Kentucky Derby head chef reveals the one thing on the menu that will never change at Churchill Downs

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! At Churchill Downs, Robert Lopez's job is to feed Kentucky Derby guests through an all-day bourbon-fueled marathon while preserving the traditions they arrived for — while still giving them something new to remember."There's no changing the mint julep," Lopez said.That tension between tradition and reinvention sits at the heart of the Kentucky Derby menu.PAULA DEEN REVEALS THE KENTUCKY DERBY TRADITION SHE LOVES MOST — AND IT'S NOT THE FOOD OR DRINKSLopez, now in his fourth year as head chef at Churchill Downs, said that balance is what makes the job distinct."Churchill Downs in and of itself — and the Kentucky Derby — is something that is second to none," he said. "There is nothing in my career that I can compare it to." The mint julep is the traditional cocktail served at the Kentucky Derby. (Churchill Downs)Before arriving in Louisville, Lopez came from Formula One and thought he understood major-event hospitality. The Derby, he said, was something else entirely.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESBetween the Kentucky Oaks and Derby races, Churchill Downs serves upward of 170,000 to 200,000 guests, supported by about 130 senior- and executive-level chefs brought in from around the