Ken Bredeson initially entered the culinary world to support himself through a law degree, having no idea the kitchen would take him as far as it has over the 30 years since. Five years ago, Bredeson was approached to help establish Forbes-worthy food and service at Oaklawn Hot Springs. With experience under his belt at two other large properties prior to Oaklawn, Bredeson accepted the challenge and, he said, “the rest is history.”
“I love bringing great food and experiences to our guests,” he said. “I want guests to have a culinary adventure, from the best wings in the state at Mainline Sports Bar and Silks Bar & Grill to exploring their palate with A5 Japanese wagyu or Spanish octopus. I feel it’s our goal to create a culinary passport for each of our guests to travel around the world without having to leave Oaklawn.”
Dining is a central pillar of Oaklawn’s one-of-a-kind property-wide experience. At Forbes-recommended fine-dining spot The Bugler, Bredeson said guests can take an international journey, from the Southern Pacific rim to Italian and modern American fusion food. The OAK room & bar, meanwhile, offers Southern classics with a French twist. Whether upscale or casual, the service at every Oaklawn dining establishment is held to the highest standard. Preparing food for others, Bredeson said, is both a craft and an art.
“You need to have the right tools, know the materials that you are working with and, lastly, know your audience,” he said. “Saying that, we as chefs must also give our guest options that consistently push or nudge them out of their comfort zones. This way, they have the opportunity to experience something new or something from the past that has been revisited.”
Bredeson said his focus remains to build an overall culinary and service experience that constantly exceeds guest expectations, as well as to redefine what that kind of service looks like for Oaklawn, Hot Springs and Arkansas itself.
“At Oaklawn, we can offer a complete package of all these things, from over 125 years of continued high level premium horse racing to manicured landscapes and entertainment to food and service experiences that are some of the best in the country,” he said.
2705 Central Ave., Hot Springs — oaklawn.com
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