ABSTRACT
Fast food restaurants reflect the larger demographic changes in New York's populations and the constantly shifting ethnic and racial boundaries of the city's districts and neighborhoods. Among the city's middle class and white-collar class, regardless of race or ethnicity, American corporate franchise cuisine is a food of only occasional choice. Unlike Tina, who works because she must, Alison works to fit into an American youth culture that stresses independence and consumption. The continuing flow of Chinese immigrants and enterprises has pushed Chinatown beyond its historic borders; as it overflows, it becomes acquainted with neighboring regions. The parents would sip tea while their children munched Happy Meals of hamburgers and french fries. 'The employment of a majority Chinese workforce and management team resembles the traditional ethnic enterprise in the way it brings together a majority of workers of similar national and cultural origin.
