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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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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.

 
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Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

The State of Food Writing

By Brandy Gonsoulin

In 2009, food blogging, social media and Yelp were gaining popularity, and America's revered gastronomic magazine Gourmet shuttered after 68 years in business. Former Cook's Illustrated editor-in-chief Chris Kimball followed with an editorial, stating that "The shuttering of Gourmet reminds...
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Drive-Thru is the food and drink section of Gapers Block, covering the city's vibrant dining, drinking and cooking scene. More...
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Editor: Robyn Nisi, rn@gapersblock.com
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