The Table for July 27, 2012

Mike Licht, Notions Capital.com International

The Day is finally here. The Olympic Ceremony will have the world watching. England will have all the trappings and pageantry associated with a royal wedding and I am excited to see how this nation hosts the world’s largest athletic competition and social party. Just to show you some of the numbers, here is a cool London Olympic infographic . What is there to eat? I know for certain that McDonald’s, the purveyor of health and nutrition, will be pedaling their food on Trafalgar Square. London’s mayor spoke up for the fast food chain and its long time support of the games. It seems like setting up a paradox having McDonald’s and the Olympics in the same paragraph.

Should the Olympics be more selective about their sponsors?

National

The US economy considers servers/waiters to be the cheapest labor in the country, paying them less than $3.00 an hour. Even with tips, the morale and turnover for servers must be low. Well, Red Lobster has figured out how to belittle these employees even more while improving the profit line by saving labor cost. The 8 Billion profit sales of Darden Restaurants, which include Red Lobster and Olive Garden, have created server assistants positions and are demoting servers to fill eliminated bus boy positions. Don’t expect any decent service for a while? I look at the bright side. This could be the way to have servers get paid minimum wage and keep their tips one day. That is fair.

What was the worst service you received in a restaurant?

Local

I knew it was coming eventually. City council had to weigh in on the Chick-fil-A anti-gay marriage or pro-biblical stance of their president Dan Cathy. Councilman Kenny ruffled some feathers when he told, written in letter, the Chick-fil-A president to cluck off with your discrimination. He even plans to condemn the company in this September’s City Council. Kenny is just strutting his feathers because this story was old as the cock crowed three times in Boston last week. Kenny, stop stealing other people’s eggs. I don’t get the argument. Cathy is entitled to his opinion and the company still serves whoever walks through the door, being straight or gay. Go on vacation, Kenny, and give the city a break.

Will you stop eating at Chick-fil-A based on the president’s religious views?

Comments

[Patrick Edmonds]

1. Yes they should be more selective and should really attempt to promote healthier foods, but many athletes actually do eat McDonald's; however, they can afford to when they burn 10,000 calories a day.
2. I used to work at Olive Garden, so I know first hand how terrible their service is. I was actually a daily part of it. In my defense though, the customers that came to OG were some of the most obnoxious, disrespectful slobs I've ever met. For me though, I can't think of one particularly bad incident.
3. I won't stop eating there. I don't eat there often, but it's always good when I do, and that's all I really care about. Sorry.

[James Dugan]

McDonald's is still pushing its most unhealthy food. The Olympics should put forth some thought before they sign these deals. It looks ridiculous to have athletes pushing 2000 calorie meals. If anything this site has done, it has proven that diet is as important, or even more important, than exercise for our health.
Don't get me wrong, Chick-fil-A would have been a worst sponsor. As a CEO, I think you just want a loyal customer base. Not a phanatic base. Well as chick-fil-a goes, so does the country.
I think servers should get paid minimum wage and unionize. And minimum wage should be $21.00 a hour. 8 billion dollars is a lot of money to share and the workers get little.