So as you may (or may not) know, McDonald's left Russia and then a little later Belarus too. But like everywhere else, these were franchises, so the brand is gone but not the infrastructure or the supply chains. In Russia, they got rebranded quickly into Vkusno I Tochka and kept selling the same stuff just off brand.
In Belarus, where I moved over a year ago, it was a little funnier. There's no brand at all so far. The McDonald's signs were replaced with a stylized "We're open" sign ("Мы открыты") with the yellow W/M faintly, barely resembling the golden arches.
Another difference here is a couple of new local dishes. When they first appeared, they were called with words for Polish nobility (like "Шляхецкi," if you know what I mean) because the bourgeoisie here still thinks in these terms and ofc waiting for the full on capitalism to happen. But very quickly those got changed after some backlash.
Anyway, someone in c/news suggested I do a review long time ago. So here's me having a "Native" burger ("родны" means "close to heart" really) with some new mushroom sauce, thyme french fries, and raspberry-ginger tea.
Review: It's still shit. "McDonald's" or no, it's still shit ok.
mushroom sauce, thyme french fries, and raspberry-ginger tea
fuck yes dude I need to go to belarus
Come, I'll feed you potato draniki and let you sleep in my fancy queen-sized inflatable bed
That honestly sounds leagues better than American McDonalds, I'm gonna have to toss my fries in thyme now
Also counteracts the carcinogens in fried potatoes surprisingly effectively too, I believe.
This guy explains it, I think. Also it was Rosemary, not thyme. Though I'm wondering if herbs coating the surface of fried vegetables that produce acrylamide in general help counteract it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp8zN1YH_lM
Legitimately interesting, good post :gold-communist:
It’s still shit. “McDonald’s” or no, it’s still shit ok.
:lukashenko-tired:
It wasn't too sweet, but probably sweetened still. Quite refreshing, but not something I'd return for. Ginger and raspberry did pair well, to my surprise. Now that I think of it, probably my 1st time washing down a burger and fries with tea.. The cashier told me to let it steep for two minutes before drinking, which I found notable, somehow.
So the sanctions amounted to not getting to use the same sign, and nothing else. The food is clearly the same. I am a bit jealous about getting the option to order tea instead of liquid sugar, but there are plenty of ways to fuck that up too.
Reminds me of how Fanta was created as a way to avoid sanctions while selling soda to the Nazis
McDonalds is garbage but I still sometimes get the cravings and I just have to get something.
It tastes nothing like a good burger but I still want it occasionally, I guess that was the idea all along.
its like being addicted to a drug (mcdonalds can prob be described as a drug). you know its not good for you and you know you wont enjoy and youll regret it. but those networks have been carved into your brain before, and your lizard brain knows if you do it you get dopamine
Is this an AMA? Do you know the guys from Molchat Doma? What are they like?
I've learned about them from Pitchfork lol. I'm yet to find a human person here who's into the band for some reason. I do like them though.
That's wild. I listened to their first album on repeat driving across northern Nevada on my way to San Francisco when the really bad fires were going on in 2020. It was the perfect soundtrack to the completely barren landscape and the sun being barely visible through the smog. Felt like I was on Mars.
are there cool stores for buying Soviet-era stuff in Belarus? I like Soviet camera lenses and I'm getting into Soviet microphones but getting them online is hard/expensive now with Russian sanctions. might be easier for me to just visit the area
I accidentally know that there's at least one in Minsk. But it's so mom and pop that when I called the owner said "I'm at the hospital, so the store is closed for now"
well I guess it's moot the ticketing web sites won't show itineraries to Minsk due to "governmental restrictions"
I'd have to fly to Poland and walk or something
In Russia, they got rebranded quickly into Vkusno I Tochka and kept selling the same stuff just off brand.
What happened to calling it "Uncle Vanya's"?
What's it like living in Belarus? Curious what you think about the 'old man'. I know he has his issues but it's an interesting contrast to the other soviet bloc countries and how they fared over the last 30 years. I wonder how much is due to Lukashenko and how much is due to other factors.
Put simply, I wouldn't be here if the image western media and politicians are working hard to create about Belarus and Lukashenko were true. My quality of life has improved, but more importantly I finally feel sane. Pragmatism with socialist characteristics does wonders for my soul. Not everybody here feels this way, obviously, and the cult of the west is obviously waning but is still strong, especially in big cities and among the more affluent. But you could say this about many other countries.
Oh, it's like the Burger King which is not a Burger king in the USA, but actually good
