Head Chef Mario DeLuca (photo by Sherry Estrada)
By Stephanie Fabian, Spartan Shops Marketing Manager
Spartan Shops would like to welcome the newest member of our culinary team, Head Chef Mario DeLuca.
He comes to San Jose State from the Midwest. Born and raised in Chicago, he worked throughout the Chicagoland area in several restaurants and country clubs, including his externship at the historic, 86-year-old Italian Village, where he mastered Italian cooking.
This complements the classical French cooking he learned while pursuing a bachelor’s in culinary management at Kendall College in Evanston, Ill., where he sharpened his skills under the wing of a French chef with over 55 years of experience.
DeLuca has taken part in a variety of culinary contests and holds first and second place medals in jeune commis (young chef) mystery basket competitions as well as a silver medal in the American Culinary Federation professional mystery basket competition.
Noteworthy positions he has held include executive chef at Lambeau Field (home of the Green Bay Packers) and the Rock Gardens banquet facility in Wisconsin; sous chef at the Village California Bistro and Wine Bar at Santana Row and, most recently, he was responsible for opening a newly remodeled café at the Hewlett-Packard headquarters in Palo Alto.
Chef Mario’s strong commitment to delivering quality cuisine and the highest standards of customer service will fit in well with our existing team in the catering department. He will provide leadership and direction to the culinary production staff for the Student Union Food Court and commissary as well.
Spartan Shops is excited about the breadth of experience Chef Mario brings to our organization and we look forward to displaying an array of new menu items and improved recipes to showcase at both our university and off-site events.