This annual event commemorates the life and legacy of Central Coast resident and inventor of the iconic Egg McMuffin, Herb Peterson.
In 1968, Peterson opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in Santa Barbara, and later expanded his business to become the Owner/Operator of the six McDonald’s restaurants in Santa Barbara and Goleta. At the time, no other quick service restaurant offered breakfast, and Peterson asked a local blacksmith to make an iron ring to keep eggs round and tidy as they were cooked for a hand-held sandwich. Modeled after Peterson’s personal breakfast favorite, Eggs Benedict, he presented his breakfast product idea to McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, and in 1972, the Egg McMuffin became the first McDonald’s breakfast item!
Peterson passed away in 2008, and the first annual Herb Peterson Day took place in 2009 on Jan. 5th, what would have been Peterson’s 90th birthday.