I thought I'd break all this "serious" food stuffs with something kinda interesting....or perhaps funny. On Monday, "YZ" quickly came on over to my desk when she got into the office. Apparently, there was a subject in WeChat that was blowing up. It was strangely about youtiao......but not just any youtiao; but youtiao here in San Diego, and at all of things, McDonalds! Or to be more precise; the way YZ and the Missus say it "Màidāngláo" branches on the West Coast! Folks were lining up for the stuff and doing things like.....
Making jiangbing guozi???? Here's some of the posts on WeChat.
Anyway, YZ explained what was going on. I thought it was so funny.....that I actually went to McDonalds. I occasionally will drive-thru MickeyD's for a diet coke, but hadn't walked into a store in ages. But there I was at a quarter to six in the morning.
The deal was getting a new breakfast item called "Donut Sticks" without the cinnamon sugar. It's pretty cheap; I got two dozen for a bit over four bucks.
I gave almost all of it away....of course some of it to "YZ", but Calvin, and JeffP who bit into one and started laughing. I mean, just look at it.
Man, looks familiar doesn't it......well, at least a miniature version of one.
So, how was it? Well, when hot it was crisp, fairly light, on the oily side....but it did smell like youtiao. It losses texture quickly and is missing the yeasty-"alum" taste of the stuff we had in China. But, let me tell you; this might be as good as anything you'd get here in San Diego.
The real test will be when I'm able to talk the Missus into trying this.....
Stay tuned.....
Ha, I took a bite of this and youtiao was my first thought too! Made me think of asking for a batch without the cinnamon sugar and bringing my own soy milk and congee to the McD...
Posted by: Jinxi | Tuesday, 19 March 2019 at 09:39 PM
Hey Jinxi - So nice to hear from you! Hope all is well. So there you go; time to bring the soy milk and porridge on over to Mickey D's for breakfast! ;o)
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 07:00 AM
I heard the commercial for donut sticks at McDonalds, but didn't look at the tv screen. That is totally funny!
Posted by: Sandy | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 08:02 AM
I did find it amusing Sandy!
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 08:25 AM
This is too funny and amazing! I'll have to get taste test with family. Where to get fresh soy milk to go - 99 Ranch used to sell those heated half gallon ones no? Or Joyees perhaps.
Posted by: Faye | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 10:16 AM
Have fun Faye! Not sure about the soy milk question.....we usually make our own. Which is rarely since I'm not much of a soy milk fan.
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 10:18 AM
HA! I love it!
Posted by: Janfrederick | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 11:05 AM
Funny huh Jan? ;o)
Posted by: Kirk | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 11:49 AM
I wish we had more Jianbing in San Diego. Only place I can think of is the dumpling shop in Ranch 99 across from Sam Woo.
Posted by: Derek R | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 08:19 PM
I've also been craving a good beef roll - it wasn't great but Liang's had at least a decent one. Wish we had more options locally.
Posted by: Derek R | Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at 08:23 PM
Hi Derek - No good Jianbing in the US...at least according to the Missus. Haven't had a good Niu Rou Chuan in ages; at least not in SD.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 21 March 2019 at 07:00 AM
=(
Posted by: Derek R | Thursday, 21 March 2019 at 09:14 AM
I wonder if MCD employees all around town are puzzled by the sudden influx of Asian customers all ordering these.
Posted by: Junichi | Thursday, 21 March 2019 at 01:44 PM
Hey Derek - You might like this article I just found:
https://radiichina.com/are-the-new-mcdonalds-donut-sticks-actually-a-chinese-import/
They were probably a bit perplexed in the beginning Junichi! The woman working at this location was wondering why I wanted the donut sticks without the sugar on them.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 21 March 2019 at 02:02 PM
Lol. I've seen the commercials for these but didnt really have the urge to try. But now I want to get them without the cinnamon
Posted by: Kirbie | Friday, 22 March 2019 at 02:37 AM
Kinda funny huh Kirbie?
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 22 March 2019 at 06:41 AM
fun!
Posted by: kat | Saturday, 23 March 2019 at 12:30 AM
It was quite funny Kat!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 25 March 2019 at 07:07 AM