Sodexo, Rick Bayless Partner on Mexican Eatery at Northwestern

Celebrity chef Rick Bayless and Sodexo Campus Services have combined to debut Bayless' Frontera Fresco Mexican restaurant concept on the campus of Northwestern University. It will feature authentic Mexican cuisine including tacos, tortas, quesadillas, special seasonal dishes and gluten-free options.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Rick on his campus dining concept for Frontera Fresco,” says Steve Mangan, resident district manager for nuCuisine, a collaborative partnership run by Northwestern and Sodexo whose executive chefs provide the campus with international cuisines, made-to-order entrées and attractive “destination dining” experiences. “Northwestern is a community of dynamic cultures from across the globe. Rick’s fresh twist on Mexican cuisine is an ideal fit for the Northwestern University community.”

“Frontera Fresco is a great addition to our retail offering at Northwestern," Mangan adds. "It will strengthen our commitment to expansion of fresh, seasonal, and local products. At the same time it adds to our focus on culinary expertise and staff development campus wide as we work to become an integral part of the Chicago food scene.”

Instead of relying on larger food distributors, Bayless is committed to using local food and produce from farmers within a 100-mile radius of his restaurants.  “We will continue using local products at the Norris location,” Mangan emphasizes.

“The produce, the cheeses, and the meats, will be from farmers who are supported by the Frontera Farmer Foundation, which gives grant money directly to small farms to build greenhouses and buy supplies that in turn go into making the produce that is plated at the restaurants,” adds Stacy Dixon, Frontera’s director of development and marketing.