Smokehouse Mcdonalds

[Stayce Cawthorn]

McDonaldapos;s has unveiled a host of new menu items today to celebrate its 50th anniversary, including fresh burgers, sides, and desserts. The limited-edition menu boasts three new desserts, a cheesy side dish, and the return of some fan favourites.

Among the new offerings is the birthday cake doughnut, a ring doughnut filled with strawberry, topped with buttercream icing and sprinkles. The menu also introduces two new McFlurry flavours: the Milkybar raspberry ripple McFlurry and the Munchies cookie dough McFlurry.

Beloved classics like the Double Big Mac and Double Big Mac with bacon have made a comeback, along with the McCrispy barbecue smokehouse. New on the scene are the cheesy garlic bread dippers, featuring four mozzarella dippers coated in garlic and chives breadcrumbs, served with a tomato dip.

The Double Mac is my go-to for a treat or after a night out, so I had to give it a try. I was a fan of the Grand Mac when it briefly graced the McDonald's menu, but I think the Double is a more manageable size and easier to handle.

I'm delighted that the McCrispy barbecue smokehouse has made a comeback after its last appearance in October 2023. This burger features a crispy chicken breast fillet, smoky barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, red onion, and lettuce, all served in a sesame-topped sourdough-style bun.

The crunchy chicken fillet pairs well with the softness of the bun, while the barbecue sauce adds a kick of flavour. The cheddar cheese and red onion provide a sharp and tangy balance, and the lettuce adds a refreshing touch.

This is my first ever Big Mac and I was slightly overwhelmed. I welcomed the strong pickle taste which ran throughout and the sauce, which I have always been told is the best sauce in McDonald's, was very tasty.

I found the bacon a bit too stringy and prefer a smoky flavour to my bacon. I also found it difficult to work out how to eat it without it spilling everywhere but similarly, you were able to get a bit of every ingredient in every bite which I liked.

The combination of white chocolate and raspberry sauce was spot on. Plus, I can't recall ever having a McFlurry that included white chocolate, so it was a refreshing change from the usual flavours.

I've never had a McFlurry before, so when the Maccies delivery arrived near my desk, I thought it was worth giving it a go. From what I've heard from my colleagues, the McFlurry has somewhat of a legendary status on the McDonald's menu, but is often unavailable due to broken machines.

The one I tried was a very pale soft vanilla ice cream which was pleasant but nothing extraordinary. It was topped with a crunchy biscuit which I later found out was from the classic Munchy sweets, which I've always enjoyed, although the corporate tie-in went over my head.

Unwrapping the package, we were immediately impressed - the doughnut, adorned with buttercream-flavoured icing and sprinkles, could easily feature in a Simpsons episode with Homer salivating over it. Holding the sugar-coated ring, I knew I was about to indulge.

One hire from an adult education program led to another and, eventually, a relationship with a halfway house that turned into a source of reliable help. At any given time, between one quarter and one half of their 80 employees are folks getting back into workforce after a stint in prison.

The McDonalds started with a small smokehouse in Windsor, then opened their Hartford restaurant at the end of Arch Street, near the Connecticut Convention Center, a movie theater and the Infinity music hall.

Mark is the Capitol Bureau Chief and a co-founder of CT Mirror. He is a frequent contributor to WNPR, a former state politics writer for The Hartford Courant and Journal Inquirer, and contributor for The New York Times.

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