Thrillist recently posted a story about a posh tasting dinner in New York City made by celebrated chefs using McDonald’s ingredients, and in colloboration with McDonald’s head “chef.” I can’t decide if I think this is the most hilarious or the most pathetic thing I’ve heard about in the food world of late.
If nothing else, it certainly points to our society’s hyper-obsession with all things culinary and, in that, regard bodes well for me and my food-writing brethren.
On the other hand, this hyper-obsession with food has gotten, well, nutty. McNutty.
Honestly, I don’t know why these notable New York chefs would want to participate in this other than for a total lark. Or as a publicity stunt, in which case, that’s kind of sad – and further indication that the food world is spinning strangely out of control.
I’m wondering if any of our Seattle chefs would stoop to this kind of lame publicity. Given our very real obsession with all things sustainable, local, GMO-free, it’s hard to imagine anyone out here would want to be associated in any way with McDonalds.
It’s like the very worst episode of Chopped you could ever imagine. It’s bad enough when the contestants get stuck with ingredients like Cheetos or Spam. A McDonald’s Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets would be about as sadistic.
The thing that’s really bothersome about this though is that it seems to be some kind of highbrow joke. And when a significant portion of McDonald’s patrons are eating there out of necessity (the low prices), it makes the joke in pretty bad taste (no pun intended). Add to that the recent uproar over McDonald’s ridiculous explanation of how their employees could eke out a living on a minimum wage salary(assuming $20 a month health coverage and working two jobs of course!), the joke gets even more distasteful (again, no pun intended).
Maybe the chefs who participated in this McDonald’s makeover could have spent their time doing something that actually mattered (like raising money for a charity or cooking in a food kitchen). But, then, doing those things likely wouldn’t have gotten them coverage on this thrillist post. I’m a fun girl. I swear. I get irony. But this is just dumb fun. Big, dumb, yellow arched fun. Here’s to hoping Seattle chefs steer clear of it.
