James Beard award-winning Chef Kwame Onwuachi impressed crowds of influencers, tastemakers, and the general public with his interpretation of a classic sandwich at last weekend’s Chef’s Remix event in Washington, D.C.
Using McDonald’s latest menu item, the McCrispy Strips, Onwuachi chose to make a double-decker club sandwich, featuring three slices of brioche bread, which Chef Kwame prefers due to its buttery taste and texture.
The first layer has the McCrispy Strips, a special house sauce, tomatoes, and cheese. The next layer features collard greens cooked in beef stock and jerked beef bacon for non-pork eaters. (There were other sandwiches available with jerk pork bacon.) The hearty sandwiches were then toasted on each side for a few minutes and cut into snack-size pieces for the audience. The tasty sandwich was picked up with caviar, elevating the experience before being served.
While making the sandwiches, Chef Kwame shared his history with McDonald’s and D.C., revealing that he is part of the "1 in 8"—a term highlighting that one in eight Americans have worked at McDonald's at some point in their lives. As a teen, he began by sweeping the floors, then progressed to handling fries, making burgers, and eventually working at the drive-thru.
The experience prepared him to manage his restaurants, and when asked by the fast-food giant where he wanted Chef’s Remix to take place, he specifically chose D.C. due to his long history with the district. He refers to the Commonwealth as his second home, thanks to the summers spent there with his grandfather, Chike Onwuachi-Obi, who taught Pan-African studies at Howard University.
“HU!” Chef Kwame shouts into the crowd.
“You know!” members say in response.
His grandfather’s background as an educator and anthropologist informs how Onwuachi views food. Chef Kwame uses the fine dining experience to tell the history of the African diaspora. His first restaurant in D.C., Shaw Bijou, was shut down in under three months, but it didn’t deter him. His next place, Kith and Kin, was a massive success and is where he started to master his Afro-Caribbean palette.
In 2022, the former Top Chef contestant opened Tatiana in New York City, named after his sister, and more critical acclaim followed. Onwuachi asks the audience how many people have been to Dōgon, his latest restaurant in D.C. A good portion of the crowd cheers. Dōgon is named after the West African Dogon tribe—an homage to Benjamin Banneker, surveyor of Washington D.C., whose ancestry is believed to trace back to the Dōgon people.
Following chef Kwame’s demonstration, the audience was guided inside where they enjoyed an open bar, the McCrispy Strips, and French fries. Part two of the Chef’s Remix extended to Sunday afternoon, which featured a performance from R&B singer Mario and comedians Chico Bean and Ms. Pretty Vee. Chef’s Remix was both relatable and aspirational. Giving anyone who’s ever been to a McDonald’s an elevated dining experience that they can also recreate at home in a pinch.