fairly clean eater. Lots of greens, lean protein, limited sodium and sugar intake and most importantly, limited processed foods. My pantry is empty with the exception of spices and a few cheat snacks for when we have company. My fridge is fully stocked with colorful fruits and veggies. My freezer is stocked with lean meats and fish, and a few leaner cuts of steak. Unfortunately that's unattainable for those on a fixed income, but that's another thread.

[FunkOdyssey]

I would like to think we are above it, but if the market is there for new fast food joints we obviously aren't. Darien though... you don't picture someone leaving their their $1 million+ home in their high-end luxury automobile to go stuff their face with some disgusting cheap processed chemical-laden junk food. I guess humans are strange creatures and money doesn't necessarily buy health consciousness (although typically there is some association there). I know if I were a Darien resident I would be quite embarrassed to tell anyone about the new Shake Shack opening up near my house.

[FunkOdyssey]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I tend to frequent non-chains. I don't even go to the smaller chains anymore because from what I've seen, places like Maggie Mcflys, Plan B and Barcelona have seen their food quality and ingredients steadily decline since opening several locations. More processed junk to save money.

Absolutely true and I vote against them every time with my money. Starve those chains to death and reward your local restaurateurs that are part of the community. You'll enjoy better food and do something good in the world at the same time.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by FunkOdyssey

I would like to think we are above it, but if the market is there for new fast food joints we obviously aren't. Darien though... you don't picture someone leaving their their $1 million+ home in their high-end luxury automobile to go stuff their face with some disgusting cheap processed chemical-laden junk food.

I think you're giving wealthy people too much credit. Everyone has their guilty pleasures.

Shake Shack is higher quality fast food, with really high end branding, run by Danny Meyer. It's perfect for Darien.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I don't even go to the smaller chains anymore because from what I've seen, places like Maggie Mcflys, Plan B and Barcelona have seen their food quality and ingredients steadily decline since opening several locations.

Plenty of smaller, independent restaurants buy their food from supply companies that have processed foods and artificial ingredients that are less than ideal. Many restaurants in one city will get their food from the exact same place. It's very hard to eat out healthy. I do like places like Chopt, Freshii, even b.Good that are a bit more committed to quality ingredients.

Shake Shack from a nutritional label standpoint is horrendous for you, but they do use higher quality ingredients.

Chipotle is pretty damn good for a large scale chain. They can't expected to be 100% natural, but they're close. They're looking to phase out preservatives in their tortilla. A salad or burrito bowl from Chipotle is exceptionally healthy compared to most fast food.

https://www.chipotle.com/ingredient-statement

[FunkOdyssey]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Shake Shack from a nutritional label standpoint is horrendous for you, but they do use higher quality ingredients.

Chipotle is pretty damn good for a large scale chain. They can't expected to be 100% natural, but they're close. They're looking to phase out preservatives in their tortilla. A salad or burrito bowl from Chipotle is exceptionally healthy compared to most fast food.

https://www.chipotle.com/ingredient-statement

Every meal Chipotle serves is cooked or otherwise thoroughly coated in nasty oxidized omega-6 laden vegetable oil. They try to cultivate a healthful reputation with some key buzzwords like antibiotic & hormone free but their food will put you in the ground as fast as any other fast food. And Shake Shack... let's take a look at the basic Martin's potato roll they serve every burger and sandwich on. Note the list of dough conditioners, preservatives, stabilizers and tell me this doesn't look exactly like the ingredients of your McDonald's or Burger King bun:

INGREDIENTS: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, FERROUS SULFATE, NIACIN, THIAMIN, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), NONFAT MILK, RECONSTITUTED POTATOES (FROM POTATO FLOUR), YEAST, SUGAR, WHEAT GLUTEN, SUNFLOWER OIL, CONTAINS 2 PERCENT OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, BUTTER, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, MONOGLYCERIDES AND DIGLYCERIDES), MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CALCIUM PROPIONATE (A PRESERVATIVE), GUAR GUM, ASCORBIC ACID, DATEM, CALCIUM SULFATE, ENZYMES, TURMERIC COLOR, ANNATTO COLOR, SESAME SEEDS.

Shake Shack hides their actual ingredient lists so we can't look up the rest of their food items but I'm sure we'd see alot more of the above.

[BicoastalAnn]

On the basis of health alone, is Shake Shack any more unhealthy than the locally owned BBQ, Chinese, or Italian restaurants.... or candy stores, ice cream stores, bakeries, etc. I wouldn't be any more embarrassed to live next to Shake Shack than those. It IS a fairly high end chain... it's not like Waffle House or something.

I used to drive from WP all the way to Westport for my Shake Shack fix (before they opened the one in GCT)! I would love it if there was one in my town. But more fast food-y places like McD, BK, Five Guys, no.

[FunkOdyssey]

Originally Posted by BicoastalAnn

On the basis of health alone, is Shake Shack any more unhealthy than the locally owned BBQ, Chinese, or Italian restaurants.... or candy stores, ice cream stores, bakeries, etc. I wouldn't be any more embarrassed to live next to Shake Shack than those. It IS a fairly high end chain... it's not like Waffle House or something.

I'm going to say yes, Shake Shack will be more unhealthy than the BBQ and Italian (assuming this is fine-dining italian and not a chain or pizza place), and not more unhealthy than the Chinese (assuming typical Americanized inauthentic Chinese).