May 23/Boston/Christian Science Monitor -- Chicken sandwich connoisseurs may notice a certain je ne sais quoi in McDonald's new grilled chicken. The restaurant is stepping away from its traditional Italian-flavored chicken to achieve “a more neutral flavor profile,” said Dan Coudreaut, McDonald's menu director.

The new premium chicken will be seasoned with mirepoix, a French seasoning made from onions, carrots and celery, as well as salt, pepper and “maybe a little garlic and herb,” Coudreaut explained.

Chicken of this kind of refined subtlety needs a bun to match. The white bun, previously oval-shaped, will be swapped for a round one, with whole grains and cracked wheat.

Besides its new chicken recipe, McDonald's has a few other changes afoot. It is reintroducing the Asian salad -- which will be topped with the new chicken -- and it is rolling out a few new sauces for its chicken McNuggets and Chicken Selects breast strips.

The ranch dressing, which has traditionally been served with the chicken strips will have “more of a buttermilk flavor” and will be available for McNuggets, too, Coudreaut mentioned. There will also be a Thai-inspired dipping sauce: hot buffalo and sweet chili.

 

From the May 23, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.