McDonald’s is partnering with Tristen Epps-Long, winner of Top Chef Season 22 and a former McDonald’s crew member, for a one-day culinary event in New York City. Called Inside the Golden Arches, the experience will take place on October 29, offering guests an opportunity to explore the ingredients, preparation methods and details behind some of the restaurant chain’s most recognisable menu items.
EVENTS
The complimentary event will introduce a chef’s table format at a McDonald’s counter, giving attendees direct access to chefs and food experts. Guests will learn about the processes involved in preparing familiar menu favourites, with particular attention to ingredient quality and consistency. Epps-Long will lead the experience, drawing from his professional culinary career and his early experience working at McDonald’s.
The Quarter Pounder with Cheese will serve as the central focus of the event. Guests will watch its preparation and learn about the ingredients that contribute to the burger’s familiar taste. McDonald’s uses 100% real beef for the sandwich, with fresh patties arriving at participating local restaurants two to three times each week. The restaurant cooks the beef after customers place their orders, following procedures that aim to maintain consistency across locations.
The experience will also feature several other McDonald’s menu favourites, including the Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets and World Famous Fries. Chefs and experts will discuss the details behind their preparation, answering questions about the ingredients and techniques customers encounter during everyday visits. The programme will address familiar curiosities, including the circular shape of the Egg McMuffin egg and the preparation of McDonald’s fries.
For Epps-Long, the event offers an opportunity to revisit the workplace where his professional relationship with food began. Before winning Top Chef Season 22, which took the competition to Canada, he worked behind the counter at McDonald’s. The company identifies him among the approximately one in eight Americans who have worked for the restaurant chain.
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“McDonald’s was where I got my start, and the experience helped shape the way I think about food and hospitality,” Epps-Long said. He also acknowledged the importance of consistency in delivering familiar meals to millions of customers and welcomed the opportunity to explain the processes behind them.
Gina Hardy, Vice President of U.S. Marketing & Menu Strategy at McDonald’s, described the event as an opportunity to give customers greater insight into the restaurant’s food preparation. She emphasised the use of fresh beef in the Quarter Pounder with Cheese and the procedures restaurants follow when preparing each order.
The event continues McDonald’s interest in developing experiences around its menu and customer relationships. Previous initiatives include the 2023 Grimace Birthday Meal, which brought additional attention to one of the brand’s familiar characters. With Inside the Golden Arches, McDonald’s places its cooking methods and ingredients at the centre of the experience.
Reservations for the October 29 event open on October 22 at 1 p.m. ET, with complimentary seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each reservation allows a maximum of two guests. Beginning November 2, participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide will also offer a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal, including medium fries and a drink. The offer extends the focus on the burger beyond the New York event, giving customers across the country an opportunity to participate.
