As the Philadelphia Phillies prepared to take on the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the 2022 MLB World Series, we had the opportunity to sit down with Aramark Sports + Entertainment Executive Chef Iovonnie (Vonnie) Negron, just an hour before the gates opened to fans at Citizens Bank Park. (Chef Vonnie and his daughters pictured above at Game 3 of the World Series)
We were first struck by how calm Chef Vonnie stayed. You’d never know that he and his team of culinarians were preparing to serve a stadium packed with more than forty thousand fans while the whole world watched. His more than 40 years in the industry taught him a thing or two about performing under pressure. Not only was he calm under pressure, but we also noted how passionate he is about what he does.
Chef Vonnie took us on a brief tour of “push time”, giving us just a glimpse at a day in the life of a ballpark chef. He talked about his perspective and experience, and everything that goes into food preparation for the World Series.
1. What goes into serving fans at the pinnacle of the baseball season?
It’s one of the most exciting times of the year, and a lot of planning and receiving information in a timely manner goes into the process. The team and I plan for what we know, but we also need to be ready for what is coming our way. There are a lot of last-minute requests during the World Series. By being ahead of the game, I can then take care of anything that may come up.
2. How do you prepare/come up with menu items during the World Series?
During the World Series, our goal is to elevate our menu. We save the best for last, for example our suites are offered Tomahawk steaks, autumn risotto, and more. It’s important for fans to have an overall good experience during the baseball game. We do that through our menus throughout the stadium.
3. Why is working at Aramark so special?
I have been in the culinary world for over 40 years, and this is the pinnacle of my career. I am here working for Aramark, at the World Series, and it isn’t getting any better.
4. What do you want fans to get out of their food experience at the stadium?
I want fans to enjoy the game and create great memories. Aramark prioritizes making positive memories for people, whether it’s in the food or the stadium.
5. How do Aramark chefs and staff work together, etc.?
The Aramark team at Citizens Bank Park works together every day. The day-to-day necessities are not happening without everyone being on the same page and communicating as a group. We work well together, and we have a great team here. I've worked at many other companies for many, many other buildings back in the day, but this is a true team effort.
6. What do you do when the games are over?
Obviously, during the regular season, everything tends to be routine oriented. But the World Series is different. Originally, we planned for three games, but due to the rain we had to prepare to feed fans an extra day. The team and I are always planning for what comes next, which helps us stay prepared. We're on the world stage and we cannot have any hiccups.
7. What is your favorite creation to make and eat?
The inspiration for my cooking comes from my grandmother and mother who are of Spanish descent. Although I do not have one favorite item, I always go back to my roots and passions when it comes to creating menu items. I am in this business because of my family. All the love that went into my grandmother and mother’s cooking, I try to do the same in my recipes now.
