Chef Inspirations – Women’s History Month

Potawatomi Hotel Casino Chefs celebrate Women’s History Month by sharing their stories and recipes of the women who inspired their culinary careers. 

Executive Chef Ben Jones culinary career grew from his love of ham and his grandmother Francis Jones.

Chef Ben said, “My grandmother was my main food inspiration.  Her ham was my favorite food growing up, in fact it was my first word, HAM!  My mom was not happy about it, but 3 days later I said Mommy so all good.

I would help baste the ham and glaze it once I was older.  She actually let me cook dinner at her house before I went to culinary school for my whole family and it was the first time I had cooked for any of them.  That was my first chance to show my family that I was serious about being a chef…. 29 years later still pretty serious about it!”

We hope you enjoy the recipe Chef Ben so graciously shared as we honor the women that have impacted our lives.

Ben’s Grandma Fran’s Glaze for Ham

2 cups ketchup
1 cup yellow mustard
2 cups Dark Brown sugar

Remove Ham from oven and turn oven up to 500f.  Un-cover the ham and brush with ½ of the glaze while the oven is heating up.    Place ham in the oven at 500f, and let the glaze start to bubble before removing and adding more glaze… this process should be done 2 times.