CHOMPING down on the new Italian Stack the smooth cheese sauce oozed out of the sides – it tastes just like a sloppy lasagne.
I was of the few lucky people to taste McDonald’s new summer menu before it hits restaurants.
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This summer its serving up halloumi fries, a tiramisu McFlurry and four new burgers.
The mega McDonald’s menu shake-up is summer holiday themed and is coming in two waves, so you won’t be able to try everything this week.
On Wednesday 8 June, McDonald’s is adding the ‘taste of italy’ menu items – a new Italian Stack, the Crispy Chicken Italiano and a tiramisu McFlurry.
Then on July 27, it is adding flavours from Spain and Cyprus with the Spicy Spanish Stack, Chicken Fiesta burger, Spanish Fruit Punch and the much-anticipated halloumi fries.
I went down to McDonald’s HQ last week to try out the new menu items ahead of launching in restaurants.
Sloppy and greasy – but good
The Italian Stack burger, which costs £5.39, has two beef patties, mozzarella, crispy onions, a rich tomato sauce, lettuce and a smooth cheese sauce.
It comes in a tomato and herb style bun. I found this burger to be a bit more on the greasy side – but in good way.
That’s because the beef burger tasted just like a perfectly sloppy lasagne.
If you like a cheesy burger then this is the one for you too, after all, a lasagne is ALL about the cheese layered between sheets of pasta straight out a hot Italian oven.
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The Crispy Chicken Italiano is one for chicken lovers, with a crispy fillet topped by a juicy tomato slice, mozzarella, a basil pesto style sauce, red onion and lettuce, and served up in a toasted ciabatta-style bun.
In comparison to its beefy twin, the Crispy Chicken Italiano was very fresh tasting. It costs £5.39.
It had a nice light and airy bun, with plenty of fresh tasting salad in the burger.
If I had to liken it to anything I’d tried before, I’d say this burger tasted more like a Subway sandwich than anything.
The Tiramisu Mcflurry – my verdict
Next up was the tiramisu McFlurry. The classic soft serve ice cream has chocolate biscuit with a coffee and chocolate sauce swirled on top.
It was nice and velvety. It reminded me a lot of the secret menu hack, where fans have been adding a shot of coffee to a vanilla milkshake to create a McDonald’s affogato.
I was excited to try the Spanish Spicy Stack – and just like the McSpicy, it really lives up to its name.
There has been a lot of praise for the another recent menu addition – the McSpicy.
The burger has two beef patties, chilli cheddar, red onion, spicy tomato sauce and lettuce. It comes in a warm paprika bun and costs £5.39.
I was also excited to try the Chicken Fiesta. When I’m on holiday in Spain, I love ordering the fast food chain’s version of Patasa Bravas.
Somehow without the carby vegetable in sight, McDonald’s has managed to recreate the exact taste of that iconic dish in this burger.
It seemed a lot more tomatoey than the other versions on the menu, but that’s perfect if you’re after a proper Spanish taste.
The Chicken Fiesta, costing £5.39, comes with a crispy chicken fillet topped
with chorizo, chilli cheddar, spicy tomato sauce, red onion and lettuce
in its own warm toasted chilli and paprika topped bun.
Finally, the halloumi fries
It’s the first time McDonald’s has served halloumi fries in the UK and soon the long wait will be over as they join the menu later this summer.
They tasted a lot like the classic mozzarella dippers that Maccies has had for a while, but they had a squeakier texture to the cheese – like you often find with halloumi.
The breadcrumb coating was nice and crumbly too and they made a good salty alternative to fries. I really liked them.
They come in a bag of four and a rich, tasty tomato dip, costing £2.49.
Lastly, I cleansed my palate with the new Spanish Fruit punch.
Costing £2.29 for a medium or £2.61 for a large when fans get the chance to try later in July, the thirst-quenching drink was a dream as the room started to hot up.
The chilled soft drink is great if you’ve got a sweet tooth like me as it is bursting with berry and citrus flavours – it’s no sangria, but McDonald’s it’ll do.
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