Inadequate as I am to properly articulate what loss feels like, I turn to the poets. So in the words Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell.” I am, of course, talking about Taco Bell’s discontinuation of the Mexican Pizza.
We seek out fast food not just for its convenience, but for its reliability. Our favorite items are dependable, bringing us the same stronghold of satisfaction no matter the location or time of night. A French fry dipped into a chocolate Wendy’s Frosty is one of the most stable forces in my life (I’m fine). That’s why it hurts all the more when supposedly faithful menu items are taken from us too soon. Sometimes fast-food restaurants threaten the end of certain menu items in what feels like a blatant marketing ploy, while other times, beloved go-to’s quietly disappear before you even get a chance to say goodbye.
McDonald’s Arch Deluxe. Taco Bell’s Meximelt. Burger King’s collab with Pillsbury to create Cini-Minis. If you’re longing for a fast-food item that’s no longer available, chances are you aren’t alone. In response to discontinued favorites, there have been Change.org petitions, Twitter hashtags, Facebook groups, and more, all insisting that these major fast-food corporations listen to their hungry customers. Don’t they want to make money? Why won’t they listen to us?
Well, I’m listening to you, so please tell me: What discontinued fast-food item do you wish with all your heart would return? Have you scoured the internet for that one magic location that still serves your favorite? What long-gone menu item still taunts your tastebuds? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll round up your answers in a future post. And maybe—just maybe—we can bring about the change we want to see in the world (or at least on Taco Bell’s menu).
