Takeout Takeover/ Meat Mountain

Takeout Takeover

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Story by Tannan Luzzo Design by Tannan Luzzo

Over the past year or so, we have all seen the COVID-19 pandemic rock the world in so many ways, but there is one part of life no one never imagined would ever change: how we eat out.

Restaurants, bars, breweries and those alike are staples in American life, especially California, but the pandemic has pushed for change in the way we eat and how we’re served.

We’ve already seen some of the best buffets and family style restaurants succumb to the virus, like Souplantation (RIP). Wait times are into the several hours, and depending on location, reservations aren’t even an option at the moment. Takeout is quicker, more efficient, and in some cases restaurants even offer a percent off discount for ordering online or via apps, takeout, call-in, etc. I think the coronavirus will change the way we live at least for a while longer.

I may be in the minority, but the takeout experience has been nearly perfected by restaurants after they were thrust into the situation of having to close their doors to indoor customers.

Some had the luxury of using the streets for outdoor dining, like Downtown Fullerton restaurants had space in the street they could use. But some were forced to come up with a new idea. Takeout takeover was the result.

Takeout has taken over and it’s honestly likely that it will stay. While there are indeed cons with every innovative process, takeout takeover has too many positives to let it go. Customer ease and satisfaction, simplicity and overall trends in the market suggest takeout is likely to remain dominant for the long haul.

The thought of that business model ever working again just doesn’t seem feasible. At least in the upcoming years, maybe even decades.

One thing I did see was some restaurant master the takeout experience, at least in my perspective.

Takeout ruled in 2020 and has so far this year too.

Cal State Fullerton and the surrounding area has a slew of restaurants, some of which are staples within the student body. The ability to serve takeout during the pandemic has helped them stay afloat. to take out but the menu items and bundles were re-tailored to a take-out experience.

For example, the Lucille’s BBQ chain, which has a location up the road in Brea, has completely revamped and changed their menu. They now have drinks to go, which come in a mason jar, cold food to heat up at home, amongst other new take-out style options.

Not only has takeout taken over, but the idea is elastic. As places open back up and Fullerton phases into re-opening, takeout adapts as well.

Recently, as I was driving by campus and turning onto Nutwood, it said “open for takeout.” Then a couple weeks later I noticed a sign saying you could take out, drive in, or dine in. I thought how interesting a drive in experience, I haven’t seen that at a Denny’s before. So already, there was a Denny’s offering drive in style, which just shows how they are adapting with the times.

Takeout options for a place like What’s Up Japanese Noodles, otherwise wouldn’t have been probably a preferred method to eat those types of foods, but given the pandemic it’s almost preferred now given the long wait times and the amount of residents eager to go out is steadily increasing. In this day and age everyone wants instant gratification. While food ordering will never be quite instant, takeout serves the needs of the consumer at this given time in the world.

We’ve seen the parking lots with the delivery spots in the front takeover. It is a takeout frenzy and it’s here to stay people.

Are You Going to Finish That?

Basement writer takes on Arby’s meat moutain sandwhich, for your health

Story and Photo by Daniel Lozano Design by Michael Quintero

I did it. I did it. They told me it couldn’t be done, they said I was a fool, they said I was irrational, they said it was never possible, but I did it.

Today, in my possession I have the Arby’s meat mountain burger sandwich, whatever you want to call it. And for weeks I kept telling my friends come on we have to try this, come on lets go to Arby’s lets go to Arby’s.

And I don’t know, they hate Arby’s. Everyone I know hates Arby’s for some reason they have some vendetta against them.

So I’m here alone in a parking lot with the meat mountain, all for myself.

The reason why I knew I wanted to try it was because I know a lot of people would be afraid to try something this big, I think it intimidates a lot of people.

That’s partially why I’m doing this, because I’m here saving your arteries. You know I’m testing this out so you don’t have to if that makes sense.

This thing is heavy, it’s at least a pound of...something. It is like the weight of a small child if I’m guessing. This thing is, if you threw it at someone’s head could most definitely knock someone out without a shadow of doubt.

Yeah, here we go.

This is enough protein for the year.

If I eat this whole thing which I think at this point would be physically impossible, I think my body would never need another ounce more of protein cause this is all the meat you could possibly handle. I don’t even think I can handle this much meat right now. There’s no way all this meat can go into my mouth whole. My mouth isn’t big enough. I would literally have to get a fork and scissors.

Alright I’m taking my first bite and I don’t think I am even going to get the top bun in, I’m just aiming for the bottom half of it.

Wow. Ok. That’s not as bad as it thought it was gonna be, you know? I was expecting none of it to work but it actually kind of compliments each other.

I’m going in for another bite. The top half, which is the bun, the top bun, bacon, the orange cheese, and then the two roast beefs. meat here.

Alright one more bite here we go.

I think that might have been the best bite out of all of them. Besides the fact that I’m not feeling too good right now and that I think the effects of this sandwich on my body have already taken stride, I think if I would rate this either a 5.8 or 6.3 out of 10.

It’s not bad. I think I like the bottom bite better. But I’ll be real with you, I definitely feel my arteries starting to close. I definitely feel them starting to get clogged up. I think my blood pressure is rising as we speak.

A few more bites of this I think i might need a stretcher.

Alright I am going to attempt the impossible and get one bite and get all of the four to five meats all in one bite.

So, I’m squishing it as much as I can, juice is coming out from I don’t know which meat at this point could be from any meat, I might have to drink that later cause I’m going to be really thirsty after eating this.

I’ll be honest with you all the flavors kind of mix in and they all get kind of lost and it just becomes one meat. You can’t really tell which is which, when you’re tasting. I think Arby’s has made a new Experience wise, paying for it, looking at it, seeing it for the first time, and trying to fit the whole bite into your mouth. I’d say experience wise an 8.5.

Maybe don’t get it on a day when you have a lot of things to do or you have anything to do because you might feel so lethargic after that you won’t be able to do anything.

But I 100% definitely recommend it. Maybe you want a family dinner or maybe you want to feed a family of five or six, go to Arby’s and get one meat mountain burger. If you split it between the five or six of you, I guarantee you will all be fed and stuffed and there will be left overs. I guarantee you that.