Um, I’ll have McFalafel with cheese

January 19, 2011 - 11:39 AM by David

Something about this just isn’t right.

McDonald’s in Israel has announced that this week a new item will begin appearing on menus in the 160 branches dotting the country – the McFalafel!

I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised. The McKebab has already been a staple on the menu for a while, in an effort by the chain, according to Israel CEO Omri Padan, to adjust their products to “the Israeli taste.”

The McFalafel will be sold either inside Iraqi pita bread with tahini and chopped salad, in a box containing three to five pieces with tahini, or as a meal with fries or green salad and a drink.

A Ynet report on the culinary development says that chickpea delicacy and Israeli fast food staple will be fried in canola oil and will meet the health standards set by the chain (which if you watched Supersize Me are obviously rigid). It contains 499 calories and only 6.7% fat.

It remains to be seen, with the thousands of falafel servers around the country, offering the fried balls in every imaginable combination, consistency and style, why someone who would choose to go to McDonald’s in the first place would choose to order the newest item on the menu.

But I remember thinking the same thing when I was growing up in New England and my local McDonald’s branches started making lobster rolls (I can’t remember if it was called McLobster or McClaw). The item is apparently still on the menu. And apparently, the McFalafel has been a popular item at McDonald’s outlets in Egypt and other Arab countries for years.

So there’s hope for the McFalafel in Israel – just wondering if there’ll be a ‘with cheese’ option.

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