Anne Parks & McDonald’s Signature Wraps

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First, I want to say, no, I do not work for McDonald’s! Yes, I got a super cute complimentary picnic basket (see bottom of the post) but no, I did not get paid to go to Savour the Flavour, an information session with McDonald’s Director of Menu Development, Anne Parks, about the new Signature Wraps.

Second, I had so much fun hanging out with other bloggers getting to ask tons of questions about the new line of products and pretty much anything we felt like.

Third, I will be absolutely honest no matter what free food or gifts McDonald’s sends my way. Promise!

We had some designated seating just for us for Savour the Flavour.

Very festive and fun and the turnout was great. The weather was a bit iffy so we gathered inside.

I soon discovered that apparently Reg is not the only chicken fanatic in Canada. The demand for new chicken products was part of the reason for this new line of wraps. Canadians want more chicken.

We started off with some smoothies and I love the mango pineapple one. I actually inadvertently ended up drinking two, LOL. Whoops! And… yum.

Anne Parks is on the right and was totally open to questions about the wraps and how she created the recipes. The Sweet Chili wrap needed more heat! Apparently in Canada we want it spicier than people in the UK. We also want more crunch which is why there are crispy tortilla slices in the Fiesta Wrap.

I also found out that they are completely customizable. OK, maybe yours won’t have your name on it but mine did! I went for the naughtiest wrap they had: Crispy Chicken and Bacon. One I would normally never order but I had to go for it, right?

There was a bit of a learning curve on how to eat this giant wrap. I automatically wanted to open it at the top but you actually tear along the seam in the middle to open it.

Anne Parks discusses what is exactly in the crispy chicken and guess what? It’s chicken!

For me, the most impressive part about the wrap (other than its sheer gynormous-ness) was the tortilla. The tortilla is not only whole wheat but comes from Mexico. You can taste it. It isn’t quite the authentic corn tortilla I have made by hand but damn, it was very tasty, hearty and delicious.

Inside there was sliced cheese, bacon, crispy chicken, veggies… Funny, despite there being pork in this wrap, this is one I think Reg would like. The flavours are very basic and traditional. I think when it comes to sauces, I would prefer something more interesting than mayonnaise. That said, it was a good wrap. I am really looking forward to trying the other two next but not for a while, this sandwich was so filling! I hope my photos do the size of this wrap justice.

The wrap is $5 which for me, was a meal on its own. With a snack-size smoothie? A decent lunch out for well under $10.

We were also invited to order a side of fries or salad. As my regular readers know, I am not a fry fan. I ordered a Caesar and man, I could not believe it, shaved Parm! Yes, there is shaved Parm in there and you also get a small package of Renee’s 1/2 the fat Caesar salad dressing. Dang!

Facebook foodie friend Tammy wanted to know about gluten free options at McDonald’s so I asked if they were planning on making a product like their wraps but gluten free. Here is Anne’s response. Doesn’t sound like it. Sorry Tammy! I tried.

We were really given such a beautiful gift for participating in the discussion. This gorgeous picnic basket, blanket, coupons, frisbee, plates, napkins, cutlery… Everything you could want for your next foodie outing. But I will not let that go to my head!

If you are curious about the McWraps but do not want to pay full price, they are 50% off until Saturday so now is the time to go in and try one. The one I had was filling and pretty good. I would prefer more zing but maybe I will like the other two better. I love the whole wheat tortilla and do feel that $5 for a customizable wrap is a good value. If you want a healthier choice, stick with the grilled chicken and stay away from the bacon. Sniff.

I want to say thank you to Listen to Lena for being such a gracious host, to Anne Parks for her patience with all our questions and McDonald’s for letting me try out their new products for free! I will be back with reviews of the other two wraps. I give the Crispy Chicken McWrap four out of five wooden spoons for those who love that combo. Me? I am going for the Fiesta Wrap next!