Food and Tennis: A match made in heaven
For many attendees, the U.S. Open is not only about tennis. Attending a match is a coveted culinary experience, where tennis buffs will find a spectacular array of local and international cuisine.
Food and beverage options are ubiquitous in almost every corner of the world’s largest tennis venue, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, Queens.
The mind-boggling number of eateries this year will include 70 concession stands, 78 food concession carts, and 7 restaurants—supported by 16 kitchens.
This complex symphony of flavors is orchestrated by collaboration between the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and its hospitality partner, Levy.
The 2024 U.S. Open Culinary Team
Chef Simon Kim, Founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management
The 2024 U.S. Open championships will take place from Thursday, August 26 to Sunday, September 8, 2024.
The returning lineup of celebrity chefs includes Michelin-starred Chef Ed Brown, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and James Beard award-winning Chef Kwame Onwuachi. The three will team up to create local and seasonal seafood dishes at Aces, the high-end seafood restaurant on the Club Level of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Michelin-starred and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli will return to her Mediterranean bistro, Fare, for a fourth consecutive year. Chef David Burke will return to Mojito by David Burke, serving Cuban-American fusion fare. Chef and TV personality Josh Capon will helm over Capon’s Fly Fish with its lobster rolls, tuna poke, oysters, and more.
Other returning favorites include Pat LaFrieda Meat Co., Champions by Benjamin’s Steakhouse, San Matteo NYC, Dos Toros Taqueria, La Casa de Masa, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Fuku, Eataly, Crown Shy, Korilla BBQ and Poke Yachty, Hill Country BBQ, King Souvlaki, Stacked Sandwich Shop, The Migrant Kitchen, The Nourish Spot, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the DOBEL® Tequila Club, and more.
Restaurateur Simon Kim who created the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse will make his debut on the Club level of the U.S. Open with signature dishes from his wildly popular Korean-inspired Better Fried Chicken restaurant.
What attracts the nation’s top chefs to a sports stadium? “It’s almost a chicken and egg situation, says Chris Studley, managing director of event services for the USTA National Tennis Center. “As the event grew, it attracted much more interest from celebrity chefs, and with the addition of the chefs, the event became even more spectacular.”
He notes that the cadre of famous chefs share a sense of camaraderie as opposed to a sense of competition. “Some of the chefs even describe their U.S. Open experience as ‘chef summer camp.’”
U.S. Open Fan Week: August 19-26, 2024
Last summer (2023), the U.S. Open finals welcomed more than 950,000 fans over 20 days, smashing attendance records at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. This number includes attendance at the sell-out main draw and at U.S. Open Fan Week.
The USTA has sponsored Fan Week since 2017 when admission is free and open to all fans. This year, Fan Week begins just before the finals, on Monday, August 19, and goes through Saturday, August 26, 2024.
Mindful that not everyone can snag a ticket to the U.S. Open, this is when the USTA sponsors special events, player practices, DJs, and Happy Hours, all of them free, to introduce the sport to a wider audience.
Saturday, August 25th, is Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day, which is free to families and features musical stars and the entertaining sports troupe Dude Perfect.
Flavors of the Open: Fit for Foodies
Martha Stewart (R) and her companion eat pretzels during a women’s final at the USTA National Tennis … [+]
However, the big draw for food lovers during Fan Week is Flavors of the Open, which will take place this year on August 22, 2024, at 6:30 PM.
With the purchase of a ticket from DOBELⓇ Tequila, attendees will be able to meet and interact with celebrity chefs, enjoy food demonstrations, and sample foods and beverages from the Open’s signature food purveyors.
The ticket price includes general seating inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, where fans can enjoy live music and entertainment, including top-tier tennis action, as they savor the tastes of the Open. A portion of the ticket price will support the USTA Foundation, the USTA’s philanthropic arm that provides tennis and academic programs to youth in under-resourced communities nationwide.
From celebrity chefs to sizzling street food, the culinary scene at the U.S. Open rivals the excitement on the court. So whether you’re a die-hard tennis fan or a foodie seeking adventure, Flushing Meadows promises a match made in gastronomic heaven.
This article was originally published by a www.forbes.com . Read the Original article here. .