Andrew Brosten came to ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz., just last year from the prestigious Sanctuary on Camelback Resort in nearby Paradise Valley. Karsten, directly across the street from Arizona State University, is the home course for the highly successful Sun Devils golf teams, and is also promoted aggressively to the public by its operator, OB Sports, the Scottsdale-based management firm.
After arriving at Karsten, Andrew didn’t waste any time setting out to accomplish the goals he set for himself in his first Executive Chef position: to create an innovative menu that was not the “same old” golf club food, and to use his catering chef experience at Sanctuary to drive banquet sales at Karsten through Andrew Brosten his style of customizing each event.
CHEF PROFILE
Current Position:
- Executive Chef, Trophy Room, ASU Karsten Golf Course, Tempe, Ariz. (2012-Present)
Work History:
- Sous Chef—Banquets and Catering, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain,Paradise Valley, Ariz.(2005-2012)
- Cook, Santa Barbara Catering Company, Phoenix, Ariz. (2005)
Education:
- Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Associates in Occupational Studies, degree in Le Cordon Bleu
- University of Phoenix, Associates of Arts in Foundations of Business
Professional Accomplishments:
- Employee of the Month, 2008, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
- Assisted in the execution of meals at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain’s “Lunch and Learn” program with chefs Ming Tsai, Michel Richard, Robert Irvine, Patricia Yeo, Geoffrey Zakarian and Marcus Samuelsson
By introducing hard-to-ignore signature items like the “Boss Burger” (see recipe, opposite page), he has already made an immediate impact, and it’s easy to sense the excitement in “the Valley” that’s been created by Chef Brosten and his young and ambitious culinary team.
Q Chef, what were some of the first things you wanted to tackle upon arriving at Karsten?
A I wanted to change the perception of what golf “fare” could be and provide the public with an opportunity to see that eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a golf club doesn’t necessarily limit oneself to a turkey sandwich or a quesadilla. My team and I have shifted the previous focus on processed goods to sourcing seasonal and local ingredients for our guests. Our focus at Karsten now revolves around working with local companies, with a strong emphasis on making almost everything we offer in-house. (To view the Trophy Room’s new lunch menu, see the online version of this article at clubandresortbusiness.com.)
with Corona lime bbq sauce
Amt | Ingredient |
6-oz. | pretzel bun, sliced in half horizontally |
8-oz. | burger patty |
1 ½ ozs. | jalapeno jack cheese |
1 | poblano pepper—roasted, seeded, and skin removed |
2 pieces | jalapeno bacon |
1 oz. | Corona lime bbq sauce (see recipe below) |
2 ozs. | pulled pork |
1 | whole egg |
1 oz. | guacamole |
for the Corona lime bbq sauce:
Amt | Ingredient |
4 ozs. | bacon |
½ | yellow onion |
12 ozs. | ketchup |
1 ½ ozs. | white distilled vinegar |
1 tbsp. | Coleman’s dry mustard powder |
2 tsp. | chili powder |
1 tsp. | cayenne pepper |
2 tsp. | smoked paprika |
1 oz. | molasses |
2 ozs. | brown sugar |
to taste | fresh lime juice |
½ to 1 can | Corona Extra beer salt and pepper |
- Render bacon, add onions and caramelize.
- Add ketchup first, then remaining ingredients.
- Cook slowly for 30-45 minutes, then blend.
Final procedure:
- Season burger patty on both sides with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; place on heated grill. Grill on side for 5 minutes, then cook on other side for additional 4 minutes for medium-rare.While burger is cooking on second side, add Corona lime bbq sauce and jalapeno jack cheese.
- Toast pretzel bun, and place burger patty on bottom bun. Dollop guacamole on top side of bun.
- Using a non-stick sauté pan, add 1 tbsp. oil and whole egg. Turn heat to medium-high and season egg with salt and pepper. Once whites around the edges of the egg begin to cook, either flip in pan for over-easy, or place under broiler for sunny-side up.
- Top burger with roasted poblano pepper, pulled pork, cooked strips of jalapeno bacon, and egg. Gently place top bun on top; serve immediately.
Q. In your first year as Executive Chef, what’s been the most challenging aspect?
A. Changing the culture of the back-of-the-house and implementing new standards of food quality. The cooks I inherited averaged eight or more years of employment at Karsten, and while extremely efficient in their day-to-day responsibilities, were rote in their routine and hesitant to change. Slowly introducing new ideas and ingredients, while showing and explaining how and why we are doing the things we’re now doing, helped facilitate the growth of food knowledge and quality I now see in my kitchen. I couldn’t have done it alone, and my sous chefs, Danny Bailey and Kyle Roehrenbeck, have been instrumental in fortifying and growing the culture I first established.
Q. At one time or another, all of us have had an item or dish that has a funny origin or story behind it. Is the “Boss Burger” yours?
A. Yes, the “Boss Burger” is an original concept I came up with out of a need for sustenance—my sous chefs were hungry and wanted a burger. So I looked through the walk-in and line prep that we had available, and came up with the burger off the cuff. I gave them to my sous chefs, and one stated that it was “boss” and almost put him to sleep immediately after eating it. So when overhauling the lunch menu, I figured we might as well put it on the menu.
It has been warmly received by our guests, as I’ve seen a few pupils dilate once the burger arrives at their table. I’ve had the privilege to eat some of the best burgers the Valley has to offer, and have seen first-hand how having a flagship menu item elevates the exposure and word-ofmouth advertising. I believe the Boss Burger can be that signature item for Karsten, elevating our exposure not only in golf circles but across the Valley.
Under Chef Brosten’s direction, the Trophy Room restaurant at
the ASU Karsten Golf Course now features “seasonal and local
ingredients, with a strong emphasis on making almost everything
we offer in-house.”
Beef Tenderloin Crostini
with roasted garlic aioli and black garlic balsamic onions
Amt | Ingredient |
4-oz. | beef tenderloin, trimmed andsilver skin removed |
½ | French baguette, sliced 1/4″ thickroasted garlic aioli (see recipe below) black garlic balsamic onions (see recipe below) |
1 oz. | picked chervil sprigs |
for the roasted garlic aioli:
Amt | Ingredient |
1 cup | mayonnaise |
¼ cup | roasted garlic puree |
1 oz. | lemon juice |
1 tsp. | ground coriander salt and pepper |
Procedure:
- Combine all ingredients into mixing bowl and whisk until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. Adjust seasoning if needed.
for the black garlic balsamic marinated onions:
Amt | Ingredient |
2 | red onions, sliced 1/8″ thick |
1 oz. | oil |
2 ozs. | sugar |
4 ozs. | balsamic vinegar |
1 oz. | black garlic cloves salt and pepper |
- Sweat red onions in oil, season with salt and pepper, and cook until well caramelized (about 30 minutes).
- Add sugar and black garlic; allow liquid to reduce until au sec (about 15-20 minutes).
- Add balsamic vinegar and reduce until syrupy consistency is reached.
- Remove black garlic cloves, take off heat, and cool in/ on a perforated pan or bowl, with additional pan or bowl underneath to catch excess liquid.
Final procedure:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place ¼”-thick crostinis on parchment paper-lined sheet pan; drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in oven and bake until crisp throughout (about 10 minutes). Remove from oven and let stand at room temperature.
- Season beef tenderloin generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sear on all sides until well-browned (about 3 minutes).
- Place beef tenderloin in oven and let cook until the internal temperature is 125-130 degrees F (about 12 minutes). Remove from oven and let rest for additional 8 minutes (note: carry-over cooking will bring internal temperature of meat to medium rare).
- Spoon roasted garlic aioli onto crostini, add thinly sliced beef tenderloin on top, and garnish with balsamic onions and one sprig of chervil. Serve immediately.
Q What have you implemented on the party-menu side at Karsten that reflects your experience as Catering Chef at Sanctuary?
A I think it’s reflected through the thought process that’s now behind each element of a menu, as well as how my team and I now have the creative control to further enhance our guests’ experience at the drop of a hat. During my tenure at Sanctuary, I never liked the idea of having a static catering menu where there was no room for creative impulses to dictate where a dish could lead, and I think our catering packet at Karsten now reflects that attitude.
Q How much of an impact did working with Beau MacMillan at Sanctuary have on your career, and what stands out most in your mind as far as his teaching style?
A I consider Beau a friend and my culinary mentor. His seemingly limitless passion for food and his unwavering standards helped me realize just how special our industry is, and through hard work and perseverance, the sky is the limit. While culinary school provides a foundation, working in the field builds the house, and working with someone as talented and as driven as Beau has given me perspective on what I think food should and could be. What stands out most regarding his teaching style is his patience when making something for the first time, and the reasoning behind why and how we are using one technique, such as braising or roasting, over another.
Q Finally, Chef, what can you tell us about the OB Sports Operations Manual and how it gets tailored to themes that fit the many different regions where the company’s properties are located?
A The OB Sports Operations Manual encompasses standardized procedures, from payroll to employee relations programs. It combines basic information for employees regarding benefits and training assistance, while also providing policies and quality standards for OB Management to adhere to. As this manual is dispersed throughout all OB-managed properties, one can expect the same high level of customer service, from Oregon to Florida.
Jerry Schreck: is a member of the Club & Resort Business Advisory Board. Know someone you’d like to have Jerry interview for a future “Chef to Chef” conversation? Send your suggestions to [email protected]