News Tue Apr 01 2008

Golden Boy Meets the Golden Arches

Proving that high-end dining has friends in low(er) places, Grant Achatz of Alinea has announced that he will be teaming up with Dan Coudreaut, Director of Culinary Innovation for McDonald's USA, to develop a twenty-one course tour menu that combines Achatz’s culinary genius with the popular, familiar tastes of the fast-food giant. “It’s time to really push flavor away from the experimental and back into the sentimental,” Achatz said at a press conference earlier today. “McDonald’s has been single-handedly responsible for developing the American palate. We will learn a lot from each other through this venture.”

While most of the menu remains a closely-guarded secret, several dishes were revealed to the press, among them the “Happy Meal,” a trio of mini-cheeseburgers made from Wagyu beef topped with a housemade “Velveeta” savory cheese tart. A tableside deep fat fryer will prepare French fries infused with black truffle. The “prize” of the Happy Meal is an edible toy made from liquefied carmel and bacon lardons. The “Shamrock Shake” will consist of a gelee of green food dye, a single mint leaf, and a frozen “vanilla milkshake froth” served in a spoon. Achatz and Coudreaut would not reveal their plans for the chicken McNugget, but did indicate that their version would involve trout roe and nutmeg. For more information, click here.

— Robyn Nisi / Comments (0)