World gourmet fast health food facility

Abstract

A method for providing quality exotic foods or foods from a variety of countries at prices comparable to fast food restaurants where the restaurant includes a menu selection book used to pick a food item. The table area includes the ability to order the food. Payment for the food can be made from a self-pay station at the table or at a self-pay cashier station exiting the facility. The restaurant facility specializes in international gourmet foods representative of popular foods typically found in various countries around the world. The menu book includes informational data related to a food item being considered for selection including one of pictures of the food item, seasonings in the food item, history of the food item, ingredients within the food item, nutritional data and any combination thereof.

1 . A method for providing quality exotic foods or foods from a variety of countries at prices comparable to fast food restaurants comprising:
 providing a restaurant facility specializing in international gourmet foods, said facility having tables and chairs for customers to sit and eat selected food items;   providing means for selecting the food items from a menu selection book, wherein the menu selection book includes informational data related to a food item being considered for selection including one of pictures of the food item, seasonings in the food item, history of the food item, ingredients within the food item, nutritional data and any combination of said informational data, wherein the food items available for selection comprises a variety of ethnic foods representative of popular foods typically found in various countries around the world;   providing means for ordering the selected food item at the table;   providing means for a staff member working at the facility to warm-up and/or cook the selected food item when appropriate;   providing means for advising a customer that an ordered food item is ready for pick-up, wherein the customer can then pick up the selected food item; and   providing means for the customer to pay for the selected food item consumed at the facility,   wherein selected food items are ready for pick-up within a time span comparable to that experienced in typical fast food restaurants and prices for available food items are comparable to those prices typically found in said fast food restaurants.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein payment can be processed using an automated computerized machine located at the table or at a self-pay cashier station before exiting the facility. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the food items available for selection are pre-processed at a food supply source independent of the facility. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein where the food items are pre-processed at a food supply source independent of the facility, said facility includes minimal means for warming and/or cooking selected food items required to be warmed and/cooked, wherein any odors associated with food preparation are significantly less than food odors typically associated with odors generally associated with typical fast food restaurants.