Award Winning Chef Yun Gives McDonald’s A Caribe Remix

31 Oct 2026 by Sandra Escobedo in Cuisine, General, Home, Pleasure

For Chef Yun Fuentes, food has always been about more than what’s on the plate. Growing up in Puerto Rico, he learned from his grandfather, a chef, how a shared meal could bring people together. Yun carries that legacy today at Bolo, the Philadelphia restaurant he named in his grandfather’s honor, where he brings the flavors of the Caribbean to the table.

Chef Yun Fuentes

Like 1 in 8 Americans, Chef Yun got his start at McDonald’s. He recently returned to his roots in Brooklyn for McDonald’s Chef’s Caribe Remix, an experience where he reimagined some of the brand’s menu favorites with a Caribbean twist inspired by his Puerto Rican heritage.

Chef Yun’s work has earned him national recognition. He was named a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2024 in the Emerging Chef category and in 2025 for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. He was also featured on the James Beard Foundation’s TasteTwenty list of chefs to watch.

Fans also have the opportunity to recreate Chef Yun’s Caribbean-inspired takes on McDonald’s classics at home, with recipe cards featuring the following fan favorites and his unique culinary twists.

Tres Golpes Egg McMuffin: A Caribbean-inspired take on the classic breakfast sandwich, featuring traditional Dominican breakfast ingredients such as salami, fried cheese and eggs.

Chicken McNuggets with Caribbean-Inspired Sauces: McDonald’s classic Chicken McNuggets served with specialty sauces, including pineapple pique, key lime mojo and guava mayo.

Apple Pie with a Caribbean Twist: McDonald’s classic Apple Pie topped with cinnamon, powdered sugar and a finishing drizzle of dulce de leche.

To test and perfect his Chef’s Caribe Remix recipes, Chef Yun worked closely with three current McDonald’s crew members during a hands-on cooking workshop at a McDonald’s restaurant in Philadelphia. Together, they created a menu inspired by the vibrant energy and bold flavors of the Caribbean.

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Sandra Escobedo

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