Snapshots from the UK: McDonald's Fish Finger Happy Meal
I'll be the first to admit, British food isn't something I miss on a large-scale basis. Bloody black pudding, goopy bubble and squeak—not for me. I'd rather have a big slice of New York pizza. But, there are some English foods that I pine for, and the "Fish Finger" (that's fish sticks to we Americans) Happy Meal at McDonald's is one of the few.
I'm always entranced by McDonald's foreign options. I've had Insalate Caprese in Rome and Dulce de Leche soft serve in Buenos Aires, but while in grad school in the U.K., the 2-quid, 500-calorie (including fries and a diet soda) Fish Finger Happy Meal became my library lunch of choice. Somehow, it just feels more wholesome to me than the average McDonald's dinner—maybe because the fish is filleted Hoki sourced from sustainable New Zealand fisheries, and if I'm feeling particularly virtuous, I can substitute my fries and coke for apple slices and water. And after all, they do say fish is brain food—plus, I get a free toy.
In fact, I might even go so far as to say that the Fish Finger Happy Meal is my preferred version of fish and chips. Why, oh why, can't I get it here!?
Would you order a happy meal with fish sticks?
Related
McDonald's Filet-O-Fish: Yea or Nay?
Snapshots from the UK: The English Foodstuff Lexicon
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28 Comments:
I would definitely order this. I love fishsticks!
Junie at 11:47AM on 12/18/08
I would, but w/ tartar sauce.
Cassaendra at 11:53AM on 12/18/08
I didn't know fish had fingers. So, it's chicken and fish that have edible fingers. Learn something new every day. I'd love to see the nutrition info on that. You know if it tastes really good, you might not want to know, you know?
PerkyMac at 11:54AM on 12/18/08
I might. I, after all, am not a hater of the filet o' fish...which might taste somewhat the same.
juliebugsmama at 11:55AM on 12/18/08
No, Perky, Chickens don't have fingers...they have nuggets! :o) now, what part, exactly, of the chicken, might the "nuggets" be? :o)
juliebugsmama at 11:57AM on 12/18/08
Sure, I'd order it.
Kerosena at 11:57AM on 12/18/08
I'D EAT IT.
roboppy at 11:58AM on 12/18/08
I wouldn't, and I never did - I don't eat cooked fish (unless it's cured and smoked, then it becomes another animal altogether). When I was little, Mum and I would share fish and chips - she'd have the fish, and I'd have the chips. We both were very pleased with that arrangement.
brooke29 at 12:12PM on 12/18/08
I'd order it but probably only in the U.K. Because it was cheap, I ate a lot of McD's in London during my semester there. I liked it much better than American ones. It seemed less greasy and healthier.
HeatherB at 12:17PM on 12/18/08
I would definitely not order it. Fish sticks (or fingers) are just one of those things, like taco meat, that I don't order at fast food restaurants.
emgroff at 12:19PM on 12/18/08
that sounds AWESOME. When you're in the mood for something quick, cheap and greasy, I love a filet o'fish. But I hardly ever get it, because then I want some fries and if I get the whole meal I feel kinda gross afterwards. If it came like this, in a Happy Meal form, I would get this ALL THE TIME. Love it!!!
Cookieeater at 12:25PM on 12/18/08
absolutely not.
there is nothing happy about their meals.
gastronomeg at 12:43PM on 12/18/08
Absolutely!
cochon at 12:50PM on 12/18/08
Yes, please!!
yumSoup at 1:18PM on 12/18/08
Cookieeater- Cheap and greasy..sounds like a girl I dated in high school. I would certainly order these but I'd have to order like 3 Happy Meals unless it came in an adult version. I haven't had a filet-o-fish for decades and I remember they used to be made with Haddock. God knows what they're made with now.
RichardCrystal at 1:22PM on 12/18/08
They are offering the same fish stick menu (also for breakfast) in McD Hong Kong!
Oh, plus ebi burger (shrimp burger) which is available in Hong Kong and Japan
kobetobiko at 1:42PM on 12/18/08
Yes! While I lived in Taiwan I saw kim chi cheeseburgers and red bean ice cream sundaes.
joyosity at 3:04PM on 12/18/08
According to The King, chickens also have fries in addition to nuggets.
Man...I could go for some good fish and chips right now.
wunami at 3:08PM on 12/18/08
Yes I'd order it and then DEVOUR it... just not in that exact order
RedVelvetBoba at 3:37PM on 12/18/08
Heck yeah I'd eat it, I love happy meals!
bobcatsteph3 at 5:48PM on 12/18/08
Whoever wrote this doesn't have a clue about British food. Not a clue.
Andreas at 7:13PM on 12/18/08
While Wendy's states right up front that their fish sandwich is made of cod, the McDonalds site is nowhere near as transparent. Close as I can tell it's Whitefish or Hoki.
chanterelle at 9:16PM on 12/18/08
That looks delicious!
DavesDreamgirl at 11:26PM on 12/18/08
Given how good independent 'chip shops' are in the UK, I was always surprised to see my equally poor student friends eat at McDonald's for poorer quality food and more money--for good, greasy food, you can't beat some just-fried, crispy on the outside, molten hot on the inside chips.
On a more positive note, I noticed that more British kids seem to like and to be accustomed to eating fish--growing up in the U.S., very few kids would eat fish, at least given the choice between fried fish and chicken. I did eat fried fish, but always called the McFish the 'grandma' entree, because only senior citizens ordered it, as far as I saw!
HeartofGlass at 7:41AM on 12/19/08
Grilled fish fingers in a sandwich with tomato ketchup...delicious!
snowmoonelk at 3:59PM on 12/19/08
My wife loves fish-finger butties...they're her comfort food. But always with tartar sauce, and usually with a slice of cheese melted over the top.
NotAmerican at 12:22AM on 12/20/08
I am 17 and work part time in a McDonalds in England. I haven't had fish fingers there for a long time but can't see any reason not to eat them!
mskempster at 12:00PM on 12/22/08
I'm a McDonald's Around the World girl... Everywhere I go, I need to make sure I hit McDonald's at least once. I loved the Cadbery Egg McFlurry in London and I loved the Greek Salad in Athens along with the 'Country Potatoes' (these awesome spicy wedge fries). In Berlin, I had this awesome apple pie/dumpling dessert with a light vanilla sauce. In Amsterdam, I made the mistake of trying the 'McKroket'- it was a fried meat patty with a curry-type sauce that came pouring out of it. Oh my gosh, I still remember that hideous taste-- it tasted like (what I imagine) wet, muddy, sweaty t-shirt to taste like. BUT-- Amsterdam did feature the best Big Mac I have ever had (the meat was fresh and lightly seasoned) and they had crispy waffle fries.
There's something to be said for McDonald's-- although I wouldn't eat there for every meal, it is really cool to see what local specialties they try to incorporate.
lizguillet at 10:23PM on 12/22/08