In a nation whose governments try to take all things Christian (especially Catholic) out of daily life, one fast food joint puts the Catholic back into it.
We have "specials" like that all over South Louisiana. I've always been taken by the signs, especially by one at a local pizza joint that advertises on its marquee that there is shrimp pizza on the buffet during Lent (along with, I'm sure, pepperoni and hamburger). The funniest thing about these ads is that the food isn't really "Lenten". It looks just as gooey and calorie-packed as it would at any other time of the year. The only thing: it's vegetarian. So, in the minds of marketers, Catholics aren't really abstaining from large amounts of food (i.e. an actual sacrifice). They're just going vegetarian 5 or so days out of 5 weeks.
Here's my suggestion for a Lenten special: TWO SALTINES AND A GLASS OF TEPID WATER: $100.
WWWHHHAAATT?
Sacrifice, baby. If it's all about abstaining, sacrifice it: you get next to nothing and have to pay out the nose for it: you're still hungry after (sacrifice a real portion) and you drop a chunk of change (sacrifice in the checkbook). Although the restaurants hawk us Lenten specials, they're really not -- it's just a load of meatless stuff. We're just as full as if we had eaten a burger. Even better, eat the saltine and drink the water at home and buy the person's gas who's tanking up next to you the next time you're at the Shell station.
Until this Taco Bell thingie, I've never seen a restaurant promote "Lenten specials", though you'll see a lot of pizza joints around here sell fish and chips or (my favorite) scallops as a "Friday only special".
We did have a local supermarket chain, Almacs (which folded in the early 1990's), that faithfully had the "Lenten specials" signs up on the coolers where the fish was stored (not the famous-named pre-cooked nuke'em-up meals, but fish that was portioned and packaged by the store itself) every year. And in all fairness to the Jewish people, they also had "Passover specials" signs where the "kosher" stuff was when that time was nearing as well.
My local ShopRite circular this weekend had a "Lenten seafood specials" section. Various types of fish were listed, as well as... butter? Guess you have to have something to put on the fish.
They usually have other sections for Chanukah, Passover, etc. (even saw Chinese New Year last month, with lame stuff like canned mandarin oranges), so I guess the have to represent the Catholics too.
7 comments:
I saw that! We frequent Taco Bell since dh and I are on Weight Watchers. Ironic that stores won't use Christmas but Taco Bell is using "Lent".
Hi Thorn and welcome to Snarksville! :)
Last Advent, I awarded (in true Drew style) a million points to Bass Pro Shops for having a "Countdown for Christmas" sale advertised on TV.
These things don't happen too often, but when they do, I make sure they get their kudos! :)
Peace,
BMP
We have "specials" like that all over South Louisiana. I've always been taken by the signs, especially by one at a local pizza joint that advertises on its marquee that there is shrimp pizza on the buffet during Lent (along with, I'm sure, pepperoni and hamburger). The funniest thing about these ads is that the food isn't really "Lenten". It looks just as gooey and calorie-packed as it would at any other time of the year. The only thing: it's vegetarian. So, in the minds of marketers, Catholics aren't really abstaining from large amounts of food (i.e. an actual sacrifice). They're just going vegetarian 5 or so days out of 5 weeks.
Here's my suggestion for a Lenten special: TWO SALTINES AND A GLASS OF TEPID WATER: $100.
WWWHHHAAATT?
Sacrifice, baby. If it's all about abstaining, sacrifice it: you get next to nothing and have to pay out the nose for it: you're still hungry after (sacrifice a real portion) and you drop a chunk of change (sacrifice in the checkbook). Although the restaurants hawk us Lenten specials, they're really not -- it's just a load of meatless stuff. We're just as full as if we had eaten a burger. Even better, eat the saltine and drink the water at home and buy the person's gas who's tanking up next to you the next time you're at the Shell station.
JP
Until this Taco Bell thingie, I've never seen a restaurant promote "Lenten specials", though you'll see a lot of pizza joints around here sell fish and chips or (my favorite) scallops as a "Friday only special".
We did have a local supermarket chain, Almacs (which folded in the early 1990's), that faithfully had the "Lenten specials" signs up on the coolers where the fish was stored (not the famous-named pre-cooked nuke'em-up meals, but fish that was portioned and packaged by the store itself) every year. And in all fairness to the Jewish people, they also had "Passover specials" signs where the "kosher" stuff was when that time was nearing as well.
BMP
My local ShopRite circular this weekend had a "Lenten seafood specials" section. Various types of fish were listed, as well as... butter? Guess you have to have something to put on the fish.
They usually have other sections for Chanukah, Passover, etc. (even saw Chinese New Year last month, with lame stuff like canned mandarin oranges), so I guess the have to represent the Catholics too.
What a tasty irony! There are 6 BEEFS on the post about Lenten food.
And here's another tasty tidbit - Fr. Loren, who I got this from, originally posted this on a FRIDAY.
BMP
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