Giada De Laurentiis' Brutally Honest Review Of McDonald's Tiramisu
When Giada De Laurentiis travels to Italy, she often shares her favorite dining spots for great Italian food with her fans. They know she frequents Gelateria De Neri in Florence for gelato, and in Rome, the Italian author always stops at Roscioli for pizza bianca with mortadella. Documenting delicious finds from Bologna and Modena to Naples and the Amalfi Coast, De Laurentiis explores the culinary landscape of the boot-shaped country. In a move that might be seen as surprising to those familiar with her dining preferences, De Laurentiis visited a Roman McDonald's, not her typical choice in Italy, where she sampled the chain's tiramisu. However, she wasn't very impressed.
@giadadelaurentiis I tried McDonald's in Rome 🫣 #mcdonalds #mcdonaldsinrome #tiramisu #cornetto #nutella #rome #giadaatmcdonalds #giadadelaurentiis #giada
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De Laurentiis shared her doubt that the dessert was made with authentic ingredients on TikTok, and while she didn't blatantly say that she didn't enjoy the confection, she didn't have anything good to say about it either. While De Laurentiis herself has admitted to not being able to resist McDonald's french fries, it's likely she'll pass on dessert with her fries the next time she visits a Micky D's in the Eternal City. She didn't stop at tiramisu; her traveling companion also urged her to sample the restaurant's Nutella-filled croissant which fared a little bit better.
Everyday Italian at McDonald's
In the TikTok video, Giada De Laurentiis' travel companion first tastes the cocoa-dusted tiramisu (which looks quite appealing) and declares it "incredible." A skeptical De Laurentiis then takes some on a spoon, smells it, and tastes it, remarking: "It's really sweet." She suggests that the dessert doesn't taste like it's been soaked in espresso (as is traditional), but in sugary coffee instead. Given that this is the extent of her commentary, we can infer that she didn't love the tiramisu.
Next, De Laurentiis examines the croissant her friend has ordered and, upon discovering it's filled with Nutella, notes that such a pastry is called a cornetto in Italy. As she tears the pastry open, she observes that there's "not a lot of Nutella in this thing." When her friend inquires if De Laurentiis thinks McDonald's makes the pastries in-house, she responds with a quick "no." However, after tasting it, she admits that it tastes good. The impromptu tasting session ends abruptly in the video when De Laurentiis is approached by a fan, so the viewer doesn't get an in-depth analysis of the texture, aroma, taste, and overall rating. However, it's not difficult to gauge the television star's true feelings based on her general demeanor and limited commentary while sampling the sweets.
When in Rome
Many travelers might completely dismiss the idea of eating fast food in a foreign country, especially at a chain available back home. This is understandable, considering that experiencing a region's local and signature foods is one of the best aspects of traveling. However, you'll often see locals dining at fast food chains, and these restaurants frequently offer menu items not typically found in your hometown branch. For instance, you won't find cornettos and tiramisu at American McDonald's, and that uniqueness might be enough to pique your interest.
Several other viral social media videos have showcased unique menu items at various McDonald's locations in Italy. These include tiny, snack-size blocks of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, mozzarella and tomato-stuffed pockets of bread (or panzerotti), and Nutella McCrunchy bread, which resembles a toasted English muffin slathered with the famous chocolate hazelnut spread. So, if you're planning to visit McDonald's on your next trip to Italy, consider trying something unfamiliar. Who knows, you might even end up liking its version of tiramisu.