Aramark Chef Wins NFL-Sponsored Chef Competition

Aramark took home Best Restaurant honors at the annual Taste of the Vikings event in Minneapolis with a menu created by Regional Executive Chef Andrew Atwell—Wild Boar Tacos with Smoked Tomato Cilantro Salsa and Camelized Onion Slaw, plus Candied Bacon Cinnamon Ice Cream with Pecan Brittle.

The competition, sponsored by the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and designed to raise awareness for childhood hunger across the state, features participation by some of the Twin Cities' top restaurants. Aramark is the Vikings' catering partner at their Mall of America Field home stadium.

“Aramark has been delivering first class catering to our Premium Seating members for the past eight years and this event confirmed their menus are in the same category as the top restaurants in the Twin Cities,” says Steve LaCroix, vice president of sales & marketing/CMO for the Vikings.

Culinary students from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis/St. Paul assisted Atwell and his team at the action station where they used a tabletop smoker to give the tacos a unique, smoky flavor instantaneously. The team also used liquid nitrogen to prepare the Candied Bacon Cinnamon Ice Cream.

“We’re honored to participate in such a great event, like the Taste of the Vikings, where we can partner with our client to benefit the local community,” says Carl Mittleman, regional vice president of Aramark Sports & Entertainment-Central Region. “This was an opportunity for our chefs to showcase their culinary expertise and the cutting edge techniques that make our menu at Mall of America Field standout from some of the finest restaurants in the area.”