McDonald’s tries garlic fries

mcdonalds exterior

A handful of McDonald’s restaurants in the San Francisco area are testing garlic fries in what serves as the latest example of the latitude the chain’s operators have been given to regionalize their menus.

The fries, which incorporate garlic grown in nearby Gilroy, Calif., are tossed to order in a steel bowl by employees. In addition to garlic, the mix they’re coated in contains Parmesan cheese, olive oil and parsley.

“We’re proud of the work done by local franchisees and the regional team to create this menu item with locally sourced garlic, and we look forward to introducing Gilroy Garlic Fries to our customers in the Bay Area,” Michael Haracz, manager of culinary innovation for McDonald’s U.S. division, said in a statement.

McDonald’s has undergone a number of recent efforts to promote greater menu regionalization as part of its highly publicized turnaround plan.

If the San Francisco test proves successful, Gilroy Garlic Fries will roll out to close to 250 Bay Area units in August. 

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