McDonald’s, or Monsieur D’s?
The fast food chain hopes its new exotic menu items catch on.
The marketing folks at McDonald’s are at it again. In the never-ending quest to test new menu items, the fast-food giant on Wednesday launched a “Flavors From Abroad” promotion at 50 McDonald’s restaurants across South Florida. According to a press release, “this limited time test celebrates … global scale and authentic flavors from around the world.”
Or maybe it is just a novel way to dress up the same old burgers and fries.
If I sound a bit jaded, it is because I am. I actually enjoyed a new McDonald’s signature burger earlier this year, a garlic white cheddar burger made from fresh (not frozen) beef, part of the chain’s revamped Quarter Pounder lineup. But I was disappointed to find that burger yanked from the menu about six weeks later (it wasn’t billed as a test item). I suppose the garlic white cheddar burger did not sell; not the first time the masses rejected something a critic liked.
Now comes a new batch of food material. The international menu items that debuted Wednesday include:
■ The Grand McExtreme bacon burger from Spain, a fresh beef quarter-pound burger topped with McBacon sauce, Applewood smoked bacon, Gouda cheese and slivered onions on a sesame seed bun. Available as a single or a double quarter-pound patty. My McSnarky McTake: Spain? Gouda? I’m confused. If this is a Spanish-influenced item, shouldn’t the cheese be manchego?
■ BBQ McShaker fries from Malaysia, featuring McDonald’s famous fries served with a smoky barbecue seasoning. McSnarky McTake: I’ve never been to Malaysia, but I have eaten at Malaysian restaurants, where favored ingredients include coconut milk, shrimp paste, curry and sambal (chili paste). These sound like Cajun fries
from Popeye’s.
■ McSpicy Chicken
from Hong Kong, a crispy chicken fillet marinated with spicy seasoning, topped with creamy mayo and lettuce. McSnarky McTake: I also have never been to Hong Kong, but I imagine this is similar to the spicy chicken sandwich found at Wendy’s in Hong Kong — or perhaps anywhere.
■ Stroopwafel McFlurry from the Netherlands, vanilla soft-serve ice cream mixed with caramel-waffle-cookie pieces and delicious caramel sauce. McSnarky McTake: I suppose this could be worse. It could have Gouda. Or manchego.