McDonald’s is pulling back the curtain on how its most famous menu items actually get made, tapping Top Chef Season 22 winner and former McDonald’s crew member Tristen Epps-Long to lead a one-day, reservation-only tasting event in New York City on October 29. The free chef’s table experience, called Inside the Golden Arches, will let attendees hear directly from chefs and company experts about the ingredients and preparation behind staples like the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets and World Famous Fries.
According to QSR Magazine, the event marks McDonald’s first-ever chef’s table experience, pairing the fast-food giant with a chef whose own career began behind the counter at one of its restaurants. Per McDonald’s corporate newsroom, the company describes the October 29 gathering as a chance for fans to see, up close, the quality ingredients, attention to detail and small touches behind some of its most iconic menu items.
A Former Crew Member Returns to Guide the Tasting
Epps-Long, who was named the Season 22 winner of Bravo’s Top Chef, according to TV Insider, will personally guide guests through the experience, drawing on his dual perspective as both a trained chef and a onetime member of McDonald’s crew. The company’s release states that Chef Tristen will guide guests through the experience, offering insight that blends professional culinary training with firsthand knowledge of how the restaurants actually operate.
“McDonald’s was where I got my start, and the experience helped shape the way I think about food and hospitality,” Epps-Long said, per the corporate release. He added that what makes McDonald’s special is the fact that millions of people can enjoy the same meal no matter where they are, and said Inside the Golden Arches will let fans see the people, processes and care behind that experience.
What Guests Will Learn About the Quarter Pounder
Much of the event’s focus centers on the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, which the company says is made with 100% real beef cooked fresh when ordered. Gina Hardy, McDonald’s vice president of U.S. marketing and menu strategy, said the burger’s beef is never frozen, is delivered to local restaurants two to three times a week, and is grilled only after a customer places an order.
Hardy framed the event as part of a broader push for openness with customers. “Inside the Golden Arches is about creating a new level of access and transparency for our fans,” she said in the corporate statement. The chef’s table will also walk guests through the preparation behind the Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets and World Famous Fries.
Reservations Open Today, Capped at Two Seats
Seats for the complimentary October 29 event are limited and available strictly first-come, first-served, with reservations having opened Thursday, October 22, at 1 p.m. ET and capped at two seats per booking. McDonald’s has not disclosed the New York City venue or the exact format of the day’s programming beyond the chef-led tasting sessions.
The hospitality push lands alongside a new value offer: starting November 2, McDonald’s plans to sell a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal with medium fries and a drink for $8 at participating restaurants nationwide. The company notes that prices and participation may vary, the offer runs for a limited time, and it is not valid for delivery.
Part of a Bigger Celebrity Collaboration Trend
The Epps-Long partnership follows McDonald’s broader pattern of celebrity-driven menu moments, with Nation’s Restaurant News having tracked the chain’s celebrity meal tie-ins dating back to 2020. The fast-food industry at large has leaned into similar crossovers this year, with The Takeout highlighting pairings like Panda Express with Buldak, Krispy Kreme with Pokémon, and Taco Bell with Olivia Rodrigo among 2026’s notable fast-food collaborations.
