Fast Food Chains

(Newser) - In 1974, with an unpopular war raging and inflation on the rise, McDonald's launched a jingle—"Two all beef patties, special sauce..."—to promote its signature product, the Big Mac. Decades later, in similar circumstances, the fast food giant is reintroducing the mantra-like list of ingredients via a MySpace competition. The New York Times looks at how the economic downturn is driving advertising retro. More »

(Newser) - The California legislature yesterday passed a bill banning all trans fats in restaurants and bakeries by 2011. It's now awaiting the signature of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who hasn't indicated whether he supports such an action. If passed, the new law would make California the first state to enact such a ban. A similar measure was implemented earlier this month in New York City. More »

(Newser) - You might be well acquainted with the Colonel and his famous fried chicken, but beneath the crunchy skin lie some lesser-known facts. The Daily Green sides its poultry with a six-pack of trivia. It's a place: After toying around with the name "Ptarmigan," one town's handful of residents settled on Chicken, Alaska. Where to get it: If you follow Bon Appetit's advice, you'll take your chicken craving to Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, Price's Chicken Coup in North Carolina, or Willa Mae's Scotch House in New Orleans. More »

(Newser) - Burger King has concocted a luxury burger with a whopping $190 price tag, reports ABC News. "The Burger" features Wagyu beef garnished with truffles and onion straws fried in Cristal champagne in a saffron-dusted bun. The bold, limited edition tantalizer is being offered once a week at a single Burger King in London. The fast food chain is donating all proceeds to a charity helping poor children. More »

(Newser) - After years of haggling, Arby’s owner Nelson Peltz reached a deal to acquire Wendy’s yesterday, ending the involvement of the Thomas family that founded it. Wendy Thomas herself called the sale a “huge, huge disappointment,” the Columbus Dispatch reports. The family had hoped local franchisee J. David Karam would acquire the company. “It’s a sad day for Columbus,” said Karam. More »

(Newser) - America's best hot dog is to be found in Beantown, writes Raymond Sokolov in the Wall Street Journal . On the eve of a new baseball season, Sokolov criss-crossed the country in a quest to find the top dog. Hollywood, New York, and (especially) Chicago offered strong contenders, but perfection in a bun was found at Speed's—a humble hot dog stand in a Boston parking lot. More »

(Newser) - The inventor of the Egg McMuffin has died in his Southern California home at the age of 89,  AP reports. Herb Peterson began working with McDonald's in the advertising department, and later switched to the hands-on side of the business, owning six restaurants in the Santa Barbara area. Peterson, a big fan of eggs Benedict, came up with the idea for the breakfast-on-the-run Egg McMuffin in 1972, inspiring a host of imitators. More »

(Newser) - In-N-Out Burger's customers aren’t “in and out” as fast as its Southern California neighbors would like. Businesses near some oversubscribed locations are frustrated at drive-through lines that block their own entrances and exits—and some are ready to sue, the Los Angeles Times reports. “We've lost a lot of customers because they can't get in,” says one Quizno's manager. More »

(Newser) - A gunman killed a local firefighter and wounded five others in a West Palm Beach Wendy's today before