We are headed into playoff season in the NFL and thought that our listeners might be interested in how stadium foods, menus, and treats are developed. Chef Richard Grab, Director of Culinary Innovation for Sports + Entertainment, and Chef James Hennessey, Executive Chef for Lincoln Financial Field, are going to explain how our teams gear up for the season and then surprise and delight for playoffs.
Access the episode transcript here.
Chef Richard Grab, Director of Culinary Innovation for Sports + Entertainment
Trends in the food and beverage industry emerge and fade away at the speed of light, yet Chef Rich Grab is always way ahead of the latest and greatest in the industry. As Director of Culinary Innovation, he works with Aramark Design + Development and our operations teams across the country to develop and implement new culinary concepts into our portfolio, including the most recent fine dining restaurant, Adrian by Stephen Starr. From developing incredible plant-based recipes to creating whimsical gastronomical delights, Chef Rich is a unique talent dedicated to bringing our guests amazing culinary experiences while keeping our clients at the forefront of ingenuity.
His storied culinary career began as a Sous Chef at San Francisco’s legendary Palomino, then moved on to work with James Beard award-winning Stephen Starr as a sous chef in a variety of the wildly successful restaurant group’s fine dining and upscale casual restaurants. He joined Aramark in 2010 helming the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, one of North America’s busiest arenas. From there, he rose through the ranks to the role of District Chef before his current role.
Chef Rich brings culinary degrees from the Culinary Institute of America and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. He is also ProChef Level III-certified and is a member of our Sustainability Council, where he focuses on delivering advancements in sustainable sourcing and culinary operations to our local teams, boosted by his expansive network of local suppliers.
Chef James Hennessey, Executive Chef for Lincoln Financial Field
Executive Chef, James Hennessey, joined Aramark in 2009 and has overseen the last fifteen football seasons at Lincoln Financial Field. Over these thirteen years, Chef James has been the mastermind behind the ever evolving and power packed menu Eagles fans have enjoyed year in and year out.
With the constant development of the culinary program, Chef James has been a key player in overseeing culinary progress at Lincoln Financial Field. This includes ventures like the renovation of both Club Levels and the genesis of new menu concepts incorporating Celebrity Chefs: David Chang, Marc Vetri, Peter McAndrew’s, Jose Garces, and Kevin Sbraga. In addition to these inspirational Chef’s, in-house concepts such as Quick & Carmichael BBQ, Freshly Made Neapolitan Pizzas and LFF Burger Concepts have been incorporated.
Prior to joining Lincoln Financial Field, Chef James was part of the culinary opening team for Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. During his six years with Borgata, he was the Executive Chef for its three famed restaurants -- Specchio, Ombra, and Risi Bisi.
Chef James has spent his years staying up to date with the latest culinary trends including completing his Pro Chef II Certification at CIA, the Culinary Institute of America, located in Hyde Park, New York State.
Additional Resources
- Aura - Aramark
- Look out Santa, Kansas City Chiefs' and Philadelphia Eagles' Fans are getting the Cookies this Year - Aramark
- Aramark Sports + Entertainment Kicks Off 2023 NFL Season with Fresh Take on Game Day Eats, Service Technologies, and Retail Offerings - Aramark
- Aramark Sports + Entertainment Debuts New Culinary Creations and Concessions Upgrades Across Nine Stadiums for 2023 MLB Opening Day - Aramark
- Aramark Sports + Entertainment Launches Dozens of New Branded Concepts for 2023 College Football Kick-Off - Aramark
- Walk Thru Bru Revolutionizes Speed of Beverage Service at Sports Stadiums - Aramark
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 18 countries around the world with food and facilities management. Because of our hospitality culture, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Supplier Diversity,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram.
