Meandering and cooking around the world channeling Julia Child: June 2019

McDonald's purchased my first passport in 1998, when I traveled to Paris to work with the team supporting the World Cup credential office. France won the Cup and that trip launched my interest in travel, food, and cooking. During the past three decades of meandering around the world, I always stop at a McDonald's to sample unique menu options and to compare the replication of my favorite items. And, you should, too!

Last week, McDonald's introduced a promotion that customers could sample an international menu item. As an added incentive, payment could be made with any single piece of foreign currency. With a hand full of coins, I ordered the chicken sandwich shown below. It was a menu item from Australia, and I paid for it with a 10 cent Canadian coin. This photo nearly looks fake, but I assure you it was taken with my iPhone in my car. Authentic, gorgeous, and delicious.

As you plan your summer travels, consider some of these stops along your international trails.

The closest I have been to Australia was Bali, populated with more Australian tourists than Balinese locals. In Bali, you must order the McDonald's Mango Smoothie. Here is the menu link you will see it listed at the end: Mango Smoothie

If McDonald's plans to introduce International items to the USA, I will petition for adding Himalayan Tea Latte, which is offered hot or cold in Singapore. I have tried with some success to replicate with recipes online after paying $9 for cardamom pods. I am a desperate fan of this tea as seen in this photo topped with a lotus flower swirl. It is amazing and worth the trip as shown in this link and photo below:Himalayan Tea

McDonald's Hong Kong was my technology challenge as it was the first city to offer the now ubiquitous lobby on-screen ordering system. The food was great and the hip urban decor fit this local setting as you can see below.

You have likely seen in the movie Pulp Fiction, the name of the Quarter Pounder with Cheese transfers to something more luxurious in French. My menu choices below from a stop last fall near Nice, included a child's Happy Meal (seniors are the 2nd most frequent purchasers of McD HMs) that came with a tiny ice cream cone and a French story book that became a souvenir for my granddaughters. Their French fries a/k/a Pommes Frites are served with a traditional white mayo-based sauce shown below next to my American traditional ketchup.

Despite the occasional bad press McDonald's garners, the company is iconic in representing the USA around the world. McDonald's Corporation trains more workers than our military, and its introduction of the Ronald McDonald Houses serving families of sick and injured children make it a company we should be proud to call our own when we travel. A visit inside a foreign location will surprise you with some unique menu offerings as well as a familiar taste of home.

Bon Appetit!