"mcrib" news and stories

McDonald's is trying something old and something new this fall at its U.S. locations. But it has nothing to do with the McWeddings they're throwing in Hong Kong (see yesterday's post).

The fast-food chain is bringing back its much lauded (by some) McRib sandwich on November 2 for a six-week run at its stores across the U.S. -- the first time in 16 years the sandwich will be available nationwide, the Wall Street Journal reported. "It doesn't sell well all year long because people get tired of it," McDonald's USA President Jan Fields told the Journal. Weary customers, you've had your break, and now your ribs are back.

McDonald's franchises in Nebraska, Maryland and New Mexico will also be testing the company's new chicken flatbreads this fall, Nation's Restaurant News reported.

I've never eaten a McRib and recently learned that I may never get the chance to do so. Oh, who am I kidding a 'cue-obsessed person like me would never get within 50 feet of McDonald's boneless "rib" sandwich. But that doesn't mean that in a moment of weakness I wouldn't want to at least entertain the possibility of trying one.

I was slightly upset when I typed my ZIP code into the McRib Farewell Tour II site. My appetite had been whet by the snazzy sound check and the photos of nubile young McRib groupies flashing across my monitor. I'd even recorded a cool light show to go along with the song I Want to Hold You One More Time. My use of soft blue tones to emphasize the plaintive chorus of "No bones, I get lost in your sauce," was particularly brilliant. I also added my name to those of the other 45,583 folks who'd signed the Save the McRib petition. Imagine my disappointment when I entered my ZIP only to be told "Drag. McRib isn't playing in your area, sorry dude." No way in hell am I creating a tour shirt for myself! Curse Ronald McDonald and his minions.

For those of you who have never encountered a McRib Sandwich, it is a boneless, rib-meat pork patty that is shaped, dunked in BBQ sauce and sold by McDonald's. The McRib bizarrely appears to have bones in it, due to its shape, though this is merely to give the product recognizability. McDonald's actually maintains a spoof site about boneless pig farmers, poking fun at the boneless nature of their patties. Processed meat patties are inherently unattractive on their own and McDonald's knows this. It is for this very reason that the McRib patties are dunked in hickory barbecue sauce before being served with onions and pickles on a 6-inch bun. For anyone wondering what the patty looks like on its own, Fast Food Facts has kindly deconstructed the sandwich for your viewing pleasure. And if, by some chance, you do not find processed meat to be pleasurable, it's at least very interesting.

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