Clearly we knew that this cheeseburger would not meet with Ella’s high standards. But equally clear was the need to experience this particular American institution in another country. So in Ella’s hands is what is called a “Royal Deluxe,” what most resembles a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. It comes with a pretty tasty hamburger patty, lettuce, tomato and a secret sauce that tastes suspiciously like it has Dijon mustard in it, not a good thing for Ella.

We located this particular McDonalds in what I can best describe as a mall in Nantes. At one end of the mall is an Ikea and at the other end is a huge store, E. Leclerc, that is most like a Target. The McDonalds was between the two and did not really look like most in the U.S. But the most striking difference was the amount of time it took to order and then get the food. I bow my head to the French who clearly have not mastered the delivery of fast food, and I mean that as a compliment. Food and fast do not belong in the same sentence here. Oh, Ella wanted me to mention that she gives the JoJos, what was referred to on the placard as “Potatoes Deluxe,” a thumbs up.

So that’s all for now from Leonard Nimoy and the “In Search of…” crew. To be continued…