YOUR WEEKLY DIGESTION OF FOOD NEWS TO CONSUME....AND THE START OF PUMPKIN WEEK!

I'm kicking off a week of pumpkin things since Thanksgiving is next week and because it seems everywhere I turn these days, there it is in nearly every food product configuration you can think of. And what better way to start than with the trashiest of places that seems to jump on every food bandwagon--McDonalds! They've been doing these little fried pie things for decades and this year they have brought out a pumpkin one. It's been ages since I've been to a McD's but one semi late night I was craving some french fries (because that is when it happens) so I wandered into my local one to get some. It was then I spotted this little (literally) handful on the menu and decided it would make a nice accompaniment with my fries. (Yeah, whateves!) Lest you think this is just any pumpkin pie, it is not. It's pumpkin filling down one side and, voila, cream cheese down the other (see below photo). Sort of like a deconstructed pumpkin cheese cake thing. Who knew McD's could be so culinarily experimental. It's odd though, because when I went to their website, the pumpkin pie they had showing didn't have this additional filling, just pumpkin. Looking at the ingredients, if you dare, it does at least say there is pumpkin in there and not just flavoring-shocking, I know. Does it taste like pumpkin, eh, sort of. Mostly what I get is brown sugar, cinnamon and more sugar. Not so much an overload, but still a noticeable bit. The cream cheese side is more pudding like than anything and not as sweet as the pumpkin side, so at least there is that offset, but only slightly. The crust is their standard pie one and isn't so much pie as, well, I'm not really sure. I was surprised this wasn't coated in the cinnamon sugar thing they do those apple pies in. Maybe it would have been better to do that instead of putting it all in the pumpkin filling. There wasn't much texture going on here either, it was all a bit soft. Might have been better if the crust was a little crustier. Is it terrible? It's mass produced, previously frozen, deep fried fast food, it is what it is. Could have been a little less some things and a little more others. Would I get it again, no. Should you try it? No, unless your drunk and feel the craving for something really sweet to go with your fries. Ultimately, if you are hitting up McD's, you are there for convenience and price, not a culinary experience, at least not one to write about. That's what I'm here for. 

• As we gear up for that Thanksgiving thing, for those who don't like brussels sprouts, this will definitely change your mind. 
• And since it's never too early to make reservations, here are some places you can go out for Thanksgiving. 
• Something called Tacos Cala is now open in Hayes Valley and Tablehopper is excited about it. 
• And why not where to buy your Thanksgiving turkey in SF.
• Chino's, they open, they close, they close again, they reconcept, and now they close again. At least until they reopen as something else. 
• Off The Grid goes high tech and strikes a deal with Google.
• Since crab season has been delayed due to some crab disease, Half Moon Bay is renaming Crab Fest. 
• The former Bubble Lounge has now softly reopened as Barbarossa, a Barbary Coast inspired bar. 
• It's a Baked Bear sighting in North Beach! Or at least, that's what they think.
• And there is still more Thanksgiving! It is only a week and a half away people!
• If your birthday is this month and you'd rather celebrate that than Thanksgiving, then hit up these spots.