McDonald’s has utilized celebrity power to create a brand new menu item in Europe. In January, McDonald’s Denmark unveiled a new partnership with chef Paul Cunningham. Chef Cunningham has created a high-end burger for the chain’s latest limited-time offer, which ended up selling out just a few weeks later due to its overwhelming popularity.
The Homestyle Bearnaise, as Cunningham’s creation is called, consists of a beef patty layered with Béarnaise sauce, potato sticks, smoked onion puree, roasted onions, lettuce, and cheddar cheese, and is served atop a brioche bun. But, the offer is only available in the Danish market.
English-born Cunningham has been the head chef at Henne Kirkeby Kro, a restaurant with two Michelin stars in western Denmark, since 2012. The establishment, which is part of an eponymous inn, was awarded its first star in 2016 and the second just one year later, both under Cunningham’s culinary leadership.
However, not everyone is as thrilled about the collaboration as the fast-food chain’s Danish customers. The move on Cunningham’s part has drawn some controversy in culinary circles. According to Robb Report, acclaimed chef Christian Puglisi has characterized Cunningham’s partnership with McDonald’s as “a betrayal of values.”