Chef Tomaz Slatnar
Ethnic cuisine is becoming more popular than ever. With Lee University students consistently lining up at the Deacon Jones Dining Hall for international food, Lee Dining Services is excited to welcome Chef Tomaz Slatnar from Slovenia to campus Monday and Tuesday as part of Sodexo’s 2016 Global Chef program.
Global Chef is a program inspired by student surveys and client aspirations, designed to increase student satisfaction while bringing a unique experience to campus dining. Sodexo’s top worldwide chefs are provided opportunities through a month-long international chef residency to travel to different countries and share authentic international cuisine with students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities.
"We are elated to have the opportunity to be a host location for the Sodexo Global Chef program,” said Tim Tenon, general manager of Sodexo and Lee Dining Services. “Our International Station and menu options are very popular, so having Chef Slatnar prepare and share authentic international cuisine from Slovenia with students, faculty, staff and the community will be a special experience.”
Mr. Slatnar, born in Kranj, Slovenia, joined the international Sodexo team in 1996. He started cooking as a young boy and has since become the manager of Prestige Catering. In 2008, he travelled to Beijing, China, where he accompanied the Slovenian Olympic team and prepared Slovenian food.
With a lifelong passion of cooking food, both local and foreign, Mr. Slatnar is excited about travelling around the world with Global Chef.
“I will be honored to visit new countries, meet new faces and represent Slovenian cuisine,” said Mr. Slatnar. “I try to make the most of each new experience, and I am delighted to confront every new challenge.”
Slovenian cuisine can be characterized by its rich and hearty dishes, and the Sodexo menu will feature meals similar to what one might find in the heart of Slovenia. On Monday, Mr. Slatnar will prepare a lunch including Prekmurian Stew, Chicken Fillet Ljubljana, and a dessert of vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries and pumpkin oil. On Tuesday evening, guests to the Deacon Jones Dining Hall can enjoy dishes such as Carinthian cottage cheese with red onion, pumpkin oil and chive, and mushroom soup with buckwheat kasha among others.
Visitors from the community are always welcome to dine at Lee’s dining hall. Lunch is served from 10:50 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and dinner is served from 4:45-7 p.m.
To learn more about Lee Dining Services and Sodexo, visit www.leedining.sodexomyway.com.