A Look Inside NFL Training Camp: What It Takes to Feed an NFL Team
The NFL regular season is just getting under way, but for the FLIK teams supporting NFL training centers the “season” started well in advance. Getting the nine NFL teams we support fueled through the long, grueling days of training camp takes months of preparation and a lot of food. Now that they are on the other side of the grind, we wanted to share some of the impressive numbers and highlights. Here's a quick look at the breakdown of what actually comes out of our kitchens
John Joffe, Food Service Director at the New Orleans Saints, really describes it well when asked about his favorite part of camp, “The energy and optimism. It's kind of like ‘back to school.’ Everyone is super-excited, and the feeling is palpable. After all, they're all undefeated in the beginning.”
Patrick Stark, Director of Dining Services for the Indianapolis Colts, looks forward to camp all year; his team moves off site for camp.
”My favorite part of Camp is when we have everything moved in and ready to go for the guys. It really feels like we have gone to summer camp and the morale and excitement is high anticipating the arrival of the guys.”
While feeding players and coaches is the main priority our culinary teams, we also feed front office staff, sponsors, and fans. Several of our teams provide catering and concessions for open fan practices and VIP events. Some teams feed several thousand people in one day. Preparation is the key to success.
Paige Sullivan Executive Chef at the Minnesota Vikings describes her feelings on getting ready.
“I really love menu planning and working with our dietitian on what items are going to go over best with the players, which largely depend on their practice and meeting times. I also look forward to the challenge of staying organized and keeping my team in good spirits.
This is without a doubt the hardest part of the season for myself and everyone on my team. I truly have the best, most talented culinary team in the NFL, and I do everything I can to make sure they feel valued and supported in this challenging time.”
We use the long hours of training camp to get to know the players and their families, hosting cooking classes, culinary challenges, and family BBQs. Family BBQs are a favorite part of camp for several of our chefs.
“Each year we do a large family BBQ. We bring in food trucks and work closely with an event planner. Everyone really loves the event, and it is a great way to break up the everyday routine of training camp,” says Angelo Basilone, Executive Chef at the New York Giants.
James Sirles, Executive Chef at the Philadelphia Eagles loves the fact that the FLIK families are invited to camp. He says his favorite part is Family Day, “when we can invite our families to camp for a day and they get to experience the team practicing.”
Eating at the same place three plus times a day might seem boring for some, but our chefs put their creativity to the test to make sure menu fatigue never sets in.
Jessica Giglia, Executive Chef at the New York Jets said utilizing her creativity is her favorite part of camp.
“My favorite part of camp is the theme meals we do each week where we do an exciting meal like seafood extravaganza and really blow it out to surprise the guys and bring up team morale.”
Knowing that we play a small role in getting the teams we serve ready for the season makes all the long days worth it. Lavelle Cisco, Director of Dining Services at the Cleveland Browns, feels the same way.
“Knowing that we play a small part in their daily regimen, helping them to meet their nutritional goals is my favorite part of camp.”
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At FLIK Hospitality Group we believe in great food, great service, and great people. Our wellness first approach ensures our food supports healthy and delicious choices, specially curated by our team of culinary experts and registered dietitians. At FLIK, we believe in seasonality in sourcing our ingredients and providing a customized approach to the culinary and hospitality needs of each client. Our dedication to providing quality hospitality service is unparalleled in the industry.
Have feedback or questions for our team? Email us at flikblog@compass-usa.com.
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