US-FOOD-SOCIETY-MCDONALDS-OFFBEAT

Pedestrians move past a McDonald's restaurant on November 2, 2010 in Washington, featuring a sign announcing the return of the "McRib". Fast food giant McDonald's is bringing back a sandwich -- the McRib -- that gained cult acclaim over the last three decades, in a move lauded by fans known to travel great distances in the hunt for the coveted treat. The boneless pork chop between a bun and slathered with tangy BBQ sauce, topped with onions and pickles, was first launched in 1981, and with rare exceptions has only been offered for sale in select McDonald's for a few weeks at a time. From Tuesday, November 2, it will be available nationwide, and for an entire month. Among the sandwich's cult base -- there are some 300 fan groups on Facebook -- the reaction is close to ecstasy, not surprising as it's not unheard of for some to drive 10 hours at a stretch to get their hands on the sticky fast food delicacy. AFP PHOTO / Stephane Jourdain (Photo by stephane jourdain / AFP) (Photo by STEPHANE JOURDAIN/AFP via Getty Images)