Sandwiches and portions of potatoes and chicken, inspired by the icons of the big chains, play with the emotional memory of customers
“Sing it”, says Big Cow’s description on iFood. Then comes the verse describing the sandwich’s layers: “two burgers, lettuce, cheese, special sauce, onions and pickles.” (And throw the first stone if you have not finished humming the verse, even mentally: on a sandwich with sesame seeds.)
The jingle launched in Brazil in the 1980s – and replicated in several campaigns in the following years – is engraved in the memory of several generations, such as that of Fábio Moon and Luiz Filipe Souza, partner of the café Fat cow. With the recipe of Big Mac on the tip of their tongue, the two have decided to pay homage to the sandwich – which is the best-selling in the 1,051 Brazilian stores in mequi -, creating his version, so to speak, more gastronomic.
The components of the sandwich you already know. The difference is that everything, including cheese, is made in the home kitchen, on an artisanal scale and with natural ingredients. With that, the flavor was similar to number one, but not quite the same. “There have been several attempts to come up with a special sauce with a similar flavor,” says Moon. And eventually, the closest version was replaced with another, which the chefs thought was tastier.
Another challenge was the presentation of the sandwich, which had to be similar. “The visual appeal of McDonald’s it is very strong. Just by looking at it, you can recognize a sandwich from there. It’s the only burger restaurant that can do that, “says Moon. But besides the toast, topped with white and toasted sesame (Mc’s only use white), the order of ingredients has changed slightly. The cheese comes underneath. the hamburger, in the Big Cow, is placed on top of it: “So it melts better, due to the temperature of the hamburger crust”.
Confessed fan of Mc, “it’s the best burger in many ways”, Moon gathered elements of the network’s identity to develop the packaging for the new Jurassic Park burger, in Itaim Bibi. Notice the red box used to house the french fries portion. How can you not remember the Mc? Among the sandwiches there is no declared inspiration, but there are, yes, orders that recall classics, such as McChicken, only in a much (but much) more elaborate version. For starters, Chicken Sandwich Fried Chicken, as it is called, is marinated in spices for 48 hours. Lettuce, thinly sliced red onion and mayonnaise-based dressing complement it.
Good snack
To play with the affective memory of the customers, Luiz Filipe has prepared a box – similar to those that house the combos for children in fast foods – to shine in one of the stops on the tasting menu of Evvai, its Michelin-starred restaurant. It makes room for the other 12 stages of the dinner. Inside, a surprise for adults: the famous scallop bomb of the house, with fermented tomatoes and pork lardo de carunxinho.
“The idea is to convey playfulness, fun, together with technique and product. To convey a message of fine dining through the language of fast food, a shock of sensations”, explains the chef.
Renata Vanzetto is not even a fan of fish sandwiches, but she ended up giving in to customer requests. “Other than that, it was very good for the logistics of the kitchen. We use the fresh fish, which arrives the same day, in tiraditos, tartare and ceviche and, the next day, we bread and fry it for MegFish. Some similarities to the name it is no coincidence, the crispy fish sandwich I like it is truly inspired by the extinct McFishwhich left the McDonald’s menu in 2019. Tartar sauce with a light touch of wasabi (the chef’s touch), pickles and brioche complete the order.
KFC
Fried chicken aficionados would say, without batting an eye, that this acronym refers to the popular fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken – but who has tasted Karaage Fat Cow (notice the initials?) may have already changed the reference. The recipe for the portion of fried chicken, crunchy and very juicy, Fábio Moon keeps it a secret. What is known is that the marinated pieces of thigh and thigh are prepared with an oriental technique, that is, they are breaded in liquid dough and fried only at the time of order. The serving size, served with togarashi mayonnaise or Korean sauce, is only six pieces, but you can eat dry and dry.
already inside ZDeli, the acronym that gives the name to the fried chicken portion has changed slightly: it has become ZFC, drawing sardines to the name of the house. There, the breaded and deep-fried pieces of thigh are served with sour cream sauce and pickles, with a spicy sauce on the side.
love declared
Bread, meat and cheese, with pickles, chopped onion, ketchup and mustard (wrapped in paper). The description comes from the Original del menu option meatballs, but it could also be the classic McDonald’s Cheeseburger, just like that. The hamburger restaurant run by Henrique Azeredo, Grigor Caisley and Jean Ponce, which has dark shops and kitchens throughout São Paulo, is inspired by the essence and standardization of large fast food chains (in Méqui in particular), “with the commitment to offer a product that is always fresh, with quality ingredients, without ever industrializing “. In addition to the burgers, the thin fries, long and thin fries, also resemble those of Ronald McDonald’s, as does the paper bag that welcomes takeout orders.
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
