Who knew the man behind the Gramercy Tavern's $125 dinner Tasting Menu loves Popeye's fried chicken with dirty rice and biscuits?
At the airport. En route to another critical meeting. Fast food is everywhere, and unavoidable. Even celebrity chefs producing the world's most-praised meals have an occasional hankering. So where do they get their fix? We asked them, and alongside the predictable Shake Shack and KFC were some surprising results. More were notable by their absence. We're looking at you, McDonald's.
The Big Brands ...
Vineet Bhatia (Indego by Vineet, Dubai): Pret a Manger - a British sandwich chain that has reached big cities in the U.S., China, France and Dubai. "The food is always fresh, with a good choice. It's quick and tasty and the staff always smile. I like their hoisin duck salad wrap and their chicken avocado sandwich."
Heston Blumenthal (Fat Duck, Bray, England): Five Guys - a hamburger chain that started in Virginia before expanding abroad. "I've had their burgers a few times and I like them. They make me happy. And the guys behind the counters actually have some interest in food. They do a great milkshake, too."
They make me happy” - Heston Blumenthal on Five Guys.
Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy): Shake Shack - an international burger chain founded by restaurateur Danny Meyer. "They care about the ingredients and that is what makes the difference. Danny Meyer really cares about what kind of meat, what kind of bread, what kind of sauce."
Daniel Boulud (Daniel, New York): Le Pain Quotidien - a Brussels bakery now in major cities from Tokyo to Los Angeles. "It was started by a young chef (Alain Coumont) who used to work with me in New York. I like the consistency and quality of his bread with the simplicity of the food he creates around it. I have my own bakery on the West Side in New York, but when I am at Daniel, Le Pain Quotidien is closer, so I go there."
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Helene Darroze (Helen Darroze, Paris): Shake Shack - "They serve beautiful burgers and hot dogs with amazing quality of bread and meat. And it is also a place where you can meet people from everywhere."
Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern, New York): Popeyes , a U.S. chain serving Louisiana fried chicken, and Chipotle, a Mexican grill that has expanded internationally from its U.S. base. "I treat myself to Popeyes a couple of times a year and I am wickedly happy downing a few pieces (wings and thighs best) of their crispy, spicy chicken - with a side of dirty rice and biscuits. Or I'm completely satisfied making a lunch of a salad from Chipotle, loaded with grilled chicken, pinto beans, shredded cheese, extra cilantro, and spicy dressing."
Tom Sellers (Restaurant Story, London): Nando’s - founded in South Africa and now serving spicy Portuguese-style flamed chicken from New Zealand to the U.S. "I go because they serve a tasty product. It’s simple but you can build your own meal. And everyone loves chicken."
Karam Sethi (Gymkhana, London): KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken. "I only go for the Zinger Tower Burger. It's got a fried, battered breast, hash brown, a spicy tomato salsa, mayonnaise and crispy iceberg in a sesame bun. The chicken is always juicy."
Clare Smyth (Gordon Ramsay, London): PizzaExpress - a London-based pizza chain that's gone to the Middle East and Asia but yet to hit the U.S. "It is quick, it is always good and it is consistent. Pizza is a great fast food, and they use good, solid ingredients."
... And Something a Little More Local
Gastón Acurio (Astrid y Gastón, Lima): La Lucha Sanguchería - a Lima-based sandwich chain. "They prepare their sandwiches individually each day with Peruvian-flavor marinated meats and Peruvian sauces."
José Andrés (Minibar, Washington, DC): Pans & Co. - a sandwich chain with outlets across Spain. "They do really great sandwiches on tasty bread, with great fillings and sauces. I can never understand why they haven't made it in the U.S. and elsewhere overseas."
Angela Hartnett (Murano, London) : Byron - a London burger restaurant now found around the U.K. "I am so bored with the burger scene in London - burgers everywhere, it does my head in. But I was at the Port Eliot Festival dancing my head off at 3 a.m. and I bought a Byron burger and it was just delicious. Since then, I've started going in London: They have great consistency, yet each store is a bit different."
Nuno Mendes (Chiltern Firehouse, London): Homeslice - a pizza restaurant founded in 2011 that now has three outlets in London. "The pizzas are super-good. I am very impressed with the quality of the dough, the way they are baked and the toppings, which are super-creative. In the U.S., In-N-Out Burger is awesome."
Wolfgang Puck (Spago, Beverly Hills): In-N-Out Burger - a U.S. West Coast burger chain. "I like it because you can have a hamburger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun. I feel like I am eating a salad. My wife loves it. With our burger, you eat the meat. With theirs, you eat the condiments."
Joan Roca (El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain): Beefsteak - a healthy-eating chain in the U.S. Northeast. "It's a new concept of fast food by José Andrés where the focus is on vegetables. It's gastronomic yet economic: tasty food for a society where people have no time. "
Simon Rogan (L'Enclume, Cartmel, England): Wasabi, a London-based chain serving sushi and hot Asian dishes that's now entering the New York market. "That's mainly because it is on the way to the station and I am always traveling. I can't say no to a katsu curry or sushi box."
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern, New York): Popeyes , a U.S. chain serving Louisiana fried chicken, and Chipotle, a Mexican grill that has expanded internationally from its U.S. base. "I treat myself to Popeyes a couple of times a year and I am wickedly happy downing a few pieces (wings and thighs best) of their crispy, spicy chicken - with a side of dirty rice and biscuits. Or I'm completely satisfied making a lunch of a salad from Chipotle, loaded with grilled chicken, pinto beans, shredded cheese, extra cilantro, and spicy dressing."
Tom Sellers (Restaurant Story, London): Nando’s - founded in South Africa and now serving spicy Portuguese-style flamed chicken from New Zealand to the U.S. "I go because they serve a tasty product. It’s simple but you can build your own meal. And everyone loves chicken."
Karam Sethi (Gymkhana, London): KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken. "I only go for the Zinger Tower Burger. It's got a fried, battered breast, hash brown, a spicy tomato salsa, mayonnaise and crispy iceberg in a sesame bun. The chicken is always juicy."
Claire Smyth.
Clare Smyth (Gordon Ramsay, London): PizzaExpress - a London-based pizza chain that's gone to the Middle East and Asia but yet to hit the U.S. "It is quick, it is always good and it is consistent. Pizza is a great fast food, and they use good, solid ingredients."
... And Something a Little More Local
Gastón Acurio (Astrid y Gastón, Lima): La Lucha Sanguchería - a Lima-based sandwich chain. "They prepare their sandwiches individually each day with Peruvian-flavor marinated meats and Peruvian sauces."
José Andrés (Minibar, Washington, DC): Pans & Co. - a sandwich chain with outlets across Spain. "They do really great sandwiches on tasty bread, with great fillings and sauces. I can never understand why they haven't made it in the U.S. and elsewhere overseas."
Angela Hartnett (Murano, London) : Byron - a London burger restaurant now found around the U.K. "I am so bored with the burger scene in London - burgers everywhere, it does my head in. But I was at the Port Eliot Festival dancing my head off at 3 a.m. and I bought a Byron burger and it was just delicious. Since then, I've started going in London: They have great consistency, yet each store is a bit different."
Pizza at HomeSlice
Nuno Mendes (Chiltern Firehouse, London): Homeslice - a pizza restaurant founded in 2011 that now has three outlets in London. "The pizzas are super-good. I am very impressed with the quality of the dough, the way they are baked and the toppings, which are super-creative. In the U.S., In-N-Out Burger is awesome."
Wolfgang Puck (Spago, Beverly Hills): In-N-Out Burger - a U.S. West Coast burger chain. "I like it because you can have a hamburger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun. I feel like I am eating a salad. My wife loves it. With our burger, you eat the meat. With theirs, you eat the condiments."
Joan Roca (El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain): Beefsteak - a healthy-eating chain in the U.S. Northeast. "It's a new concept of fast food by José Andrés where the focus is on vegetables. It's gastronomic yet economic: tasty food for a society where people have no time. "
Simon Rogan (L'Enclume, Cartmel, England): Wasabi, a London-based chain serving sushi and hot Asian dishes that's now entering the New York market. "That's mainly because it is on the way to the station and I am always traveling. I can't say no to a katsu curry or sushi box."
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