Food & Beverage

McDonald’s, ‘Top Chef’ winner open exclusive Chef’s Table Experience

Photo: McDonald's

October 26, 2026

Summarize with

McDonald's is inviting fans behind the counter for a closer look at the ingredients and preparation methods behind its iconic menu items through a new chef's table experience led by "Top Chef" Season 22 winner Tristen Epps-Long, the company has announced in a news rrelease.

The one-day event, called Inside the Golden Arches, will take place Oct. 29 in New York City, offering guests a complimentary, reservation-only opportunity to hear directly from chefs and experts about the quality ingredients, attention to detail and processes behind McDonald's favorites. The experience will feature the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets and fries.

Epps-Long, a former McDonald's crew member, will guide guests through the experience, sharing his perspective as both a chef and someone who has worked behind the counter at the chain. McDonald's noted that he is among the one in eight Americans who have worked at the restaurant.

"McDonald's was where I got my start, and the experience helped shape the way I think about food and hospitality," Epps-Long said in the release. "Even now, I have a deep appreciation for the consistency that allows millions of people to enjoy the same great meal wherever they are. Inside the Golden Arches gives fans a rare opportunity to see the people, processes and care behind that experience."

The event also coincides with a national value promotion centered on the Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Beginning Nov. 2, customers can purchase a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal, including medium fries and a drink, for $8 at participating McDonald's restaurants.

Reservations for the Oct. 29 experience are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations opened Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. ET, with a limit of two seats per reservation.