Thinking Outside the Lunchbox
Guest Chef Program at Indian Hill High School
Aramark Student Nutrition strives to creatively drive engagement across all the districts we serve, especially fostering long-lasting memories amongst students and staff.
See how our talented team at Indian Hill School District uses familiar faces during lunchtime to brighten students' days.
Indian Hill High School
The Indian Hill Exempted Village School District is a public school located in Indian Hill, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, with a district-wide enrollment of approximately 1,900 students. The high school within the district is home to over 650 students, whose mission is “to understand each child’s individual passion and pair that with purpose and opportunity–both inside and outside of [their] classrooms.”
Aramark Student Nutrition has been a long-standing partner with the district, proudly serving students and its community for over 50 years. Food Service Director Peter Wynne joined Aramark over a year ago and currently leads the culinary menu development across the district.
Being new to the account, Peter was hyper-focused on connecting with students and faculty this school year.
“I’ve spent over 20 years in food service, and I know one of the most essential parts of hospitality is building relationships with constituents.”
Upon speaking with high school students and teachers, Peter saw how involved the teachers were in the students’ lives. This sparked the idea of bridging this to the cafeteria through a Guest Chef program. Peter initially contacted Jeff Damadeo, the principal of Indian Hill High School, to be the first guest chef participant in the pilot program.
The process started with Jeff being interviewed about his personal culinary journey, including understanding his expertise in the kitchen, hearing about his family background and the traditional dishes served for meals, and identifying any cuisines or recipes he was fond of. From there, Peter partnered with Head Chef Tonya Gordon to review their recipe database and product on hand to develop the menu item.
"It was an incredible experience to be part of the Guest Chef Program. As a Principal, it's essential to model the way and do the work that others do." said Jeff Damadeo.
"Our food service teams are our unsung heroes, and working alongside them shows the kids how important they are. "
Once the students returned from winter break, they piloted the guest chef program in January 2024, serving the principal’s favorite dish: Italian Sausage and Peppers! During lunch service, Principal Damadeo enthusiastically served each student his taste of home for students to experience. The dish’s popularity amongst students and faculty resulted in selling out!
Various administrative staff have donned chef hats to cook up something spectacular for students, such as Indian Hill District Athletic Coordinator Julius King’s Kickin’ Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Indian Hill District Athletic Director Brian Phelps’ Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwich with Carolina Mustard Sauce. Each guest chef has drawn crowds, with students taking selfies with staff and raving about their food!
The student fanfare for the Guest Chef program has made it stable for the rest of the school year. To meet student demand, monthly promotions have been shifted to weekly features.
The cafeteria recently had Mr. King return to serve some comfort with his Caribbean Jerk Chicken w/ Red Bean Coconut Rice, which students couldn’t get enough of!
“There’s nothing I love more than serving the students at Indian Hill High School. Through collaboration with our Aramark Team, we have found a way to serve and share some of our favorite meals and recipes," said Julius King.
"This has been a great experience for me, and everyone involved, and we look forward to carrying on this new tradition.”
"Having the opportunity to share a favorite dish from our lives helps to create unique connections with students. Students also love to see us back there! The team was awesome, and the food was delicious," said Jeff Damadeo. "Being a leader is about serving others, and this is just one way that we have an opportunity to showcase our team and their talents!”
The success of the Guest Chef program has resulted in its expansion to Indian Hill Middle School for the upcoming fall semester and the incorporation of more members of the district administrative offices and faculty.
If you are interested in implementing a Guest Chef program within your district, contact your Aramark Student Nutrition team member to get started.
