At the peak of the lunchtime rush on April 9, the Spice Goddess held court in a makeshift kitchen in Mary Graydon Center, the aroma of her famous “no butter” chicken beckoning passersby for a taste.

Celebrity chef and Food Network Canada host Bal Arneson—who came to AU through her affiliation with Compass Group USA, the parent company of Chartwells, AU’s dining partner—brought a taste of India to DC with one of her favorite dishes.

“When you have a favorite movie, you want to watch it again and again and again,” she said. “This recipe for me is my favorite movie. It’s my favorite story, and it’s so easy to cook.”

Arneson’s 20-minute demonstration of the recipe she perfected 15 years ago for her first cookbook, Everyday Indian, highlighted a full day of activities on campus. The culinary festivities also included an exclusive meet-and-greet for students and an AU Kitchen takeover.

Along with her “no butter” chicken, Arneson’s lunchtime menu included spiced coconut rice, garlic broccoli, kidney bean stew, lentils and rice, coconut chickpea bowls, and more. At dinner, TDR offered Arneson’s saag paneer, salmon with coconut, dal and spinach curry, spice rubbed chicken breast and tomato sauce, and garam masala spiced cauliflower.

Throughout the cooking event, Arneson engaged with her audience, answering questions about the best oils to use, the science behind cooking, and other kitchen tips.

“This was such a cool experience,” said Christina Inya, Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Certificate ’25, who attended the demo and learned how to julienne and dice onions while the food simmered. “I haven’t been to something like this in-person, but I love to watch cooking shows.”

This is the second year in a row that AU brought a celebrity chef to campus to engage with students. In 2023, the university hosted Food Network veteran Jet Tila.

During Arneson’s appearance, 5 percent of $446 in sales were donated to food insecurity initiatives on campus. Chartwells and the AU dining program also matched all 2,389 meal swipes in TDR, with proceeds going to the Eagles Helping Eagles program.

The visit is also part of broader holistic work to support students through unique events throughout the year.  

“As part of our Dining Program improvement work, we have committed to hosting a variety of special events for the AU community,” said Bronté Burleigh-Jones, CFO, vice president, and treasurer. “Events like Chef Bal’s visit to our campus help us build a sense of community by bringing us together to enjoy and explore different cuisines. Chef Bal’s work to build awareness of the health benefits of Indian cuisine, with its aromatic spices and flavors, is pioneering and special, and we were so excited to have her join us at AU.”

Arneson, who has a master’s in education and previously worked as a special education teacher, said she fell in love with cooking as a youngster. Today, sharing her love of food with students on college campuses remains a special part of her work.

“When [schools] ask me to come, I get so excited,” Arneson said. “I can never say no. No matter how busy I am, no matter where I am in the world, I will show up because I love students.”