We visited McDonald's global headquarters in Oak Brook, Il., and the company gave us a peek inside its test kitchen.Tucked within the walls of the Campus Office Building, the Culinary Center seems to be in a peculiar place. It's surrounded by endless cubicles and corporate-folk.But inside the kitchen, there's serious work being done."It's not just chefs playing in the kitchen," said Chef Jessica Foust, a nutrition and culinary manager at the test kitchen.This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account?
Log in.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderEvery menu item takes years of planning to develop and organize. Different countries, screening, volume — it's quite the effort, she said.So, what's it look like in there? See for yourself. Disclosure: McDonald's provided travel and accommodations for the trip.Tucked away at the McDonald's C.O.B.
— or Campus Office Building — is the test kitchen, where the fast food chain comes up with all sorts of products.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThe kitchens are up on the top floor on Big Mac Blvd. Yes, McDonald's names all the "streets" in its global headquarters office building.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderHere's what Big Mac Blvd. looks like. Kitchens on the left, cubicles on the right.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderHere we are — the test kitchen is called the Culinary Center.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderIt's a bit strange, actually — a McDonald's kitchen encased in glass that's more fitting for a conference room.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderBut there's some appropriate reading.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderWe met up with Chef Jessica Foust, a nutrition and culinary manager at the test kitchen.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderJudging by the setup, the kitchen was prepped to handle the McWraps and Fish McBites.
The box o' fish is the McDonald's latest limited-time offering, hitting locations just in time for Lent.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderIt has all the gadgets that a regular McDonald's kitchen would have.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderLike these handheld pumps.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderAnd the usual cups and shakers.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThere's even a little guide on how to get buns toasted perfectly.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderSo we ran through the whole process of making a McWrap — a product that McDonald's is counting on going forward.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThe whole assembly line was set up — simple enough.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThe finished product (well, after we'd taken a bite) — just like you'd see in restaurants.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderWe also got to try those Fish McBites, which weren't in stores yet.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThe breading's different from a Filet-O-Fish and it's a totally different experience.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderA lot of people shy away from fast food fish, but it wasn't too bad. We wouldn't go out of our way to order it, though McDonald's Filet-O-Fish lovers might.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderWhat's Foust's favorite item that never made it into restaurants? A blueberry yogurt ice cream shake, she told us.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThat's not the only kitchen at the McDonald's HQ. There are plenty more running down the side of Big Mac Blvd.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderOn the way to another one, we ran into Chef Dan Coudreaut, the executive chef at McDonald's.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderOther chefs were at work too.
This one was getting some bacon ready for some unknown project.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderIt was a bit of a mess in there, like a scientist's lab, with chefs busy at work with their food.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThere's also the Sensory Evaluation Center, which McDonald's uses to test the new stuff they're experimenting with in order to get the feedback to improve the products.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderIt's a key part of product development. In the Difference Test, you evaluate everything from appearance and color to viscosity and flavor.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderThe items come through a magic door. We tasted a set of mango pineapple smoothies and each of them were slightly different.Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderNow see the rest of McDonald's corporate mothership...Kim Bhasin / Business InsiderStep Inside The Building Where McDonald's Runs Its Global Empire >ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyxtM6tpqxlnZixsLrApZusZaSawLV5yqKrnKCVo3pzfJBsZGs%3D