My sister says that hands-down, the thing to order at McDonald’s is the Egg McMuffin. Occasionally she will get this breakfast food of champions and share one-quarter with her eagerly awaiting dog, Noodle. However, in 27 years of eating, I had never tasted an Egg McMuffin (26 if you count the years consuming solid food). Chalk it up to a lack of interest, or perhaps it had something to do with my not really liking scrambled eggs, but I was a McDonald’s breakfast virgin.

That is until last week, when suffering from horrible jet-lag, I sent Brian out at 6 AM on a Saturday, to bring back a sampling of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches, proclaiming that it was time to eat like true Americans. He came back home with a small assortment of McTreats: the McMuffin (ehh), the McGriddle (weird), and the Sausage Biscuit with Egg (the best of the bunch) , for us to share, along with one dessicated hash brown patty. I am sorry to say, my sister and I have a difference of opinion on the sandwich front. I think it’s the American cheese that puts me off the McMuffin– that slick, greasy slice of preservatives and processed milk, does nothing for me. But the Sausage Biscuit was fine, however it was only as good as each of its components. I knew I could do better.

With real scrambled eggs, not the powdered and perfectly formed MickyD’s sort, and maple syrup tinged sausage patties, all nestled onto a warm biscuit, imperfections and all, my sausage biscuits were a thing of beauty. Warm, hearty, and satisfying, all delightfully hand-held, it made me wonder why everything is not eaten sandwich style.

These sausage biscuits were a taste of true Americana– no bourgie trappings here! But I do suppose they could become a bit more sophisticated. Some freshly chopped herbs mixed in with the scrambled eggs, a bit of gorgonzola cheese, a slathering of grainy mustard, perhaps I’ll give the Bourgie McMuffin a try on another day.