So What Brings You to McDonald’s?

The next time you visit McDonald’s and sit down with your yummy food, and when you can’t wait to dig into those fries and sip onto that delicious glass of coke, take a moment and look around. You will find all kinds of people, doing all kinds of things and yes! Eating all kinds of different things. Although there is just one things which will be common among each of them, no matter who they are and what they have ordered. Its happiness. Everybody at McDonald’s automatically becomes happy. Doesn’t make sense? Well, it’s the Mac Magic. Give a man his fries and it will solve all his problems. It is no different for women. Right ladies?

So coming back to the various kinds of people that visit McDonald’s, they are all from varying backgrounds, cultures, religions, professions and settings. But they become one at a McDonald’s outlet. People come to us for varying reasons, it might be to grab a nice hot and comforting meal, which is affordable, quick, clean, and tasty and served with love, or it might be someone dropping in just for a cup of hot freshly brewed coffee and cookies. We’ve got it all. While some order everything on our menu, unable to decide what they want the most, and other have already decided what they want and how many of it, which size and how many slices of cheese, the moment they started from home. We know all of you and we love and appreciate all of you. How can we not really?    

So what according to you are the tastiest snacking moments made of? We asked Vaibhav, one of the biggest McDonald’s fans. His instant reply was, “Fries at McDonald’s, of course!” And what is the most filling and fuss-free meal on the go? The answer was Big Spicy Chicken Wrap or Big Spicy Paneer Wrap in case you are a vegetarian. In an earlier post, we had listed out reasons why people visit McDonald’s. This time we asked a few more people the same question and got some candid responses. We have Vaibhav here, on video talking to us about his favorites at McDonald’s and what brings him to McDonald’s each and every time.

Vaibhav sits in his favorite corner at McDonald’s, and tells us that he has been a regular visitor since we launched our McCafé, and McDonald’s breakfast. What a coincidence, those are our favorite things too, that we have introduced so far. Then he tells us about his two favorites, McMuffin with a streamed egg and coffee. That’s quite a classic combo Vaibhav, and we will be sure to remember it for the times we would want to treat you. He compliments us for our quick service and a friendly staff. Thank you, man! And then goes down the memory lane and talks about his fondest memories at McDonald’s and how he used to be overjoyed to get his happy Meal toy as well as his favorite burger as a kid,. To that we say, you can still ask for your happy meal at the counter man, we won’t judge you and neither will our fabulous customers. And you will surely receive it with the same warm smile you used to as a kid.

Keep lovin’ McDonald’s. 

Source: A Visit toMcDonald’s can be The Answer

An Egg-tastic Day

It’s been a while now, since McDonalds introduced its breakfast menu and it has been one of the best things that happened to us recently. It had almost felt like the world has nothing happy left in it to offer when this happy addition was made to McDonald’s. Now those grumpy sad morning have turned into mornings with smiling faces and happy and filled stomachs. People who skip breakfast too often to even count know exactly what I am talking about when I say grumpy and tired mornings. That’s what skipping breakfast does to you.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even though everybody hears about the importance of eating a healthy and wholesome breakfast regularly, most of us have chosen to, nevertheless, ignore it. But that’s only because eating breakfast every day is actually very hard. And the breakfast food at home has been boring since the days of school and the option of cooking every morning is not even an option, with our busy lifestyles and lack of skills at cooking!

Enters McDonald’s, with an amazing breakfast menu in India that includes Egg and Cheese McMuffin and Hash Browns, McDonald’s seems to have solved all of our morning refuel problems in one go! This menu offers the delicious Egg and Cheese McMuffin, their star product, which offers customers a nutritious and delicious breakfast with the goodness of eggs, the richness of American cheese and the perfectly baked muffin buns.

The Sausage McMuffin and Sausage McMuffin with Egg is perfect for non-vegetarians, with the added goodness of a grilled chicken patty, with a slight sage spice and American cheese and an optional added egg. The Sausage McMuffin is high on protein due to its chicken patty and tender Egg patty. A high-protein breakfast is an energy-packed breakfast that keeps your hunger at bay well till lunch, as our digestive system takes the longest to breakdown proteins, signaling the brain of a full stomach.. 

The vegetarians need not be disappointed at all. The Veg McMuffin and Veg Supreme McMuffin are a treat with a delicious grilled vegetable patty of spinach and corn core. Paired with coffee or tea, they make for an appetizing breakfast option.

All of this goes perfectly with a side of hot and crispy hash browns (#browns anyone?) and to top it all, the hottest hot cakes! These golden-brown, melt-in-your-mouth hot cakes are a spin on soft and fluffy pancakes and come with a serving of butter and maple syrup each.

Are you impressed yet? But that isn’t all! The McDonald’s India (West & South) run by Westlife Development, launched two new astoundingly unique and popular items on their menu, this January. These additions are a treat for the lovers of Indian cuisine, who can enjoy Masala Scrambled Eggs and the lovers of International Classic Scrambled Eggs. Could it get better than this?

So go and get your hands on the tasty and delicious #BreakfastAtMcDonalds at their select outlets or get it delivered, super-quick, fresh and hot at your doorstep and breakup with those boring unhealthy #BreakfastBlues. Happy Breakfasting!

Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/The-Egg-Came-Before-The-Chicken/2572268

Unity Lies In The Differences, Not In Similarities

McDonald’s restaurants are the perfect place to see people with contrasting yet colorful natures coming together to share what they do have in common – their love for McDonald’s food.

In the footsteps of the popular McDonald’s ad by Leo Burnett, has come a video done by RJ-turned-social media sensation “Hoezzay” (real name José Covaco) where he moves through a suburban McDonald’s restaurantand converses with people who have ordered different meals but may have many other things in common, which is what he’s gonna find out.

There’s a couple having hot coffee and cold coffee. You think they couldn’t be farther apart in their tastes? However, that’s not true. The couple, in fact, tells Hoezzay that they are getting married over the weekend!

Then there are friends who disagree on everything under the sun; another friend who is too slow and yet another who is too fast; people who make different choices on social media; one is an Angry Bird while the other is calm like the Buddha – the list is never-ending.

Sure enough, there are people who are as different from each other as chalk and cheese but love spending time together. Hoezzay concludes, variety is the spice of life and that’s also how it’s supposed to be.

This video comes in the footsteps of the McDonald’s s India (West & South)’s #BeDifferentTogether ad campaign, conceptualised by Leo Burnett ad agency, which advocated unity in diversity. The ad, whose jingle went: “We are different-different, but together”, had been launched to promote McDonald’s new Happy Price Combo offer.

The ad showed a quintessential Bengali gentleman with his Sikh friend; a couple comprising one-half vegetarian and the other half non-vegetarian; or mothers of two, only in this case one had two children while the other had two dogs.

Rajdeepak Das, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia said after launching the ad, "There hasn't been a better time to champion the cause of diversity. And who better than McDonald's to celebrate this? McDonald's has always been about people coming together over a nice meal, no matter how different.”

“It's our differences that make our relationships better. People may be complete opposites in the choices they make, but may still be very happy in each other's company. That’s the thought behind #BeDifferentTogether. Every viewer will see a bit of themselves in this ad."

Das added that from advertising’s point of view, it shakes up the traditional view of the audience it is catering to because the target audience here is anyone.

McDonald’s has, in the past too, created many ads about different strokes of love, be it seven-year-olds who are cool about being a boyfriend and a girlfriend over a McAloo Tikki burger, or a guy offering a girl a chair in a unique way, or even against a backdrop of an arranged marriage, a newlywed bond over a soft serve.

The #BeDifferentTogether campaign highlights how McDonald's has always been a melting pot of divergent lifestyles, of different people coming together to create a classic moment. No wonder the ads resonate with the audiences.

Source: http://articles.abilogic.com/237593/variety-key-factor-making-world.html

How McDonald’s fries became the world’s best fries

Although one can eat French fries any day of the year, July 13 has been designated as French Fry Day. French fries, undoubtedly, are everyone’s favourite potato dish. But if you thought there was only one way to enjoy those fries – with tomato ketchup – you couldn’t be more wrong!

But first, let’s see the entire process that goes behind making those perfect fries, in this video: https://youtu.be/mD97ThmoGro

Countries around the world eats them in their own special way. Some like to dip their fries in salsa, others like to have them with cheese and gravy. But there’s no doubt that French Fry lovers everywhere have a soft corner for MacFries.

Let’s start our round-the-world trip from America. Americans love their french fries best with simple tomato ketchup, although they sometimes go for toppings like cheese, chili, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, onions or ranch dressing.

However, though the Americans think the French fries came to their land from France, they actually came from Belgium. Yes, even though the fries go by the name “French”, French Fries were actually invented in Belgium.

The people of Meuse Valley loved their fish fries, but they didn’t know  what to do when winter froze their river. So, they came up with the idea of frying potatoes, instead. Viola! The French Fries were born, although in Belgium, they are known as frites. The Belgians love their frites so much that they make them the center-piece of a meal, much more than just a side dish. Not that you can’t enjoy them on the streets: Streetside shops known as freitkotten serve them fries in cones made of cardboard, with a choice of many sauces.

In French regions of Canada, they love their poutines: fries topped with gravy and cheese curds, all served hot, so the flavours blend. There are even annual poutine festivals held across Canada.

In good ol’ Britain, as we know, fries are called chips, while what the rest of the world calls chips, are known as crisps. The Brit like their “chips” with a sprinkling of malt vinegar and salt.

In Netherlands, fries are cooked just the way they are in Belgium, but they like to dip their fries in mayonnaise, believe it or not! But it’s not a bland mayo but a spicy one, unlike what one is used to in other parts of the world.

In Japan, they are called furaido and munched with seasoning in powder from, which the Japanese sprinkle on top. The Japanese also prefer to shake their fries in a paper parcel, (probably the origin of McFries Piri Piri). The locals of Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia also like to do the same.

However, neighbouring Philippines likes its fries with a totally different flavour of ketchup: banana, at that. This sauce is made of mashed bananas, vinegar, sugar and spices.

No matter how many different ways the world eats its French Fries, the MacFries - French Fries from McDonald’s – has proved to be the “Great Leveller”, uniting fry lovers around the world in one special taste – potato fries that are crispy outside and soft inside, with just a sprinkling of salt or piri piri spice.

So, MacFries anyone?

Source :http://articles.org/how-mcdonalds-fries-became-the-worlds-best-fries/

McDonald’s EOTF Has Samsung tablets now

Visited the McDonald’s EOTF restaurant at south Mumbai’s posh office-cum-residential locality, Nariman Point, yet?, You might be surprised to spot Samsung’s tablets fixed at many of the tables. Go ahead, play!

It’s a bid by Westlife Development, whose subsidiary Hardcastle Restaurants manages the McDonald’s franchise in west and south India, to keep its customers engaged and happy as they enjoy their food at the restaurant.

After all, in today’s “connected” world, there are few people who can’t be seen doing serious work or entertaining themselves via social media on their smartphone or tablet. So, once inside an Experience Of The Future restaurant, you can use the new Samsung Touch2Play Samsung Galaxy Tablets to browse, check your social media updates, or simply play a game.

The move began in the UK, with McDonald's Corporation installing Samsung Galaxy tablets in its restaurants across the island nation as part of the of new initiative called "Experience of the Future". While the Tablets are meant to be used to order food, they do offer basic access to the internet, mobile games and social media apps.

It was not the first time that McDonald’s came up with a tech-focussed marketing plan. Customers in Sweden have already been treated to ‘Happy Meal’ boxes that could be converted into cardboard virtual reality headsets based on Google's Do-It-Yourself design. Elsewhere in Europe, some restaurants offered wireless charging pads. McDonald's is also known to have supported the Apple Pay mobile payments system since its launch in October 2014.

McDonald’s digital tablet enclosures are akin to entertainment hubs, where guests can relax and have a good time. They can play games, read the news, interact on social media, charge their phone using wireless charging, or do what we all love doing: simply browse the internet.

According to a statement, "Technology has an important role to play in all walks of life, including  customers' ‘eating out’ experience. So, the changes we're making as part of the Experience of the Future programme bring us closer to the way people live their lives today."

Another experiment has been the introduction of touch-screen, self-order stations, which goes a long way in reducing the waiting time before an order. The touch-screen kiosks also give customers the option of having their meals delivered to their respective tables, an unheard-of trend in a Quick Service Restaurant.

With its latest initiative, McDonald’s is creating more appeal for its adult as well as child customers, who are never far away from a touch-screen.

In the US too, McDonald's is betting on new technology like mobile orders and payments. The hamburger giant unveiled plans at its annual investor day to make "mobile order and pay" available at all of its 14,000-odd US restaurants by Fall of 2017. "Through enhanced technology to elevate and modernise customer experience, a focus on the quality and value of our food and redefined convenience through delivery, we have a bold vision for the future and the urgency to act on it," McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook told the meeting.

Source: http://articles.org/visit-a-mcdonalds-eotf-and-you-may-not-want-to-come-back-home-soon/

Experience McDonald’s In Monsoon

Monsoon is one of the most beloved seasons in India. After 3 months of tremulous and scorching heat, the monsoon is a redemption and signals the start of something new. Fresh crops, the smell of the soil lingering in the air, strong winds and the clouds are just a few of the things that makes monsoon so desirable. Monsoons are also a time of feasting. Pakoda and chai are a must in every house during monsoon as you bask in the glory of the rains.

McDonalds India (South and West) has been in India for 20 years now and has been serving a wide variety of items to the diverse customer base in the country. While you most certainly enjoy your pakoda and chai, this monsoon give McDonalds a whirl to fulfill your snack cravings with these five awesome-sauce products. And as always, these items have been curated keeping health and nutrition in mind so you can trust them to be wholesome and healthy, all at the same time.

McDonald’s Veg Pizza McPuff- Bringing the best of pizza and wrap, this fun combo takes the best of both to give you an incredible eating experience. The wrap is crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and is filled with carrots, bell peppers, beans, onion, and peas, topped off with mayonnaise and tomato sauce. This heavenly dish is a treat for the monsoon and is best topped off with some steaming hot chai or a glass of filter coffee. Delicious right?

Paneer Salsa Wrap- Paneer or Cottage Cheese, as it’s more popularly known globally, is a signature vegetarian item in India. McDonald’s Paneer Salsa Wrap is made of a single slab of paneer that is coated with a Mexican and Cajun fusion sauce, fried till its golden and then wrapped and topped with lettuce, red cabbage and celery. The wrap is filled with vegetarian mayonnaise, salsa and cheddar cheese for the perfect flavor. A truly delightful meal for a truly delightful weather.

Filet-O-Fish- One of McDonald’s signature product across the globe, Fillet-O-Fish isa fun burger with a fish patty covered in tartar sauce. In India, the burger is made from locally sourced Andhra fish and comes with an extra cheese option. Nothing better than a rainy day to enjoy a nice protein filled meal.

Smoothies– Perfect for a rainy day, McDonald’s smoothies are a great beverage to have along with any of the burgers and wraps on the menu. Available in three different flavors- Mixed Berry, Passion Fruit and Mango, the smoothies are made with real fruit puree, milk and ice to combine the best of nutrition and deliciousness. All the flavors are incredible to drink so try all three because there is no one favorite.

French Fries- While rainy day is just an excuse, there is really no day when you can’t enjoy our French fries. Crisp and salty, French fries are the best way to enjoy the rains and to snack on. It’s the equivalent of pakoda.

Here’s How Mccafe’s Vanilla Latte Creates Its Magic

When Westlife Development, whose subsidiary Hardcastle Restaurants owns the McDonald’s India (West & South) franchise, launched India’s first McCafé, its specialty coffee outlet, at SOBO Central, in Mumbai, in 2013, customers immediately warmed up to its many coffee-based concoctions.

One such delicious offering has been the Vanilla Latte. Do you want to know what makes it so delicious? The best way to find out is by checking out its recipe. Here’s the five-step method: Pour some vanilla syrup. Get your espresso. Heat and froth the milk. Add milk to your espresso. Add some latte art. And, it’s ready!

When McDonald’s India (West & South) launched its most successful global brand extension McCafé’ - an inhouse coffee brand – it was responding to the coffee culture wave already happening. McCafé soon became the best place to enjoy a range of premium specialty coffee, which included the likes of cappuccinos, lattes, iced mochas and frappes.

McDonald’s had already been serving these along with their meals off the counter. The new thing was serving these in a whole new ambience for coffee aficionados. In addition to extending its McCafé product portfolio, the restaurant created a defined space for McCafé in-restaurant, creating a brand within a brand at the point-of-sale. The concept of McCafé operating inside existing McDonald’s restaurants, introduced more Indians to the premium coffee experience.

What’s more, the baristas can be requested to add extra espresso or flavour shots like Caramel, French Vanilla, Roasted Hazelnut, Irish Cream or whipped cream. What set McCafé apart was its use of 100% Arabica coffee beans, specially brewed medium-roasted by well-trained baristas. Coffee connoisseurs may like to learn that the coffee beans and espresso at the heart of McCafé ‘s coffees are sourced from Chikmagalur, in Karnataka, India.

Other beverages offered by McCafé are hot chocolate, specialty teas, cookies, pastries and muffins.

From the company’s point of view, the launch of McCafé brand was a major step in its beverage growth strategy and its goal to elevate its coffee portfolio to become India’s favourite destination for great food and great beverages.

As Amit Jatia shared at the time, “We see huge potential within the Indian marketplace for customers who have a strong taste for coffee, the specialty segment, and we believe we’ve created a great place for people to enjoy quality espresso coffees.”

“We also see an opportunity to continue expanding our beverage platform and making efforts to gain a greater share of a sizeable Indian beverage market,” added Jatia.

Over the years, McCafé has proved him right by being an acceleration for the business and driving the  beverage and food business to unparalleled heights to make McDonald’s India (West & South) perch comfortably as a leader in the quick-service restaurant space in India.

Amit Jatia concludes, “Our goal is to fuel stronger customer connections and to be the place Indians think of first when they’re hungry or thirsty.”

Source: http://articles.org/do-you-know-what-goes-into-a-mccafes-vanilla-latte/

Even Small Victories Are Worth A Celebration - With A Junior Maharaja Mac

After boring TV ads, here comes an ad with a difference. The latest ad about McDonald’s Junior Maharaja Mac has been created by Leo Burnett, as all of the company’s ads in the past. Its even been shot on iPhones, giving it a real edge.

As Raj Deepak Das, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia, “We’ve cast real people, captured real moments, and shot many of these on our iPhones.”

The ad by McDonald’s India (West & South) for the Junior Maharaja Mac shows glimpses from daily life. As daily life is not just about going through the grind but also about celebrating some victories, it says small and simple wins can be celebrated by ordering a Junior Maharaja Mac.

Sharing the thought that went into the ad, Das says, “We leaned strongly into pop culture to show how McDonald’s has always been part of our everyday moments – both big and small. The idea of a Maharaja Mac as the reward for life’s everyday victories, beautifully converts these everyday moments into feel-good moments.”

So, what is the Junior Maharaja Mac? For those who haven’t tasted it yet, it is a smaller version of its famous Maharaja Mac, which itself is an Indian version of the world-famous American burger the Big Mac. The Junior version gives customers a chance to taste the Maharaja Mac in the form of a single patty.

The Veg Maharaja Mac Junior is a vegetarian’s delight, the patty being a rich and crusty cheese-and-corn patty, served with vegetable-cocktail sauce. Premium ingredients like jalapeño, red onion, cheddar cheese and iceberg lettuce lend it a superbly fresh taste and aroma.

While that’s for veggie lovers, non-vegetarians too need not fret. There’s a Chicken version of the Junior Maharaja Mac as well, with a flame-grilled patty, made of whole meat sourced from the leg, breast and thigh of a chicken. The patties are placed inside buns sprinkled with sesame seeds. There’s also fresh salad, with a dressing of Habanero sauce.

The Veg Maharaja Mac Junior and the Chicken Maharaja Mac Junior – are priced at Rs 95 and Rs 99, respectively.

“We constantly evolve our menu to address customer needs. We wanted to tell them to make the most of the simple moments in their lives. The popularity of the Maharaja Mac inspired us to bring out another innovation as part of our value format,“ shares Kedar Teny, Director – Marketing and Digital, McDonald’s India (West & South).

However, while people are warming up to the Maharaja Mac, it had taken a while for the Indian franchise to come up with the idea of a non-beef substitute to the Big Mac. Big Mac, after all, is the best-known burger in the world, so could it have a substitute, even?

As Vikram Ogale, Director, National Supply Chain & Quality Assurance, McDonald’s India, puts it, “It was a complicated sandwich. It had never been done before.” A team from McDonald’s had prolobnged meetings with its main supplier - Vista Processed Foods – to create a perfect recipe that would work. The result of those brainstorming sessions was the Chicken Maharaja Mac!

Source:

http://www.articlesdunia.com/food-and-drinks/restaurants/small-celebrations-call-for-a-junior-maharaja-mac-says-this-ad

Jump To The Future With Mcdonald’s

If you have ever been to a McDonald’s outlet anywhere in India, you pretty much are aware of the ordering method in place. Walk in to the restaurant, find a counter, place your order, pay and then collect your food. However, should you walk into the McDonald’s at Nariman Point, Mumbai, you are in for a world of surprise. For one thing, when you walk in here, instead of a visible counter you are first made aware of four self-ordering kiosks spread across the outlet. Besides these, the appearance of the outlet is also quite different with a different light scheme, open plywood, metallic seating arrangements and walls with softer sketches of McDonald’s products.

This outlet is a part of McDonald’s ‘Experience of theFuture’ (EOTF) restaurants, a group of very selective restaurants across the globe. To use this outlet is simple. When you walk in to the restaurant, you can start placing your order using the kiosk, including meal plans, individualised items as well as side orders. Extras such as cheese slices, bun and sauces can also be placed here. Once the order is placed, you can pay using your phone or at the counter of the restaurant where your food can also be collected. You can also customize your orders as per your requirements or should you need to modify the order before payment. Reminds you of Futurama doesn’t it!

At the Nariman Point outlet of McDonald’s, you can get a few items that aren’t available in other regular stores. These include farm-fresh salads and whole wheat wraps. While you wait for the food to arrive, you can sit and soak in this technologically driven restaurant and relax. For the tech-gizmos, there are air chargers located across the restaurant to charge your phones and electronic devices like laptops so you can be at ease as you dine and enjoy your food. But wait, there’s more! Should you need to use the washroom, you’ll find sustainable smart hand wash systems, which have been designed to save close to 4 lakh litres of water every year. The entire restaurant uses LED lighting, which is both power saving and easy on the eye, as well as biodegradable and reusable cups and plates which would effectively minimize waste generation.

The Experience of the Future restaurants concept was first introduced in the UK about two years ago and has expanded to Australia, Canada, Europe and US. In India, there are two EOTF restaurants currently open, both of which are in Mumbai. This is part of the testing phase and soon the concept restaurant will expand to its other outlets across the country. The transition to other cities would take about 2-3 years and will incorporate opening new outlets as well as remodeling older outlets, according to Amit Jatia, vice-chairman, Westlife Development, which owns the McDonalds franchise in South and West India. He also added that there were plans to open up to 10 new outlets in Mumbai alone, in the next 18-20 months. 

Source:http://www.sooperarticles.com/food-drinks-articles/restaurant-reviews-articles/mcdonalds-adapting-technology-through-modern-outlets-1568018.html

Know Your French Fries? Then, Solve This Puzzle

This Maths quiz was posted on the social media and soon enough, the world went crazy trying to figure out the answer. What was amazing was that it looked so simple, yet had people racking their brains in trying to solve it.

The Big Macs, milkshakes, and French fries make the quiz look simple, but when you take a closer look, you are nowhere closer to solving it. If only teachers in schools created maths equations using everyone’s favourite French Fries and McAloo Tikki burger, how wonderful would maths classes become!

The first line of the quiz shows three McDonald's drinks adding up to a value of 30. Next, two burgers and a drink add up to 20. Finally, four portions of chips and one burger add up to nine. The last line asks you to use the information provided to answer how much one burger and one portion of chips multiplied by a drink is worth.

Most people struggled as they did not notice that the third sum involved two portions of chips, whereas the fourth line only has one. Yet others remain confused about the order in which to multiply and add in the final line. However, to work out the answer, you first need to understand the cost of each product.

From the first line, you know that each drink is worth 10, while from the second line you learn that a burger is worth five. From the third line (remember there are a total of four packet of chips) you learn that each packet of chips is worth one.

In the final, apply the rule that multiplication comes before addition. You multiply the chips by the drink, totalling 10, before adding the burger, which gives you the answer as 15.

The quizwas posted on the McDonald’s international website. While, at first, most people thought they had it wrapped up. But then, they were flummoxed when their answer was declared as a wrong answer! Yes, this quiz too was a clever, tricky question which is why people were pulling out their hair.

Okay, here’s why 15 is the correct answer. There are not one but two packets of French fries in the third row, and just one in the fourth row. Do you get it now?

Another way to solve the problem is to apply the rule of BODMAS, according to which, you first multiply, then divide. BODMAS abbreviation stands for B (Brackets first), O (Orders i.e. Powers and Square Roots), DM (Division and Multiplication), AS (Addition and Subtraction).

Here’s how you work it out: 10+10+10=30; 10+5+5=20; 5+2+2=9; apply BODMAS (5+(1×10), to get 15!

So far, over 1,500 people attempted the puzzle, with varying results.

Last year, a similar tricky maths question asked people to figure out how many passengers were originally on a train. The quiz went as follows: 'There were some people on a train. Nineteen people get off the train at the first stop. Seventeen people get on the train. Now there are 63 people on the train. How many people were on the train to begin with?'

The correct answer turned out to be 65, which one arrives at by subtracting the 17 people who just boarded from the current number of passengers 63, to get 46. Then you add the 19 passengers who got off to arrive at 65.

Dosa Masala Brioche: Traditional Food Gets A Makeover

McDonald’s India (West& South), always known to introduce exciting new items in its menu, had jumped on to the fusion foods bandwagon even before the trend became so huge across the world. The first foray was the McAloo Tikki burger. Today, it has launched the Dosa Masala Brioche in an avant garde version.

It is surely proving to be a hit because the world over, people are blending with other cultures and other lifestyle choices, which includes the food they are eating. So East is no longer East but has imitated West, and vice versa. That also holds true for North-South blending or Continental and Oriental fusion. Yes, the more exotic it gets, the better it is for food lovers across the world. No wonder, ethnic fusion has been voted as the trend for 2017.

Despite the success of the McAloo Tikki burger, the arrival of the Dosa Masala Brioche surprised a section of the fans. But only till they had tasted it. Once they reaosed how authentic ws the flavor and aroma of the dosa masala  - mashed potatoes sprinkled with mustard seeds, with a dash of turmeric, green peas, aroma of curry leaves, and their craving for a south indian breakfast was met inside a French patty – unbelievable but true.

The Dosa Masala Brioche is not only reminiscent of the popular south Indian dish, it is also accompanied by the molagapodi chutney mayo, known to the general dosa-loving public as “gunpowder”.

Although the parent dish , the Masala Dosa, hails from South India, the Dosa Masala Brioche itself has been launched in the heart of west India – Mumbai. This is not surprising as Mumbai is a melting pot of diverse cultures as well as a cosmopolitan city that likes to try out new dishes.

Since Mumbaikars rise and shine early, the interesting new menu for breakfast comes at the right time for a city that has no time to “cook-and-carry”. Remember the famous dabba system born out of this predicament. Now they can just walk into a McDonald’s anywhere around the city and have a long list to choose from, which includes the Dosa Masala Brioche for those who crave something south Indian in their breakfast.

It’s all about “breakfast convenience on the go”, says Amit Jatia, Vice-Chairman, Westlife Development.

As of 13th January 2017, the Dosa Masala Brioche is available at not one but 44 McDonald’s outlets across Mumbai. It is available through McDelivery and Takeaway options as well.

But don’t fret. Soon after Mumbai, the Dosa Masala Brioche will also be available in other cities and towns in west and south India.

Explaining the reason why the new fusion-cuisine was launched, Amit Jatia had this to say: “We continue to look at inspiration from Indian cuisine and bring it in McDonald’s format. This gives you flavours from the west with the familiarity of Indian.”

The Dosa Masala Brioche, priced at Rs 42, is available from 7 AM to 11 AM at McDonald’s outlets. Enough to make one forget “breakfast at Tiffany’s”

Source :

http://www.sooperarticles.com/food-drinks-articles/low-calorie-articles/dosa-masala-brioche-fusion-food-its-best-1558052.html

Mcdonald’s Ads Send Across The ‘I’m Lovin It’ Message

McDonald’s ads down the years have been about great advertising as much as they have been about the awesome food served by everyone’s favourite quick service restaurant.  But they also have been about the theme of love, and since Valentine’s day just got over, let’s revisit some of those ads.

In this ad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmNrvlQ73pU),  a little boy and girl are sitting on a park bench. The girl asks, “Are we boyfriend-girlfriend?” The boy replies, “No, girlfriends are too demanding! They say, I want this, I want that.” To which, the girl replies, “But I only want a Mc Aloo Tikki burger.” The boy is delighted and feels the money in his pocket, realising that he can afford to buy her one with his pocket money. He says, “Okay, you can be my girlfriend.”

The fact that two seven-year-olds become boyfriend-girlfriend over a McAloo Tikki burger, makes for a so-sweet moment.

In a second ad, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hryEm7m5QAo),  a girl comes looking for a seat at a McDonald’s, and here’s this guy who gives up his chair for the girl. The ad concludes, SharingMakesFriends, introducing the new “Sharing” Packs from McDonald’s. One can see the sparks flying between the two and hope it blossoms into a beautiful relationship.

The third ad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqWhBD-TLfE)  has an Arranged Marriage as its theme. As we all know, arranged marriages are full of unpredictability, and sometimes turn out for the best. The ad shows a husband and wife bonding over a soft serve ice-cream at McDonald’s. The newlyweds who obviously have had an arranged marriage, are sitting at McDonald’s, eating the Soft Serve icecream. But what should be a deliciously enjoyable experience, is marred by the husband being on a business call, which leaves his wife visibly bored.

However, he soon realizes his mistake, and offers a spoonful of his own icecream to his wife, thus making the “ice” between them melt as well. Can anything be more romantic?

This ad (https://youtu.be/uinj0JXQ8oI) sends across the message what most of us are already aware of. That it is the little gestures that matter the most. This ad was launched to celebrate 20 years of McDonald’s in India, with love as the underlying theme. Here’s to all the beautiful couples who met at McDonald’s.

Veg Maharaja Mac A Delight For Vegetarian Customers

The Big Mac is a world-famous hamburger sold by McDonald’s, the international fast-food restaurant chain. Introduced first in Pittsburgh, United States, in 1967, it was such a huge hit that it was sold in the rest of the US by the following year. Today, it has become one of the signature products of the company and is sold across the world.

The burger originally consisted of two 100 per cent beef patties, a special sauce which is a variant of the Thousand Island dressing, iceberg lettuce, American cheese, pickles, and onions, served in a three-part sesame seed bun. To this day, the recipe remains the same in the US.

The first Indian version of the legendary American burger was the Chicken Maharaja Mac. It was a combination of grilled double-chicken patty, flavoured with smokey sauce and a slice of cheese, with slivered onion, crisp, shredded iceberg lettuce, and juicy tomatoes.

After years of the Indian Big Mac experience being reserved for non-vegetarians, McDonald’s surprised its vegetarian patrons with a Veg Maharaja this year. Now, vegetarians can also enjoy the delicious concoction of double patties with fine cheese slices, fiery jalapenos and crunchy onions, placed on a bed of fresh lettuce patty with cheese and corn, with a topping of smooth, exotic sauces.

Explaining the reason for the launch, Smita Jatia, Managing Director, Hardcastle Restaurants, the master franchisee of McDonald’s India(West & South) said, “Seeing a lot of demand for food that is filling and indulgent, made us launch the Maharaja Mac some years ago. But we did not want to exclude our vegetarian customers.”

“We did surveys among our customers, which revealed that vegetarians liked the corn-and-cheese combination. Taking a cue from that, we took the Maharaja Mac and launched its vegetarian version in the form of the Veg Maharaja Mac.”

She added that a lot of vegetables - like lettuce, jalapenos, tomatoes and onions – had been added to the new Maharaja burgers so that the vegetarian customers get to taste the freshness of the ingredients when they bite into their burger.

The Veg Maharaja Mac is surely a vegetarian's ultimate food. Huge in size and high on taste, everyone will take longer to finish the burger.

From India’s own version, let’s find out what the Big Mac looks like in other countires. Australia, a country always known to like things big, has the Mega Mac or Double Big Mac – four-ounce beef patties with an extra slice of cheese. It is the biggest regular hamburger produced by the chain and has 680 calories.

In Europe, it is known as the “Big Big Mac”, which is a quarter-pounder-like product, while Alaska, US, has its exclusive burger named after its mountain, Mt. McKinley - The McKinley-Mac. It’s made of two quarter-pound patties.

In West Asia, the Chicken Big Mac - with two breaded chicken patties – is sold.  Ther countries are Pakistan, Egypt, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar. The Giga Big Mac is a larger version, with three times the meat of a Big Mac. This belongs to Japan.

McDonald’s in Hyderabad Serves up a Kebab Burger

When the McDonald’s Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) arrived in India around 20 years ago, the earliest strategy by the company to please its clientale was to create a menu that would be familiar to the local customers. Viola! the McAloo Tikki burger was born!

This desi addition to an otherwise international menu, thrilled the customers and helped the restaurant to quickly increase footfalls inside its restaurants.

McDonald’s (West & South) recently took efforts to replicate its success story in the southern city of Hyderabad by launching a range of new products with local flavours – it was a kebab inside a burger!

So, what’s the connection between Hyderabad and kebabs? Hyderabad is as famous for its kebabs as it is for its biryanis. The kebab, which originated in Iran and the Middle East, was inspired by culinary methods from faraway places like the Mediterranean. Today, a huge variety of kebabs are cooked using a variety of exotic spices. Then, when the kebabs came to India, the city of Hyderabad added its own Mughlai tradition by cooking it with hot South Indian spices. The kebabs of Hyderabad bore the smokey flavour of skewered meat and vegetables, topped by the unmistakeable flavour of Indian spices.

Now, McDonald’s India (South & West) has launched not one but three new kebab dishes. The new meals launched in Hyderabad are: the Chicken Kebab Burger, the Kebab Wrap, and the Chicken Kebab Double Patty Burger. Just the names can make you feel the whiff from the kitchens.

The three new flavours were first launched at the McDonald’s restaurant at the busy City Centre Mall in Hyderabad. Today, the menu has been extended from one store to 22 stores across Hyderabad.

In the words of Kedar Teny, Director, Marketing and Digital, McDonald’s India (West and South), 

“We aim to delight our customers in Hyderabad by offering them their favourite kebabs in a unique recipe. We continue serving innovative dishes in South India, which has been a major market to adopt and cater to the changing consumer trends. We are testing here, and if it gets a good response, we will expand it pan-India.”

The new menu is a blend of the familiar with the new, which makes for an exciting combination. It’s certain that Hyderabad’s locals will welcome the new flavours, as they are a city of food lovers who love new tastes even they appreciate traditional flavours.

This sentiment was echoed by Amit Jatia, Vice Chairman, Westlife Development Limited and owner of the McDonald’s (West and South India), when the franchise reached the 20-year milestone, recently. He said the 20-year journey had been about “thinking global, but being local”, which meant keeping the international chain relevant to a global visitor, yet having a lot of appeal to a local customer.

“Our menu has evolved unbelievably in the last 20 years. We have built a solid foundation with our menu and succeeded in building sub-brands like McSpicy and McAloo Tikki. When other burger companies come in, these brands really help to differentiate our offering,” he said.

Moreover, established brands help in new products succeeding. For instance, McAloo Tikki - which is the biggest brand for McDonald’s India - has aided the success of new flavours like Mexican and Lebanese in the AlooTikki burgers. “The people’s faith in the brand make them try out new menus, which have a positive impact on same-store sales,” adds Jatia.

So, what makes a McDonald’s kebab different? It is a traditionally cooked, spicy, square-shaped patty, made of minced chicken and seasoned with Indian spices, breadcrumbs and chickpeas, and accompanied by sliced red onion. The Chicken Kebab Burger is accompanied by a spicy Hariyali sauce, which has the taste of green chillies, mint and coriander leaves, which lend a typical local flavour to the tasty dish.

Customer Service Is All About Service With A Smile At Mcdonald’s

Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see, wrote Mark Twain. Indeed, whether or not you are aware of a good deed someone has done to you or one that you did to another, you can be sure it left its indelible mark on someone’s heart or mind.

Having experienced a good deed at a McDonald’s restaurant on the Mumbai-Kolhapur highway, when he arrived there for lunch, the customer was quick to express his thanks through a letter.

Soon after his arrival, Vinayak Jadhav dropped his wallet, which contained a little over 2000 INR. However, he realised his mistake only after he had finished his lunch at the restaurant.

Later, observing the customer searching for his wallet, the security guard at McDonald’s assured him not to worry as his wallet had been found and deposited with the restaurant manager.

One can imagine the customer’s relief. Here is the letter he later wrote McDonald’s:

“Sir, today I went to McDonald’s Kolhapur, on the National Highway, for lunch. When I parked my car, something fell down from my pocket. I went out with my friend for about 45 minutes. After coming back, I took a meal at McDonald’s. It was then that I realised that cash of around Rs 2300 was missing. I went near my car and began searching for the cash. Then, the security person of the shift approached me to inform that he found the cash and handed it over to the Shift Manager, Ms Nelson. She had been searching for the owner of the car for quite some time. I wish to appreciate the (value) system developed by your team. The cash was not so big but I liked the loyalty of the security officer and your team. With Best Wishes, Vinayak Jadhav.”

Vinayak Jadhav is not alone in appreciating McDonald’s. Here are more examples of simple courtesies keeping customerscoming back.

“Hello there, I'm Pawan Kr Jha from Frazer Town, Bangalore. I work as Operations Head in a Private Health Care firm in Bangalore. I have a daughter of 11 yrs. Last year, when she was 10, we had to arrange her birthday get-together in hurry. We threw a small party last year in McDonald’s outlet on Mosque Road. The experience was so good, that this year too, on October 22, we decided to have my daughter's birthday party at McDonald’s Mosque Road outlet. This year too, the arrangements were awesome, including the decorations. Everything was taken care of, and all the kids were very happy and satisfied, with no complaints. Thanks to each employee of your Mosque Road outlet. Cheers!! Pawan Kumar Jha.”

Yet another letter comes from Kochi:

 “Hi, I want to share a great experience I had at McDonald’s MG Road while travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi. It was almost 11:30 at night and we were searching for a restaurant to have dinner as no restaurants were open at the time. We finally stopped at a McDonald’s. Though the crew said the store was closed at the time, yet the manager again fired up the equipment and made sure that our needs were met. Indeed, my family, especially the kids, enjoyed the outstanding hospitality delivered by the managers and staff of McDonald’s at MG Road. Regards, Akshay Panicker”

Here’s a grateful chap from Indore:

“I forgot my mobile at a McDonald’s in Indore, and it was returned to me by the staff. It was an example of the team’s great sense of responsibility. They have truly built a great trust. Thanks and regards, Kishan Kumar Sharma.”

As Bill Vaughan put it, “Our lives are fed by kind words and gracious behaviour”.

Source : 

http://uberant.com/article/214397-mcdonalds-believes-in-keeping-customers-happy-by-doing-a-job-well/

Piri Piri: When French Fries Went On An African Safari

When McDonald’s launched its Piri Piri fries, the restaurant’s loyal clientale immediately took to the new taste of their favourite fries. Although they couldn’t believe that the well-known fries could get any better, they hadf to admit that the Piri Piri spice and the McDonald’s french fries made for an irresistible combination.

One could see people waiting patiently in long queues to get their pack of French fries along with a sachet of Piri Piri spice, which they tore open and poured its contents into the pack. Then, you could see them shaking the packs as they walked back to their seats, in a bid to evenly coat the fries with the special spice.

What makes the spice perfect for the French fries is it being used coarsely grounded, allowing it to coat the fries better than a finely ground spice.

McDonald’s French fries themselves are thankfully always bright golden brown, thin, and crisp, made of wholesome potatoes of a very special variety. Their tender exterior and moist interior make these fries a hit with most people. Once they get coated with the Piri Piri spice, they turn a deep brown colour.

Of course, if you’re not sure of how much of the spice you need to lather your fries with, the very first time round, you might pour the spice slowly, taste the fries, and then add more if you want. This is just so the fries don’t get too pungent or spicy by pouring the entire spice sachet into the fries. Especially as the spice in India has large amounts of garlic. You might wish for a dipping sauce to take away the overwhelming taste of garlic.

McDonald’s Piri Piri is a simple mix of spices, not too elaborate, and all the ingredients are natural. There’s tamarind of course, adding a much needed sour flavour to the seasoning. 

The ad for these fries called them “periperilicous”! Undoubtedly, once you tasted these fries, you knew you had to have more. Seeing the popularity of this dish, McDonald’s changed this temporary promotional offer and made it a permanent one.

Just pay Rs 15 extra on your regular McDonald’s french fries to upgrade to the Piri Piri French fries.

So what exactly is this Piri Piri? Let’s find out!

My heart goes Piri Piri

“Piri piri” is a tweak of the African word peri peri, in Swahili language. It literally means, “pepper, pepper”, as if one was exclaiming after finding it too spicy or else, one was going into raptures at the mere taste of it.

Piri Piri is made using a combination of various spices, much like the garam masala in the Indian spice cabinet. It blends many grounded spices such as salt, chilli powder, black pepper, garlic, tamarind, onion, sugar, citric acid and various herbs.

In Africa, they know the spice as “bird's eye chili”. It belongs to the family of capsicum frutescens, one of the sources of chili pepper. On that continent, the chili grows both in the wild as well as grown at home. A member of the capsicum genus, and a native of Angola, Uganda, Malawi, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia, it was the Portuguese who brought the special spice to India via Goa.

The Oxford Dictionary itself describes piri piri as "a very hot sauce made with red chilli peppers".

The piri piri grows as a bush, its fruits turning from green to bright red or even purple.

Though Piri Piri is African, Piri Piri sauce is Portuguese in origin, made using crushed chillies, citrus peel, onion, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika, pimiento, basil, oregano and tarragon.

Mcdonald’s Celebrates Thanksgiving Week

The Thanksgiving Festival is big in the United States, where the headquarters of McDonald’s Corporation is located. It’s not surprising then that the festival found its echo in Mumbai, the headquarters of McDonald’s India (South & West).

While in the US, the day marks the day that the first Europeans, known as “pilgrims”, arrived in the New Land called America, the celebrations at McDonald’s India was simply about making it meaningful and having fun in the process.

During Thanksgiving Week, which began on October 17, McDonald’s employees in the Mumbai headquarters had a plan: to celebrate their work life with events every day for the remaining part of the week! Indeed, the McDonald’s India (South & West) headquarters in Mumbai had a pre-Diwali festive look and feel.
On October 17, there was the McDonald’s Fun & Fair. The mention of “fun” and the employees decided to shed their boring formal clothes to don colourful clothes instead. They had a go at competing in many fun activities. After all the fun, it was time to conclude the day by gorging on delicious food laid out at a Chatpata Chaat Party.

The next day, Tuesday, the celebrations started the moment the employees reached office. When one works for McDonald’s, can a delicious breakfast, courtesy McDonald’s, be far away? The employees could order any mouth-watering and nutritious meal from the Breakfast menu at McDonald’s that sunny morning. After a fulfilling start, it was time to take a peep into the future with the help of a Tarot reading from a renowned Tarot reader.

On the third day, it was time for some pot luck, with all the employees bringing cuisine from their homes to share with their colleagues. So, there was South Indian idlis, north Indian chole chawal, Marathi poha, and what not. After btasting a variety of dishes, there was more fun waiting for them. There was lots of shopping to be done, buying McDonald’s merchandise for one’s relatives and friends. A unique gift, wouldn’t you say, for the upcoming Diwali festival?

After three fun-filled days, it was time to dedicate the fourth day for some selfless love and commitment to a better cause. All the employees pledge their time for the Ronald McDonald House Charities charitable Initiative, in the form of a Family Room at the Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai. They realised that they could visit the facility between 2 and 4 PM on any week day. As the saying goes, the gift of time is the best gift of all, one that lasts when the material gifts have ceased to amuse. Finally, it was time for a Tapri Chaai party.

On the penultimate day, the celebrations moved from the McDonald’s office to the restaurants, to include the employees who are the visible face of the company interacting directly with the people. That day also marked the 20th Anniversary of McDonald’s in India.

Source:

http://articles.abilogic.com/185514/mcdonald-celebrates-thanksgiving-week.html

How Eggs Started Mcdonald’s Breakfast Menu

In Europe, America, Japan, and South America and a lot more countries, eggs are used not only as a great source of protein but as a part of cuisines specific to the region. In short, east or west, eggs is the best.

It is not an overstatement to claim there is an on-going love affair between eggs and humans. Eggs have passed effortlessly through the dividers of cuisines all around the world, leading to its status as a globally produced and consumed food item.

In 1972, Ray Kroc was invited to a McDonald’s restaurant in Santa Barbara to try the first McDonald’s sandwich made with eggs. When Kroc saw the breakfast sandwich – hot egg, combined with cheese, Canadian bacon and English muffins, he was baffled as an egg-sandwich was unusual at that time. But after he had had a bite, Kroc, who had had lunch already, didn’t stop till he had two sandwiches.

“He didn’t want me to reject it out of hand, which I might have done, because it was a crazy idea—a breakfast sandwich. It consisted of an egg that had been formed in a Teflon circle, with the yolk broken, and was dressed with a slice of cheese and a slice of grilled Canadian bacon. This was served open-faced on a toasted and buttered English muffin. I boggled a bit at the presentation. But then I tasted it, and I was sold,” Kroc said.

Eggstastic invention, it truly was, as is proven by Egg McMuffin’s popularity today.

As it has less sodium, EggMcMuffin became a healthy breakfast sandwich. Today it is so popular, that in many countries, the sandwich is served all day long.

My Vote Goes To Mcspicy Paneer Burger

In the world of fast-food, burgers are one of the most popular items to ever grace the menu lists. And in the world of burgers, McDonald’s has a brand recognition that is insurmountable, what with its collection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian burgers, McDonald’s is the uncrowned king.

If burgers ever had a presidential poll, my vote would go to McSpicy Paneer burger. McDonald’s Spicy Paneer burger is onetasty joy ride –one of the most popular McDonald’s burgers ever to be introduced exclusively for the Indian market, but it was not an easy task to achieve. In a escapade that began with a deal between McDonald’s and a Netherlands’ food processing equipment manufacturer company, and ended in Navi Mumbai, the clear outcome was the rise of a new kind of burger –the McSpicy Paneer, which turned out to be an instant success. After the breaded paneer patty, tandoori sauce and ingredients were finalized, the only thing left was wait for the burger to launch and inevitably take over the hearts and taste-buds of its Indian patrons.

In March 2011, the production for McDonald’s McSpicy Paneer burger was started at Vista’s processing unit at Taloja, Navi Mumbai and the burger was finally launched on March 28, 2011. Its roaring success was instantaneous and since then McSpicy Paneer burger has found a loving and loyal group of customers all over the vast and diverse country that is India.