Meet the New Sodexo Chef
Graland has a new executive chef after Raleigh Joyce was promoted to food service manager late last school year. Jennifer McDermott was born and raised in the south, where her first job was busing and waiting tables in a small restaurant called the Dixie Queen. She went on to culinary school at Johnson and Wales and was recruited to work as a chef at Glacier National Park in 2000.
Graland has a new executive chef after Raleigh Joyce was promoted to food service manager late last school year. Jennifer McDermott was born and raised in the south, where her first job was busing and waiting tables in a small restaurant called the Dixie Queen. She went on to culinary school at Johnson and Wales and was recruited to work as a chef at Glacier National Park in 2000.
“My father is a butcher and my mother is a nurse, so I look at it like taking care of people through food,” Jennifer explains. “I believe you put your integrity into it when you prepare food for others. My dad always told me it doesn’t matter what I do, as long as I care about it and do it with love.”
Jennifer brings her love of barbecue, fresh seasonal foods and small plate cuisine as well as a thoughtful approach to cooking for children.
“We’re not just cooking in a kitchen,” she says. “We’re responsible for providing nourishment to children so they can grown and learn.”
Fun to know: This summer, Jennifer cooked for professional athletes and youth players at the World Lacrosse Championship in Denver. She is still looking for a good southern-style barbecue restaurant and open to suggestions. If you have a favorite, let her know!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
