Chef Kwame Onwuachi, a Top Chef alum and one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2025, recently brought a fast-food twist to fine dining at an event near the White House. The surprise? A gourmet sandwich built around McDonald’s new McCrispy strips.
The event, held at Woodrow Wilson Plaza, featured cocktails inspired by McDonald’s sauces and an excited crowd guessing what the chef had planned. Onwuachi, who got his start working at McDonald’s in New York, used the occasion to “remix” the McCrispy strips into an upscale club sandwich.
His creation included brioche bread, roasted garlic house sauce, braised collard greens with beef bacon, jerk-seasoned pork bacon, Swiss cheese, tomato, and a finishing touch of Petrossian caviar. The dish earned praise for its bold flavors and elevated ingredients.
“I learned structure and organization at McDonald’s,” Onwuachi told the crowd. He still enjoys the chain’s classics, naming the Big Mac, fries, nuggets, and Filet-O-Fish among his rotating go-to orders.
With two new restaurants on the horizon—Maroon in Las Vegas and Las’ Lap Miami—Onwuachi also has his eye on London, citing its strong Afro-Caribbean food scene. Asked about a dream brand collaboration, he chose Harry Potter, suggesting a reimagined treacle tart and improved butterbeer.
If his McCrispy remix is any indication, fans can expect magic wherever he goes next.
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