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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 Jan. - 2 Feb. 2000 Issue No. 466 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 Jan. - 2 Feb. 2000 Issue No. 466
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Fast and furious
By Injy El-KashefI was among the hundreds who puzzled over the name: why is All American Food preceded by A&W? The mystery was revealed when I visited the place for a quick bite. On every table lay a small leaflet containing the menu and a brief history of the famous American chain. Like many other American fast food restaurants, A&W goes back quite a way in history. As a matter of fact, it started in 1919. It may be difficult to conceive, in our part of the world, that another nation has been eating speedily for over 80 years, while we began acquiring the bad habit only a little over a decade ago. But, as is the case with most bad habits, they quickly take hold of you, occasionally turning into addictions, and soon enough a world without them becomes difficult to imagine. What would we do without combo meals on a busy day?
The other common trait shared by fast food chains is that the food seems to be injected with a substance that causes instant but false feelings of extreme fulfilment and satiation, which fade a few minutes after leaving the restaurant. The strangest manifestation of fast food joints, however, is that they have an odd way of presenting themselves as very good ideas: cheaper, faster, and more fun than the alternative (whatever that may be). And although everyone knows that the less one eats there the better, one never stops. Whatever one may say about fast food in general, A&W is surely among the best one has tried.
The main attraction to A&W seems to be the Root Beer and Root Beer Floats (with a scoop of ice cream). The leaflet boasts that this "special elixir...[consists of] a secret concoction of herbs, spices, barks and berries" and although it became obvious to me that it is indeed extremely popular both in the USA and in Egypt, I personally find root beer rather revolting. The pleasant thing, however, is that root beer and milk shakes at A&W come in huge glass mugs, not in the sad paper cups used for the other beverages.
In fact, several other benefits may be derived from eating at A&W's. They offer five different hot dog options, three salads (fresh green, coleslaw or grilled chicken salad), 10 burger options (the Mushroom Melt Burger and the Big Papa Triple Burger are recommended), crispy chicken, as well as a section called Favourites (including crispy chicken club sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich and fish fillet). For side orders there are, of course, French fries (regular or coney, plain or with cheese), A&W rice and very good onion rings. For desserts one must choose between a Belgian Waffle, either with an ice cream topping or butter and (very little) maple syrup or an Ice Cream Sundae.
Prices are within the fast food range.
A & W All American Food, 37 Abbas Al-Aqqad St, Nasr City.
Tel 404 3573.47A Gam'at Al-Duwal Al-Arabiya St, Mohandessin.
Tel 349 5206.
