McDonald's pushing burritos

The fast-food giant will be introducing something called the "McSkillet" this week, though the item can already be found in many of the chain’s Socal restaurants. The spicy burrito contains potatoes, red and green bell peppers, sausage, egg and cheese. Yum-o. As reported by the OC Register's Nancy Luna, "McDonald’s is ratcheting up its morning menu at a time when rivals such as Burger King, Wendy’s International, and Subway have added new breakfast grub this year." Starbucks and Winchell’s are also playing up breakfast with egg-stuffed sandwiches. McDonald’s is said to have a 40 percent share of the breakfast business.

Speaking of breakfast, the Press-Telegram has a feature on one of my old haunts, Chuck's Coffee Shop, in Belmont Shore. Chuck's has been around since 1964 (it's practically on the beach), and the place is best known for something called The Weasel - scrambled eggs with chili on top. Good luck getting a seat on Sunday mornings. The joint is only open from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In the diner's early days, a trucker asked for eggs with something extra to take the bite out of a hangover. Chuck added chili. The trucker said the dish looked like a weasel he had seen on a haul to Montana. None of the guys around the counter had seen a weasel, and they all cracked up. The name stuck. The Weasel has been curing hangovers ever since.