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Chef Boyardee Statue

707 Congra drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68102 USA

Independent

“by Omaha sculptor John Lajba”

The task of bringing Chef Boyardee to life fell to Omaha sculptor John Lajba. Chef Boyardee isn't a cartoon or a corporate creation, Lajba said. “He was a human being.” Parents and grandparents might remember when the man himself appeared in most of the brand's television commercials. Hector Boiardi — he went by “Boy-ar-dee” because it was easier for Americans to pronounce — was a hotel chef and restaurateur before he opened a packaged Italian foods company in the 1920s. Boiardi died in 1985 at 87. ConAgra Foods acquired the company in 2000. Lajba used many photos of Boiardi for reference. “He was a man who had a lot of class and a lot of charm.”

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Reviewed by
bdonathan

1 Review
0 Helpful

June 14, 2022

Location changed to 707 Congra drive

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Reviewed by
cameronlogsdon

1 Review
0 Helpful

August 21, 2020

To begin telling the story of Chef Boyardee is to begin naming the stars. At first, the task comes easy, but stay too long at it and one might lose themselves in possibility and wonder. The statue, sturdy like a reliable wooden spoon atop a boiling pot of pasta, is tucked away in downtown Omaha, near enough the city, but close enough to home (the Con Agra business office which is an entirely unremarkable building). Chef is taller than one might think based on the crude photos available online-I suppose to capture the likeness of greatness is to count the wind-but he’s gotta be like 6’+, easy. Bronze, yes, but his smile, cheeks full of color. The hat atop his head stands with the confidence and pride of a statue that has surely changed the lives of many. If you haven’t been, GO. GO ON! Let the Chef cook up some excitement in your life. 10/10 raviolis.

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Reviewed by
Bailey Irene.

28 Reviews
3 Helpful

August 28, 2016

Found another traveling buddy.

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Reviewed by
dietzler

2 Reviews
0 Helpful

August 18, 2016

Rated 5.0

Right across the street from the Omaha Visitor's Center (which is terrific) -- you might as well walk the 100 feet for the photo op, especially if you grew up with Spaghetti Os.

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Reviewed by
amsule

14 Reviews
4 Helpful

August 27, 2015

Rated 4.0

We almost missed him! He is standing behind the ConAgra sign that is right at the corner of 10th and Farnam, facing southeast. Good for a photo op and to stretch your legs!

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