Onion Rings with Crème Fraîche and Caviar at ChainFest
Chain Party
A food festival rooted in nostalgia is expanding to a new coast.
ChainFEST, the Los Angeles-based food festival, will host its first-ever East Cast event at Randall’s Island Park in New York City on Saturday, September 21.
Founded by actor and writer BJ Novak and Michelin-starred chef Tim Hollingsworth, ChainFEST features gourmet interpretations of classic American fast food dishes.
In partnership with Chrissy Teigen, ChainFEST New York will serve more than 10,000 guests new culinary interpretations of dishes from KFC, Panda Express, RedRobin, Portillo’s, Krispy Kreme, Red Lobster, Chuck E. Cheese, and more.
Think: Fried Oyster Mushrooms with Sweet and Sour Chili Crisp and Panda Freeze Frozen Drink from Panda Express, a sneak peek at a new spicy gourmet burger with five layers of heat from Red Robin, a sneak peek at a new KFC item with select sauces, a one-of-a-kind gourmet hot dog from Portillo’s Chicago, a Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuit with butter-poached lobster, and more.
“It’s like a full-circle moment,” Hollingsworth said at a press conference to promote ChainFEST at Per Se in New York City. “You’re creating this new memory based on an old memory and it’s reinforced.” Restaurant chains are located in hometowns all over the world, and even though many of them have moved away from their hometowns, they can reminisce about their childhood every time they taste a familiar fast food joint.
For Hollingsworth, who worked at Per Se early in his career, the festival is also a homecoming in many ways. He remembers making whipped butter in Thomas Keller’s kitchen to delicately poach lobster, a technique now used in ChainFEST’s Red Lobster dish.
“While many of the dishes are exclusive to the festival, I want every bite at ChainFEST to evoke a cherished memory,” Hollingsworth said.
Tickets for unlimited tastings at the festival go on sale Friday, August 9, starting at $99.99 for an afternoon and evening session. All-inclusive VIP tickets start at $399.99 and include unlimited bites from all of the chain’s partner restaurants, early admission to the festival, an open bar and more.
Games and immersive experiences will be available to all guests during the Saturday festival.
The world’s largest Chuck E. Cheese pop-up arcade, featuring prizes, access to the iconic Ticket Blaster and an appearance by the one and only Charles Entertainment Cheese himself, will be at ChainFest.
Prefer luxury over waiting in line? Reserve a seat at ChainFEST’s exclusive VIP Chef’s Tasting table. The full-service, non-stop chain catering buffet will feature an unlimited offering of signature dishes from each participating chain restaurant, with prices starting at $1,299.99.
