It’s All in the Family with Chef Joe
By Imee Diego DuBose (idubose@stanford.edu)
Last month, Chef Joe Guinto was recognized by the PAC-12 Champions Women’s Basketball led by the winningest Coach Tara Van Derveer for his contributions to their team experience and to the 700+ athletes under his culinary care. When asked about this honor which included a signed (by each player and coach on the team), personalized, and framed Stanford basketball jersey along with a formal shout-out during half-time at a Friday night game against USC at Maples Pavilion, Chef Joe is sure to connect his gratitude for his RD&E family with his Athletic Department family.
He attributes his culinary success on the Farm to the nurturing support of RD&E leadership including Eric Montell and Christina Betondo. With this trust and confidence, Chef Joe takes this opportunity to showcase his talents and creativity to the kitchen and dining table for the benefit of Stanford athletes and recruits.
Creating special moments
In recognizing Chef Joe at the February 2 game, the women’s basketball team expressed their appreciation for the special moments created just for the players. From the Chef’s Table experience post-game win or lose, Chef Joe creates a restaurant quality experience for the team in a family-style serving way. The student athletes are happy to have the vibes of going to a restaurant with gourmet entrees without having to foot the tab.
In the spirit of competition off the court, Chef Joe created an Iron Chef: Women’s Basketball Edition. The team was divided into smaller groups of three or four and the coaching staff became the judges. With only an hour to come up with a menu, to prep, and to serve, the student athletes enjoyed this first-ever Iron Chef competition. The judges, including Chef Joe, in turn enjoyed the halibut ceviche with crispy banana chips, coconut shrimp, and the pecan apple tart (Chef Joe loved the tart!).
Beyond the sports
With student athletes, the Stanford outreach begins early on before arriving on the Farm to play. Recruitment begins during high school with many of the potential Stanford student athletes and their families coming to Stanford for a visit. Chef Joe is an important part of visits from prospective student athletes. He spends time sharing the culinary experience of the student athletes with these recruits and suffice to say, the families are impressed with the offerings of Stanford dining for their student athlete as are the student athletes themselves!
With hundreds of student athletes and recruits under his culinary care, Chef Joe is sure to “treat all the same”. For Chef Joe, he aims to provide the student athletes with an off the field, off the court, out of the gym experience where they can relax and just be themselves.
Stanford Stadium Concessions Eponymous
For those who have attended Stanford football games, you may have seen Chef Joe's Gameday Specials concession stand and wondered “is this Chef Joe, our Chef Joe?” Yes, it is! Strategically located near the student section, Chef Joe’s culinary savorings are available for all to enjoy from a Philly cheese steak sandwich to poutine fries. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to the SkyBox, that’s where Chef Joe is currently charged with overseeing the food experience for 300 VIPs. This is part of the unique Chef Joe journey: “from the field to the food”. He played high school football all four years as a defensive tackle and now he is transforming the dining experience at Stanford football home games for countless fans. Be sure to check it out when the season begins in the fall! Go Stanford!
This special recognition by Stanford Women’s Basketball of Chef Joe’s contributions is a testament of how the daily act of cooking and breaking bread brings us together. It connects us, it nourishes us, and it sustains us as families and chosen families. Whether you are the one who is doing the prep, cooking, and/or the consuming, may it be surrounded by community and made with lots of love just like Chef Joe.
