Hello Rocky,

I saw an ad for a new burger at Mickey D's.  They call it the Angus Third Pounder.  What do you know about this?  Have you tried it yet?

Howard I. Frumin
Laguna Niguel, CA


Rocky Responds:

Sure, I've tried it.  As a student of corporate innovation and cultural trends, I pay attention when a behemoth like McDonalds introduces something new.

First, let me give you the backstory:  McDonald's is going after the "high-end" burger market with this $3.99 offering.  It is currently only available in select Southern California locations, where early reports suggest they may have a hit on their hands.  If so, look for a nationwide rollout in the near future. 


Just as there is no "I" in team, there is no
"angina in us" without angus.

Is there anything special about Angus beef?  I doubt it.  According to Wikipedia, Black Angus is the most popular breed of beef cattle in the U.S., and...

"Angus are hardy, undemanding, adaptable, mature at around two years of age, and have a high carcass yield with marbled meat. They are good natured in comparison to several breeds but are more aggressive than the breeds such as the Hereford. Angus are used as beef cattle and are not used for milk intended for human consumption . They are used widely in crossbreeding to improve marbling and milking ability. Angus females calve easily (i.e., give birth without as much stress), partly because of the small size of a typical Angus calf, and have good calf rearing ability. 

As of the latter part 2003, the American fast food industry has assisted in a public relations campaign to promote the supposedly superior quality of beef produced from Angus cattle (“Angus beef”)."

So they're telling you that there is something special about the beef you've been eating all along.  Look in the mirror at your ass and see if you agree.

On to the burger:  "The Angus Third Pounder comes in three varieties, the Angus Deluxe, Angus with Cheese and Angus Swiss with Mushrooms. Each is made with a one-third pound, 100-percent Angus beef patty on a bakery-style sesame seed roll. Ingredients include fresh leaf lettuce, red onion rings, fresh tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms and natural Swiss cheese."  There is a version that substitutes bacon for the mushrooms, which is what I had--I wanted Ronald to take his best shot at blowing up my arteries.  Anything less would be like going to Iraq and settling for a desk job.  This Angus Third Pounder with bacon comes in at 860 calories (compare to the Big Mac's 540) and provides 83 percent of the recommended daily saturated fat, and 45 percent of the cholesterol.   And you know what?  It was delicious.  How could it not be?  You take beef, top it with bacon and cheese and onions and you're going to please me.  And the roll was better than what you normally get at McDonalds--it actually had a little roll flavor.

But my body seemed to bog down for about a day and a half.  I won't be getting another Angus Third Pounder anytime soon.