海角大神

Quick-service chains have slowed the rate of major LTO introductions. Fewer new creative entrees are joining menus as chains seek to avoid adding new ingredients or complicating operations. So where鈥檚 the innovation? Fries.

With protein prices high, burger chains and others are looking at new ways to make french fries鈥攁 famously high-profit menu item that both consumers and operators love鈥攎ore attractive without requiring a major investment by operators. McDonald鈥檚, which badly needs to draw attention and customer traffic, this month has changed the look of its famous聽fry box聽for the first time. World Cup designs from around the world adorn the boxes.

In St. Louis, McDonald鈥檚 has been testing a version of the shaker fries it serves in many overseas markets. The St. Louis test involves small packets of seasoning鈥擥arlic Parmesan, Spicy Buffalo and Zesty Ranch鈥攖hat can be sprinkled on the fries in the fry box or shaken with fries in the bag. Burger King offers its own take on this idea鈥擟hicken Shaker Fries鈥攊n Australia.

Seasoned fries certainly aren鈥檛 a new idea, but several chains that haven鈥檛 tried them before鈥攕uch as McDonald鈥檚鈥攁re considering them again. It鈥檚 an inexpensive way to make menu news.

Another major chain looking at the idea is KFC. In the UK, it is offering fries dusted with its Original Recipe seasoning. It鈥檚 the first time I can recall the chain putting its famously secret 鈥�11 herbs and spices鈥� seasoning mix on something other than chicken.

Back Yard Burgers鈥� new Garlic Parmesan Waffle Fries are a triple threat: waffle-cut potatoes tossed in garlic-herb seasoning and topped with grated Parmesan. Jack in the Box went waffle-cut, too, but with Sweet Potato Fries earlier this year.

Carl鈥檚 Jr. earlier this month added Bacon Ranch Fries, topped with, yes, bacon and ranch dressing. And one of the stars of family-dining chain Eat鈥檔 Park鈥檚 new 鈥淧ark After Dark鈥� late-night menu are Cheese & Gravy Fries. These would qualify as Canada鈥檚 beloved poutine if they had cheese curds instead of cheese sauce. But sadly they don鈥檛. The fries are covered in gravy, Cheddar cheese sauce and green onions; then topped with shredded Cheddar.

Don鈥檛 underestimate fries鈥� importance to a proper burger meal. Fry fans take them very seriously, as Shake Shack found this month when it switched from its previous crinkle-cut fries to straight, hand-cut, skin-on Russet potato fries. The line of social-media wailers lamenting the change was almost as long as the lines for service at every Shake Shack.