This is Joel Cornell, a 31-year-old visual and performance artist from Melbourne, Australia.
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For as long as he can remember, Cornell has been a big fan of McDonald's (the fast food chain – I don't know if you've heard of it). While he's never worked there, Cornell has spent years making McDonald's meals at home for himself and his friends.
facebook.com
Not bought in store!
In February, he decided to open up his recipe book to the world, encouraging others to try and make McDonald's at home with the creation of the Facebook group Homemade McDonald's.
When the group began, people thought it was a joke – but as others started contributing their own attempts at creating menu items such as Big Macs and McFlurrys at home, Cornell says it "really took off".
Since February, it has grown to over 2,000 members. Now, there's even an Instagram.
Cornell said that in the last few weeks there had been "lots of posts and new members".
The group has strict rules, and Cornell says there has been infighting as to whether vegans and vegetarians should be allowed to substitute ingredients for their posts (they are).
However, the overall response has been insanely positive, says Cornell. "People find the group to be 'magical' and just what they need to fill their lives with joy and wonder."
Contributors to Homemade McDonald's focus on creating food that doesn't just taste like McDonald's, but that looks like it, too.
Some even go so far as to box their creations in old McDonald's packaging.
"People seem to be obsessed with making Big Macs, which is fine with me," says Cornell. "But would love to see some McFlurrys and some obscure overseas menu items."
Members of the group must list any ingredients they use and include a photo of their meal with a bite taken out of it "for reference".
Cornell says he and his friends broke down the costs to make a meal one day and figured out it was actually cheaper than buying it from the store.
But at the end of the day, there's also the bizarre stupidity of it all. "It's also just stupid as," said Cornell. "Like, who makes McDonald's at home?"
Brad Esposito is a news reporter for BuzzFeed and is based in Sydney, Australia.
Contact Brad Esposito at bradley.esposito@buzzfeed.com.
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