McDonalds and Not Quite Nigella is not what you’ll usually find in a sentence together. I admit that whilst I do like a cheeseburger every now and then (extra pickles please), I’m not what you would call a weekly addict. So when I was contacted to attend a Murder Mystery event at their Strand Arcade store I wasn’t sure. Is McDonalds what my readers would like to read about? What intrigued me was the Murder Mystery evening. And if there’s anything that is quintessentially me, it’s a Murder Mystery night.
The setting-the Strand Arcade store converted into a library (note modern railing)
Some authentic touches
I was joined by Chocolatesuze and together we would be playing the part of the Mansion’s “Wait Staff”. At 6.10pm this Monday night, we’re a little early when we drive past the Strand Arcade McDonalds and we see that it is indeed closed, with all of the lights out and a sign outside. After loitering around Haighs and window shopping at the Strand Arcade I meet Suze at 6.30pm and we walk to the front door where there’s already a bit of a commotion.
The Hunchback Bellhop
This is due to the the costumed hunchback bellhop in character who is swaying and heavy breathing. Any reservations I had about the night are replaced by a tinge of excitement-you see I love costumes…
After checking in my jacket, I’m given my “assignment” and I take a good look around the restaurant. They’ve done a phenomenal job transforming it into “Arch Mansion” with a sit down dinner. There is a Library setting with a backdrop and some velvet lounges, chairs and a bookcase (faux). A mantlepiece (also faux but very realistic) sits to one side and there are cobwebs a plenty. Music is provided by a string quartet who are playing all of the haunted mansion tunes. All I can think about is how I want my next Hallowe’en party to be like this-well if only I had McDonald’s budget of course 
Chicken mini snack wraps
We’re introduced to Hercule Poirot who is conducting the Murder Mystery and the mystery is centered around “the missing Colonel” (joke intended) as this of course is the launch of the chicken burger. All of the characters are themed around McDonalds products e.g. Salado Tatsoi, Egbert, Ba-Con etc and whilst we’re left to ponder the suspects, motives and methods, we’re served the food which consists of the Mini snack wraps, 3 types of seared chicken burger (Classic, Deluxe and Bacon Deluxe) and 2 kinds of salads (Caesar and Classic Balsamic). And of course the chips which everyone loves.
Classic Chicken burger
Deluxe Chicken burger
Bacon deluxe burger
The chicken is tender – and from reading the Menu it’s 100% deluxe chicken breast although it is round patty shaped (not quite sure how this is achieved) and out of the 3, I prefer the Deluxe. The “water split roll” is actually the split down the top of the bun where they use water instead of a slash with the knife whereas we thought it was some kind of fancy way of cutting the bun in half horizontally!
Caesar salad
Classic salad
The salads are nice but I find the Caesar dressing a bit too tangy for me. I try and convince the lovely Amy from McDonalds to do a premium Wagyu burger based on Plan B’s-at least the taste testing will be fun but we all realise that it won’t fit into the McValue meal concept. But it could catch the foodies amongst us!
The fries-can never beat the fries here
Back to the other mystery at hand and the suspect and motive was the classic “jealous wife”. I guessed that right although my method was wrong. We leave with a magnifying glass (in McDonalds yellow of course) and a Moleskine detective notebook. And of course a very full tummy.
McDonalds Strand Arcade
375-377 George Street Sydney 2000
http://mcdonalds.com.au/
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24 Comments | Add your own
Cute! McDonalds definitely rates as something your readers would like to read about, especially if there’s cheesy burger puns involved
Good to see corporates do still have a sense of creativity!
Wow, I’ve never seen McDonald’s put to much effort into a product launch before! I’m actually quite impressed with them.
(I love murder mystery evenings, too! Am planning to do one on a train next summer if I can get tickets!)
How interesting (such an evening and invite)!
I tried the seared chicken in a mini-wrap the other day and I prefer the more calorific crispy crunchy version.
You’ll never put me off with any fast food post. Food is food and everyone has their poison.
Actually, you had me at ‘McDonalds’. I don’t mind their salads and the fries are great (when hot). The launch was a clever idea. Thanks for sharing!
Wow – that is the most creative product launch I’ve come across from a fast food chain (though admittedly, I haven’t come across many!)! Looks like fun!
Hey NQN,
Great to see McDonalds getting creative (that’s a really well decorated McDonalds shop!) with their launches, it’s good to see they’re including bloggers on the invite list.
I only seem to have McDonalds when travelling, favourite is the Bacon and Egg McMuffin.
I wish they’d go back to proper sized burgers!
That looks fun! Great to see some creativity come out of that place:)
oh clever, clever McDonalds! aiming for the Highbrow customers there. Great marketing on their part. it looked like loads of fun.
they should add that night to their monthly calendar and do it on a regular basis!
blythe likes mcdonalds and thinks that more food bloggers should look for food in interesting places. it’s not just about the michelin-starred restaurants. good food can be found everywhere.
oh, and ferran adria agrees with me about fast food. he agrees with me so much he started fast good (i went to one in madrid and it was good and cheap).
heh thanks for protecting me in the murder mystery! lol i hate public speaking but loved the whole setup. still cant believe the boy made me watch him eat maccas for dinner afterwards!
I find it very interesting and commendable that they invited food bloggers. Contrasted to ACP’s stone-age attitude, it is certainly a tick mark in my book.
Haven’t tried the chicken burgers, maybe I will. Other fast food chains (I’m looking at you colonel) could take a tip from McDonalds and provide some healthier meals, even just for those parents who get unwillingly dragooned into going to McD’s by their children. It is much easier to go if you know you can get a salad or a wrap (with some fries on the side of course)!
Eh? I have never seen McDonalds at Strand Arcade before… but very interesting and seems lots of fun that night ^ ^
What fun! Looks like it was a fantastic evening.
OOhhh murder mysterryyy
how exciting! I’m really against maccas but the burgers there look quite reasonable haha.
Great to see them come up with an idea that will get food bloggers to review Maccas!! Glad you had a fun night.
what fun, what fun, and what lovely food! i would have a blast doing something like this–hercule poirot (or actually, agatha christie) is a hero of mine.
I wish the McDonalds here would do a murder mystery! How wonderful! All they do here is ask, “Do you want fries with that?”
Oh wow, never thought McD’s would do something like that. I’m impressed that they had the initiative to invite food bloggers such as yourself, it really is good publicity! My McD weakness is their Sausage McMuffin with Egg, haha. x
Hi flapflap-YAY I’m so glad!
BTW I can’t seem to leave a comment on your blog?
Hi Angela-I was really impressed too. I still can’t believe they shut down the Strand Arcade store for us. I felt rather special!
Oooh a train one sounds great! I think you have some great ones in the UK with all of those great locations. My sister just went on one-I wish I had gone 
Hi Maria-I was intrigued, the invite itself was very cute and nicely designed. I haven’t tried the crispy chicken version (I am loyal to the cheeseburgers). Thankyou so much!
Hi belle-Yeah I could’ve dived into that bowl of chips, although I suspect I might have had to wrestle Suze for them
You’re welcome!
Hi Su-Lin-I think cool, unusual ideas are really wonderful. They really do make the night memorable!
Hi Cappucino-Yeah me too! I think it’s great that a huge company like McDonalds has included bloggers
Hehe ahh yes is it we’ve got bigger or the burgers have gotten smaller?
Hi Miss Honey-It was a lot of fun, I’m so glad that I went!
Hi the projectivist-Oooh that would be fantastic if that became a regular thing. I hope all of their launches are this good!
Hi blythe-I do love a good burger and some of the best are at greasy spoon takeaways. Then there is the cheeseburger which I adore and Plan B’s wagyu burger! Maybe Ferran Adria could open one up here!
Hi chocolatesuze-haha well it worked out well as I am a total ham and love acting! What did he get? A chicken burger?
Hi SydneyGal-Yes indeed, I totally agree! I guess some companies move with the times and others are still in a time warp. KFC used to do roast chickens for a while (with Elle Mc advertising for them
) but I think it’s all deep fried now 
Hi Bean Sprout-It’s not in the Strand Arcade itself, it’s right opposite the Strand arcade on the other side of George Street. Quite a nice, older building.
Hi cakelaw-It was indeed very fun that night!
Hi FFichiban-I’m an equal opportunity eater
I also love the strawberry sundaes as long as there’s lot of topping!
Hi Annie-Yes kudos to them for coming up with a cool idea and being able to tie it into the product itself!
Hi grace-The actor playing Hercule Poirot was great I have to say! V professionally done.
Hi Blond Duck-They’ve raised the bar with this! I will be wanting a murder mystery with my next cheeseburger
Hi Su-yin-I’m so glad they do too! Good to hear that they move with the times. Ahh yes I’m never awake in time for breakfast except when traveling but the Sausage and Egg McMuffin is definitely good!
And here I am thinking the mystery is determining what is actually in their patties! It looks like a great event and a clever way for the Golden Arches to launch their new product range.
Very cool how McDonalds did this! Sounds like you have a fun night. interesting how their food looks much more appetising on silver platters. :p
Hi Teena-Well if I had my way, Wagyu! It was rather clever indeed
Hi Jessie-I had a lot of fun, especially being my first murder mystery night! Haha yes the silver platter pic turned out great!
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