Leading off is one of the very symbols of U.S. capitalism, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD). You can't get much more American than MickeyD's.

The irony is that McDonald's strength recently has been due to its expansion in foreign markets.

There are currently more than 30,000 restaurants in 120 countries. Less than half of the restaurants are located in the United States. McDonald's has been doing especially well lately, thanks to the recession.

Like Darden, Landry's Restaurants (NYSE: LNY) is a large, diversified player in the casual dining segment.

One significant difference is its participation in the casino space with the Golden Nugget. The acquisition of Golden Nugget has not resulted in much benefit for the company as of yet. In fact, the deal increased LNY's debt level, which now stands near $1 billion.

LNY's stock dropped hard after trading for some time at the $30 level. At the bottom, one could buy shares at $3.60 per share.

Can you believe Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) traded below $5 last November?

I can. Its model of big meals and big cheesecake appeared vulnerable to the deep recession. Would consumers cut out the fat in their dining budget?

Apparently not, as the stock is up more than 3 times since hitting the bottom.

Earlier this month, Bob Evans (NASDAQ: BOBE) rallied on the heels of a very positive earnings report. The company said its profits improved by 31% on a slight decline in sales and improved cost savings.

More importantly, the company provided guidance that was above Wall Street estimates. Like most retailers, BOBE is experiencing softness in its business, but not a complete collapse as many expected.

The current recession has touched all sectors. The rules of the game have been changed, and nobody is safe. The paradigm is shifting.

One of the consequences of the current state is a new-found appreciation for savings in the U.S. A consumer who does not spend is bad news for the retail sector, and it is bad news for an economy dependent on consumer spending.

The one glimmer of hope comes from the restaurant space. When it became clear that this recession would be long and deep, consumers clamped wallets shut. Dining out in this environment was an easy luxury to cut.

This post is part of a seven article report -- Food for thought: Best bets in food & beverage stocks.

"The fast-casual restaurant category is sizzling as consumers trim their eating budgets; this trend is helping Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA)," says Michael Cintolo in The Cabot Top Ten Report.

"In restaurant parlance, 'fast-casual' eateries are higher priced than fast-food chains such as McDonald's and KFC, but cheaper than casual dining restaurants such as Applebee's and Denny's.

This post is part of a seven article report -- Food for thought: Best bets in food & beverage stocks.

"Customers are trading down to McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) from higher-end restaurants," says growth stock expert Toby Smith in his ChangeWave Investing.

The fast food operator is also a buy from Bill Martin, who adds, the company continues to serve up solid results. In his BullMarket.com advisory, he reviews the stock's recent quarter.

First, Toby Smith explains, "Given the endless parade of depressing economic news, it's no wonder that most people have lost their appetite for food -- if not altogether, then at least for the finer dining.

"Our proprietary ChangeWave Alliance survey -- ongoing pols of thousands of individuals and investors in various industries and professions -- just 5% of respondents said they would spend more at restaurants, which is unchanged from the all-time low.

In a difficult economic environment, it is often wise for investors to consider stocks in more defensive and relatively recession-resistant sectors. And one such area is food and beverage stocks.

As the long-standing market maxim goes, consumers can pull back on spending for vacations, remodeling, and new cars, but they still need to eat and drink.

In that light, I turned to nine leading newsletter advisors who serve up their current favorite ideas in the food and beverage sector:

Two leading advisors -- both known for an expertise in technical analysts -- are bullish on the prospects for Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD), which operates and franchises casual food restaurants in 38 states.

Here's an overview of the stock from Joseph Hargett, an analyst with Schaeffer Investment Research, and Richard Schmidt, editor of The Stellar Stock Alert.

Schmidt explains, "You've got to love the action of Buffalo Wild Wings. Last month, the stock jumped up nearly 25% in one day and continued to move up.

"McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) has bucked the global recession in February as both global and U.S. same *store sales rose," says Tracey Ryniec, who has chosen the fast food giant as its latest featured company in Zacks Ellite Stock of the Day.

The analyst explains, "The company, which operates more than 32,000 McDonald's restaurants in over 100 countries, reported February comparable sales results on Mar 9 that showed global sales rising 1.4% year over year even as Feb 2008 included an extra day due to leap year. Excluding the extra day, sales grew 5.4%.

"U.S. sales climbed 2.8%, or 6.8% if you exclude the extra calendar day in 2008. Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa rose 0.7%, or 4.1% if you exclude the extra calendar day. Only Europe saw a decline, losing 0.2%, but if you exclude the extra day, even Europe increased 4%.

Investors were sufficiently impressed with Chipotle Mexican Grill's (NYSE: CMG) fourth-quarter earnings.

The operator of more than 830 quick service Mexican restaurants said it earned $17 million, or 52 cents per share, in the quarter. That is compared to earnings of $17.5 million, or 53 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

When shares of Denny's Corp. (NASDAQ: DENN) are trading at half the price of a Grand Slam Breakfast, yet it was one of the companies willing to drop big bucks on a Super Bowl ad, I gotta jump in my car and get down to Denny's to see what's gone wrong.

Problem is, nothing has gone wrong. They are just as crowded as ever, especially during this recession.

They represent a full sit-down meal destination at fast-food prices. And the portions are big.

The company has totally restructured, selling off franchises and keeping all the best locations for its own portfolio -- and the results are pouring in.

On Jan. 15, the company said it expects to meet or exceed its previous guidance for full-year 2008, thanks to the success of the Franchise Growth Initiative (FGI) and other cost-saving actions that protect margins and cash flow.

With the stock trading around $1.50 per share, it's time to consider whether Denny's is some low-hanging fruit ready for the picking.

Bryan Perry is a contributor to OptionsZone.com.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"Trading near its all-time high, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) -- my top idea for 2009 -- is a true relative-strength leader," says Ryan Detrick.

The technical analyst with Schaeffer's Investment Research, explains, "With the shares near their all-time high, MCD is a true relative-strength leader. Technically, the stock continues to find support from its rising 20-month moving average, as this trendline has provided support since mid-2003.

"McDonalds is the world's largest fast-food chain, with more than 31,000 restaurants worldwide. Given the record job losses and deteriorating worldwide economy, MCD should continue to do well as consumers will downgrade to more affordable dining options.

"Or as CEO Jim Skinner put it, 'McDonald's seems well positioned for recession. In bad times, people think twice about where to spend money when going out for food.'

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

Michael Vodicka, editor of Zacks Momentum Trader, looks to a "steady player" as his top stock pick for the coming year -- McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD).

Meanwhile, Ann Northrop, CFA and senior equity analyst with Zacks adds, "My top speculative stock is Burger King (NYSE: BKC) which is proficiently managing a turnaround."

Regarding McDonald's, Vodicka explains, "Earnings estimates for the S&P 500 are all over the map going into the New Year, with a $40 spread between high and low figures.

"Most analysts are projecting much of the same market volatility that wreaked havoc in 2008. Steady players need apply; enter McDonald's Corporation. A number of factors should continue to work in the company's favor as 2009 unfolds.

"McDonald's recent success has been driven by a combination of both domestic and international sales growth, with international results outpacing the company's solid domestic results.

"The CEO of McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) is bullish on his own stock; he recently bought $1.1 million in shares," says trading and investing expert Bill Martin in BullMarket.com.

"On October 23, CEO Jim Skinner purchased 20,000 shares at $55.00, increasing his holdings to 236,700 shares. The buy was the first for Skinner in at least five years. "Under the terms of McDonald's stock ownership guidelines, Skinner is expected to hold 6 times his annual base salary in shares, or $7.65 million in stock.

"He exceeded the ownership guidelines prior to his recent purchase and presently owns more than $12.55 million in shares, excluding unvested restricted stock, phantom stock, and options.

"Excluding dividends, shares of McDonald's have risen nearly 90% during Skinner's approximately four-year tenure at the helm, no small feat considering they rose just 2% in the preceding four years and 43% in the preceding eight years.