Maybe he has whipped you up a plate of spaghetti, saut?ed a little stir-fry, or even made you his special “du jour.” You can find him with his skillet, spatula, and his sense of humor behind the Griesedieck buffet line. He is Chef George.
Chef George Wilson has been working at Saint Louis University for 10 years. In his time at SLU, he has performed the culinary arts in the Busch Memorial Center, Reinert and DeMattias halls and Jesuit Hall. He has worked in Griesedieck Hall for the last two years.
You can have Chef George cook you up a little dish six days a week. He usually prepares food for the lunch and dinner rushes.
Chef George says he enjoys working in Griesedieck at these times because he is able to talk with students and co-workers as he works behind the counter.
“It is fun just being with them,” he said.
He admits that he enjoys working in Griesedieck and DeMattias most of all, but he is torn between his favorite.
“There are more students in this dining hall, so I get to kid and joke a lot,” he said, referring to Griesedieck.
He has worked in the culinary world for many years. Before coming to Saint Louis University, Chef George worked at Westwood Country Club as a cook.
“I was trained to be a maitre d’ and they took me through prepping and the whole 10 yards,” he said. His stepfather is also a cook.
In his spare time, Chef George enjoys martial arts and basketball. He is accomplished in both Tai Kwon Do and Kung Fu. He also enjoys building things and working on his car.
Deep-fried turkey, and liver and onions, are his favorite dishes to prepare. When asked about his secret recipes, he says that he has a couple, but he would rather not share.
“All cooks and chefs have their secrets,” he said, smiling, “but if I tell you I would have to kill you.”
So the next time you are craving a little stir fry or omelet, be sure to have Chef George create one for you. Or, if you’re tired of the salad bar and pizza, why not try one of the “Gries Place Specials.”
We may not have Julia Childs working in the Griesedieck Hall cafeteria, but Chef George knows how to spice up the menu.
