Saturday, November 19, 2011

Love 'Em, Hate 'Em, Don't Really Care

My Special Moment is a little overkill
Every now and then McDonald's "brings back McRib" and everyone goes crazy.  Since I rarely eat at McDonald's (and when I do, I favor the Quarter Pounder), I never tried a McRib.

My brother Andy LOVES them and is thrilled when they come back.  A friend at church finally tried one and decided that she likes them too.  I'd been seeing these commercials and listening to raves for a while, so I decided it was about time that I jumped on the bandwagon and try one.

On a day when I forgot to bring my lunch and had no plans to lunch with someone else, I drove through McDonald's takeout window and bought one.

McRib is a Tangy Temptation according to the box. 

I set it on my desk and considered.  If I didn't like it, I'd have wasted $1.99 and had a not-great lunch.  But it would be worse if I did like it - the cost was small, but I would be jumping on the McDonald's McRib Lemming Train and wanting one constantly while they were available and yearning for them when they weren't...



I opened the box.  The bun looked pretty good.  The sauce dripping down from the inside was appetizing.  Presentation left a bit to be desired though - and the drippage made the bottom bun a bit soggy.

Opening the top of the bun though...  First of all, it was covered with pickles and onions, which I promptly cleared off.  I am quietly famous for hating pickles and I felt like the onions were overkill.  And then there was the meat itself.  Billed as boneless rib meat, it seemed to be more like meat that had been minced and then pressed back into a form that tries to fool you into thinking you're actually getting ribs.  They were trying to fool me! 
I guess I don't have anything against pressed meat, per se.  I don't mind a chicken nugget now and then or spam or slices of ham that really aren't slices from the deli counter - but something about this just rubbed me the wrong way.  The previous items don't pretend to be anything other than what they are - but McRib wanted you to think that it was actually boneless ribs even though it looked like the bones were still in there.

I put my irritation at this subterfuge aside though, and took a bite.   And.... meh.  The sauce was good but the meat didn't actually taste like anything at all.  Including meat.  It was like chewing solid air - and it was chewy - but there was no satisfaction to be had from McRib for me. 

Honestly, I'm a bit relieved.  I hate being a slave to food cravings, and I kind of pride myself on craving the good stuff - which, to me, McRib is not.  Now... where'd that brie go?


3 comments:

One Million Tries said...

What is with the food posts lately, you've got me salivating all over myself every time I read your posts, lol?

Actually this looked entirely UN appetizing so that's ok. In fact, I haven't been inside (or through the drivethru) of a McDonalds in 5 years... Ever since we discovered my son's allergies... I figured if he can't have it, I won't either. My body is probably grateful.

I like your explanation on the pretend meat. I feel like that too about the 'grilled' chicken meat at some fast food restaurants. The meat has the marks on it but it actually just gets microwaved, the marks are there from when its already frozen... it rubs me the wrong way too. LOL.

I'm glad to see that it was just ...meh. In fact I believe your direct quote is 'like chewing solid air' ... if that doesn't turn you off, I don't know what will.

At least you can go back to enjoying the good ol' standby's like the quarter pounder. That way, if you ever do have a craving, you can just have one rather than wait for the right time when it's available.

I better grab some breakfast. My tummy just started growling.

Faye said...

Hear, hear! If I'm going to get hooked on some fake food at least let it be tasty. When I'm driving like to get nuggets, fries and dump in the bag and shake some extra salt all over. Handy travel meal. In town, I won't leave home to get drive through, thankfully. I do think the "I married a 14 year old" commercial is pretty clever.

Karmyn R said...

I've never had one and never have had any desire to try one - and after this review, I feel even more justified! THANKS!