For all of my complaints about American shoddiness, I do visit the local McDonald’s more often than I care to admit. The reason is simple: coupon. In this economy, one can never save enough money, and “Mickey D’s” is one of the more recession-proof American institutions. The coupons are decent too. It’s not like some of the clothes coupons we get in the mail. “Buy 5 pairs of jeans, get one free,” or such similar salutes to the excess that got us into this mess in the first place. The coupon booklets we get in the mail once per month are good deals and get the thrifty eater in the front door.

Speaking of excess, Septembers coupon booklet promotes the new 1/3 pound Angus burger. You probably have not missed the advertisements that say “please to meat you” and remind us that “bigger is better.” The promotion implies that blue-collar McDonald’s is serving patties that compete with your favorite local burger dives. I was skeptical, but I also had a coupon.

If I am going to give my body for unhealthy, pant-size-increasing food, the taste should be worth the sacrifice. I’m even  willing to try deep-fried butter or chocolate-covered bacon for the sake of novelty. But there was nothing novel about my 1/3 pound Angus burger from McDonald’s, even the one with bacon. It tastes any other McDonald’s burger, which ain’t worth the heart-attack. If you want a burger with a taste larger than the side effects, come on down to Capitol Hill and visit Good Stuff Eatery. If you want to save money by eating at Mickey D’s, I recommending a grilled chicken snack wrap. They are cheap, filling and good tasting. Moreover, you won’t feel like a bucket of grease was dumped in your stomach afterwards. There’s no earthly reason to buy a 1/3 pound Angus burger from McDonald’s. Unless, of course, you have a coupon.