Face of Dining
Saracen Development LLC & Saracen Casino Resort
Todd R. Gold, Director of Food and Beverage
At Saracen Casino Resort, you’re likely to feast like royalty throughout the day, thanks to Chef Todd R. Gold, Director of Food and Beverage. What makes Saracen’s culinary department special is its commitment to food and beverage excellence. It is Saracen’s belief that it will become the culinary and hospitality destination in the region and in the state.
Gold lives by the motto that “the customer is always right.” When Gold was 15 years old, he was a dishwasher at Bruno’s Little Italy.
“I remember thinking, it would be incredibly cool if I could be the pizza maker and learn to toss the dough up into the air,” Gold says. “Here we are 33 years later, and I still think that’s cool — that’s where it all began.”
As a child, Gold struggled in academics, but it was his grandfather’s advice that hard work and doing his best would get him further than academics alone. Gold took that advice to heart, and his hard work paid off professionally and academically, as well. Today, Gold has been successful in the opening of Saracen Casino and Resort, and is the President of the American Culinary Federation, Central Arkansas Chapter and Advisory Board Chairman for the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute.
Additionally, Gold served as the Associate Dean and South Site Director at UA-PTC from 2006 through 2020 and as President of the Arkansas Culinary School since 1995— 25 years total with the culinary school. Throughout his 33-year career, Gold has received numerous awards and recognition for his culinary talents and dedication to the advancement of the profession.
Gold is committed to educating and cultivating the skills of Arkansas’ next generation of culinary professionals.
Saracen Development LLC & Saracen Casino Resort • 870.329.7412 • saracenresort.com
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