Chain Restaurants Are the Root of All Evil. Aren't They?

I am a big supporter of buying local, especially when it comes to the food I eat. Local food will win out over organic for me every single time. The impact of transporting and storing the food is greatly lessened by eating local. The food is fresher for obvious reasons. You are supporting your local economy. And if you are shopping in the green market you may even meet the producer and learn more about their growing processes, or get special tips on how to prepare the food. So yes, I love local.

But I have a dirty little secret, and you know what? Most of you do too....I love Thai Lettuce Wraps from The Cheesecake Factory, I could eat the spinach-lavosh dip from Houlihan's breakfast lunch and dinner, and yes there are days when nothing but a Quarter Pounder with cheese (no onions) will do. I enjoy chain restaurants. There. I said it. It feels good getting that off my chest.

Look, I love to eat at locally owned restaurants. Bombers on Lark Street in Albany has the best wings, I defy you to find better Thai in the Capital Region than Blue Spice and I swoon a little bit when get the special treat of Debbie's Kitchens sandwiches for lunch. But here is the thing...chain restaurants are NOT the root of all evil. (Just some of it!)

You will not find the most creative menus at most chains, they lack charm and personality, the profits leave our community. I get it, I really do. But I see our local produce purveyors pull their trucks up outside the chains to drop off just like they do the local haunts. Chains are generally larger in size and therefore employ more people. Chains often draw people in and help support surrounding businesses. When PF Changs and Cheesecake Factory opened here in Albany you couldn't get into either of them without waiting 2 hours (yeah, I don't like the lettuce wraps that much....). So some crazy fools waited and the rest of us did some shopping, or ate at Ralph's or Professor Java's or wherever. The point is the chains drove people to the area and helped support the other businesses.

So anyways, I will always recommend the locals first when you ask me for a recommendation. I truly will. But don't act horrified if you hear that I ate at Smokey Bones last night. We dig the wings! And please don't get on your high horse with me either. When we support the businesses in our community we encourage local and national entrepreneurs to take a chance on our community. In the end we all end up with more options, and in reality I am always looking for more of those. Without all those options, what the heck would I have to write about.

So, maybe I will see you at Chipotle sometime soon...it is a chain that is new to our area that I am interested in checking out. If not there then likely at The Hidden Cafe the glorious local gem in Delaware Plaza...where ever I see you it will be delicious!