Sports and entertainment chefs win Aramark's inaugural ACE competition

A team of chefs from Aramark’s sports and entertainment division have won the national finals of the food management company’s inaugural Aramark Culinary Excellence (ACE) Competition. 

Chefs Stephen Aheimer from FirstEnergy Stadium, Richard Grab of Aramark's Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., district and Allan Wambaa from the Oregon Convention Center took home the Copper Pot with their four-course menu of pheasant ravioli, seared black bass and sous vide gambas, butternut squash puree and a chocolate almond coconut macaroon bar. 

The team beat out 12 Aramark chefs from the company’s four other divisions (business dining, education, healthcare hospitality and leisure). Each team was required to use a mystery basket containing 16 fresh, seasonal and local ingredients when creating their dishes.  

In addition to bragging rights, the winning team received $10,000 to go toward an Aramark nonprofit partner of their choosing. The other teams received $5,000 to go toward a nonprofit partner.