McDonald’s is holding its first chef’s table event in New York City next week.
Led by Tristen Epps-Long, the winner of Top Chef Season 22 and a former McDonald’s crew member, the free “Inside the Golden Arches” experience will take place on October 29 at a McDonald’s counter.
With a reservation, guests will hear from chefs and experts about how some of the chain’s best-known items are made. The main focus is going to be the Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Those attending will get to watch the burger being put together up close.
McDonald’s is using the demonstration to spotlight its prep standards. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese patties are made with 100% beef that is never frozen, delivered to restaurants two to three times a week, and don’t go on the grill until someone orders.
The tasting menu also includes the Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets, and World Famous Fries, with chefs and experts on hand to answer decades-old fan questions, including how the Egg McMuffin’s egg comes out perfectly round, what’s in the fries, and so forth.
Epps-Long worked as a McDonald’s crew member before he started cooking in professional kitchens. McDonald’s says about one in eight Americans have worked at the chain at some point.
“McDonald’s was where I got my start, and the experience helped shape the way I think about food and hospitality,” Epps-Long said in a statement.
Reservations opened Oct. 22 on McDonald’s event registration page. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with bookings capped at two seats per party.
For folks who can’t make it to the New York tasting, the chain is launching a nationwide tie-in. Starting Nov. 2, participating McDonald’s restaurants across the country will offer a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal with medium fries and a drink for $8.
Sources: McDonald’s, McDonald’s 1 in 8, NYC for Free, Hypebeast