The year 2024 is only 26 days old. So if your goal was to eat healthier this year, you're probably over that by now, right?
If not, then I am, because today I've been given the task of trying out two new menu items at McDonald's, a place that doesn't figure positively in anyone's New Year's resolutions.
I'm not a McDonald's hater – first of all, I was employed by the company over 20 years ago and really enjoyed cracking jokes with people in the drive-thru. Second, I'm a Millennial and as such, McDonald's was always considered a “special treat” that you could get on a trip with Grandma to the Valley River Center in Eugene. You never lose your desire for a special treat.
And third, as much as I looked at the moms buying Happy Meals at 5 p.m. on a weekday when I was 17 and working in the drive-thru, I'm that mom now and I know the truth: A Happy Meal is very important comfortable.
And so on a Thursday I went to my local McDonald's drive-thru and ordered the new Double Big Mac, the new Strawberry Crème Cake, and an extra small Coke to wash it all down.
Firstly, the Double Big Mac.
The new Double Big Mac from McDonald's.
This sandwich is 780 calories, which is actually not the biggest sandwich on the menu. That honor goes to the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe, which has 830 calories.
This new sandwich is like a Big Mac, but with four beef patties instead of two measly ones. There are also cucumbers, onions and lettuce (healthy?), a slice of American cheese and three rolls.
Look, I'm not the kind of person who orders a Big Mac at McDonald's. Why get an extra bun? That makes no sense. But for scientific reasons and because I was told to, I tried this one.
Although the burger I got wasn't particularly aesthetically pleasing, it was big. Actually too big to fit in my normal sized mouth.
Other problems with this large and strangely flabby sandwich: The cheese wasn't remotely melted and why just one slice? I think this must be standard with the Big Mac, but a slice of cheese still doesn't quite scream “double.”
Somehow this burger ended up being both dry and oozing sauce. How is that possible? I'm not sure.
One thing I know about McDonald's is that sometimes the individual parts add up to something delicious. Sometimes the same parts add up to something very stupid. I think it has to do with when each individual item was cooked or heated. The fresher, the better. My suspicion is that my Double Big Mac wasn't entirely fresh and therefore not very good. Don't blame this location for this because I've experienced the same thing at locations all over the world (I've been to McDonald's in Italy, South Africa and Sweden and I'm not ashamed of it).
Next time I won't get a Double Big Mac. But my standard McDouble will probably be better.
Now the strawberry cream cake.
The new strawberry creme cake from McDonald's.
I'm not a McDonald's pie girl. I'm a McDonald's hot fudge sundae girl. But heck, I'll try most things once.
This cake, OK, it's actually pretty tasty. The flaky crust is flaky and the strawberries and cream filling, or “crème,” excuse me, is sweet and creamy. Will I get it again? Probably not if there's an option to get a hot fudge sundae, but if someone in my car bought one, I'd take a bite when they weren't looking.
Would you like to watch me try these foods in my car? You're lucky. You can watch it now.
– Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052; [email protected]; @lizzzyacker
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