function hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); bubble.style.display = "none"; } function hide_user_promo_bubble() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 0 } }, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100); } function handle_promo_username(params) { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image"); var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link"); if (params.has_photo == "true") { img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png"; } else { img.style.display = "none"; Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide"); } anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name; anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name; bubble.style.display = "block"; var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 1 } }, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); } if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) { YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i; if (parts.length < 2) return; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) { if (parts[i].indexOf("sb=") !== -1) { shared_by = parts[i]; } if (parts[i].indexOf("b=") !== -1) { badge = parts[i]; } } if (shared_by == "" || badge == "") return; var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); if (!bubble) return; var entry_id = HuffPoUtil.GetEntryID(); if (!entry_id) return; var user_id = parseInt(shared_by.substr(shared_by.indexOf("sb=") + 3)); if (!user_id) return; var badge_type = badge.substr(badge.indexOf("b=") + 2); if (!badge_type) return; script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); bubble.appendChild(script); script.setAttribute("src", "/include/share_track.php?a=view&eid=" + entry_id + "&uid=" + user_id + "&b=" + badge_type + "&cb=handle_promo_username"); }); } McItaly Burger: McDonald's Teams Up With Italian Government For New Item

From the land that brought you such staples of modern cuisine as pizza, pasta, risotto and tiramisu, comes a new classic - the McItaly- and Silvio Berlusconi's government are welcoming it with open arms.

The burgers (there are two), are made with all Italian produce and will go on sale today for at least seven weeks. They feature unusual toppings - one has artichoke spread, Asiago cheese, and lettuce, while the other will feature Italian olive oil, onion and smoked pancetta.

Perhaps more unusually, Luca Zaia, Berlusconi's Agriculture Minister, was on hand for a press event on Wednesday to help prepare a burger. "This sandwich has great ambitions," he said while wearing a McDonald's apron

Some reactions have been less then positive. Over at The Guardian's Word of Mouth foodblog, Matthew Fort has called the burgers a "monstrous act of national betrayal" - and further evidence that the controversial Berlusconi government cares more about money than the pride of the Italian people.

Fort points to the hegemony of McDonald's burgers versus the delights of Italian regional cuisine:

For many Italians, their very sense of identity lies in the food, not just of the region in which they were born, but of the town, village, hamlet, even house. And they hold to the superiority of their local produce and dishes with passion. That is why eating your way round Italy is such a continual delight. Pleasure lies in diversity, not homogeneity. Who wants to eat the same stuff the whole world over? It's boring. It's the kind of global mind-numbing sameness and taste bud-mugging mediocrity that McDonald's embodies. No-one in their right mind can see McDonald's as either a force for good in the world or as representing the sunny uplands of gastronomy.

According to reports, the burger will add $3.6 million to the Italian economy due to its use of local produce. But can that money fill the hole in Italian national pride?

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Comments

[Beachmike1]

to Hippie forever check out the Mc Donalds website in italy. Seems like they still doa very good business there.

[Beachmike1]

I read the original English language articel. What bothered me was the flagrant anti American tone of this. I am suprised the US papaers have not taken the British to task on this or the Italians. If this level of blatant ethnic bashing would be taking place here, the press would have a feild day. How about a little reciprocity?

BTW it sounds like a decent burger..

FYI My parents are from Italy.

[Amit Tilani]

Sounds delicious - but the uniformity sucks!

[alumcreek]

In the late 80s I stopped at a Wendy's in Milan and for $5 had a double cheeseburger. In Stockholm a year later I tried a $5.00 Whopper. Both were as bad as the American product. Both were more expensive which amazed me.

My British helpers in the USA used to laugh with undisguised glee every time they bought gasoline or food in the USA. They characterized the prices as "silly money."

Gasoline was $.85 a gallon and most burtgers were under $1.00.

[GerryS]

no big deal, in france, mickie d's has a McCroqer-----

[chicagomike]

They can use all the "local ingredients" they want -- if the burger itself is still McDonald's then it will taste like crap. I don't know why people like that s**t, it's just bland garbage.

[AdV2k1]

actually sounds like a pretty good hamburger.

[usamade]

Italian ingredients are much better than the chemical ingredients we get at McDonalds in the US.

[City of Evil]

Just when I thought Silvio can't go any lower.

[Actup]

Good one, bravo.

[rissole]

Congress will shortly declare them "Freedom Burgers".

[bryce05]

You should try McDonalds' Kiwi Burger in New Zealand. Mmmmmm.

[CologneCitizen]

Fast food remains junk. Any home made burger, pizza, chicken or sandwich is better than the fabricated stuff sold in the junk food outlets.

I pity all the poor people having or knowing no alternative to feed themselves. In the end you are what you eat.

[deepintheheartoftejas]

I don't know... I've had a lot of crappy home-made sandwiches. I'd rather go grab one from Pot Bellies.

[bartonfink]

How could something like this be considered a travesty in a country that produced Silvio Berlusconi?

also, it looks tasty

[bismillah001]

Haha. Agreed on both points!

[TazoWolf]

Sounds rather good, although I'd probably substitute chicken for the beef. Avocado & Asiago are delicious. I use asiago cheese in the guacamole I make from avocados off my mom's tree.