The life cycle of fast food innovations is like a radioactive isotope. A shiny new material appears to glow brightest at the outset before beginning a spiral of rapid decay in public interest.
Take McDonald's McGriddle, the sausage/bacon and egg on a maple-flavored pancake sandwich. That changed breakfast when it was introduced in 2003, suggesting that bread could be made from an entree. But as we approach nearly eight years of McGriddle chomping, I think it's time we gave our jaws a break. Yup. I'm talking about a pancake sausage breakfast shake.
The inevitable decline of allure for a new fast food item comes primarily from repetition and competition. Each McGriddle brings probably slightly less joy to your mouth and the number of pancake-based breakfast items skyrocketed at competitors. This year, Dunkin' Donuts has taken the McGriddle and turned it into
Pancake Sausage Bites, which Serious Eats recently called morning
corndogs in a review. It's basically mini cornmeal pancakes wrapped around cocktail weenies.
