Indiana University's Residential Programs and Services' catering division is adding some local flavor to its staff.
RPS announced last week Bloomington chef and nine-time James Beard Award semifinalist David Tallent will head up Traditions Catering as its new executive chef.
Tallent operates Restaurant Tallent, a restaurant whose cuisine emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients.
It's that "vision for culinary selections" — in tandem with a desire for opportunities to hold more "high-impact" events on campus — that led the university to bring Tallent on as executive chef, RPS Executive Director Pat Connor said.
Tallent wants to expand Traditions' operations to include more recruiting dinners and special events for faculty and other university guests, he told the Herald Times.
"Coming to IU is a terrific opportunity to continue and expand on the catering I have been doing with the university for years," Tallent said in a statement. "I am very excited to bring my relationships with our local farmers to Traditions as well."
Tallent says he'll continue to run his Bloomington restaurant in addition to serving as Traditions' executive chef.