International McDonald’s – What’s on the menu? (Guest)
Brought to you by a guest poster. Enjoy!
If the thought of eating yet another Big Mac bores you perhaps it’s time to take a trip to a few McDonald’s restaurants from around the world. You’ll be surprised at just how different the menus can be, but I’m sure you’ll still be lovin’ it!
Japan and Hong Kong: Ebi Filet-O-Shrimp
Essentially this is the oriental cousin of the much maligned Filet-O-Fish. But the Filet-O-Shrimp (or Shrimp Burger as it’s called in Japan) actually sounds pretty nice. It has the same structure as a Big Mac, but instead of a slab of meat it’s filled with a few whole breaded shrimp, lettuce and some spicy special sauce.
If the Shrimp Burger isn’t for you there are plenty of other novel items on the McMenu in Japan. How about some Ume Nuggets or some Shaka Shaka Chicken? Whatever you decide to eat you should wash it down with a green tea milkshake. They’re said to be delicious.
Italy: Parmesan McNuggets
If you’re settling down to a plate of McNuggets infused with spinach and parmesan cheese you can only be in Italy. They’re stuffed with the filling to make a kind of nugget ravioli. To eat them you’ll have to plan your Italian adventure carefully, as they only appear on the menu every now and then.
You might be interested to know that Italy resisted the influx of American fast food until 1983. Wendy’s was the first American chain to open in the country, and three years later a McDonald’s appeared in Rome which at that point was the largest in the world. It sounds like they were making up for lost time.
Costa Rica: Gallo Pinto (McDonald’s Style)
This dish is unlike anything you’ll find in an American McDonald’s. Gallo Pinto is a traditional Costa Rican dish made from rice and black beans, and it is served with scrambled eggs and sour cream. Well it’s not always traditionally served with eggs and sour cream, but you can’t have a McDonald’s breakfast without some slightly dubious scrambled egg!
Another interesting menu item from Costa Rica is Fanta Kolita, which you can’t actually get in the United States. It tastes of bubble gum instead of orange, which sounds a bit crazy to me!
Canada: McLobster
The piece de resistance is without doubt the McLobster, which is seasonally available in the Maritime Provinces of Canada and has proved so popular that you can now get one in New England. Essentially it’s a lobster roll with a bit of lettuce thrown in. It sounds simple but there were even plans to introduce them across the whole of America at one point, so they must taste good.
Other items found on a Canadian McDonald’s menu include the Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich (served at breakfast) and a double Filet-O-Fish. It seems that they love a bit of seafood in Canada!
Adam Daniels loves to write about quirky stuff. He works as a copywriter for Find Me A Gift, the online novelty gifts specialists from the United Kingdom
Three Cool Kitchen Gadgets (Guest)
MyPressi Twist
http://www.mypressi.com
Do you like to drink cappuccinos, café lattes, Americanos, and other espresso-based coffee drinks? Are you tired of paying high coffee shop prices every time you want a good shot of espresso? Do you feel that an espresso machine for your home is too expensive, takes up too much counter space, and is not portable? Then you should consider the MyPressi Twist, a handheld device which allows you to produce high-quality shots of espresso at home, in the office, or when traveling.
The MyPressi Twist uses the same 8-gram N2O chargers used in whipped cream makers, allowing you to make up to eight single shots of espresso with one affordable cartridge. After inserting the cartridge into the handle, adding coffee into the bottom basket, and filling the top with water; you simply close the lid and press the trigger. Within seconds delicious espresso emerges from the device.
iGrill Meat Thermometer
http://www.igrillinc.com/
If you like to grill and also have an iPhone, you ought to check out the iGrill Meat Thermometer. It is a Bluetooth-enabled thermometer and iPhone app system that allows you to monitor the internal temperature of a piece of meat from up to 200 feet away. Traditionally, when you have friends and family over for cookouts, you may find yourself frequently leaving the party to check on that steak you are grilling in your back yard or that roast you are broiling in your kitchen.
With the iGrill Meat Thermometer and iPhone app, you know the exact internal temperature of your burgers in real time. This means you can focus on entertaining your guests while making sure that your food is properly cooked all the way through without being overdone. The iGrill Bluetooth unit displays the temperature in addition to the iPhone app and also supports multiple temperature probes. This is helpful when you are grilling two kinds of meat simultaneously.
Joseph Joseph Scoop Colander
http://www.josephjoseph.com/colanders-and-strainers/scoop-colander
When cooking pasta, it can be a difficult task to pick up a near-boiling pot of water and carefully pour its contents into a colander in order to strain the water without burning one’s self. Similarly, deep frying food can also be dangerous when trying to get your chicken wings, shrimp, or other items out of the hot oil. This is where the Joseph Joseph Scoop Colander comes in handy.
Unlike traditional colanders, the Scoop Colander can be used to remove pasta from hot water without having to pour anything. Unlike the shallow mesh spoons for deep frying you may be familiar with, the Joseph Joseph Scoop Colander is deep enough to accommodate a hefty portion in each scoop. The Scoop Colander is made of a special nylon material that stands up to heat and is dishwasher safe.
Nicolas is the owner of Specialty Answering Service, a nationwide answering service and contact center service. Specialty provides a cheap answering service alternative to hiring your own staff.
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