U.S. Open serves up not just tennis, but also wide variety of food
NEW YORK (WABC) -- If you're headed to the U.S. Open, you probably think the big draw is the competition.
But there's another reason to love the event, and it has nothing to do with tennis.
There is a wide variety of dining options for the hungry fan, and we got a preview of this year's offerings.
Watch the volleying back and forth enough, and you'll work up an appetite. Luckily food does a bit of grandstanding at the U.S. Open.
There's a team of celebrity chefs serving up an array of food, like Chef Richard Sandoval.
"I used to be a professional tennis player, so being here at the U.S. Open now is a dream come true," said Sandoval. "I love tennis and I love food, so what better place."
He has two spots featuring his Mexican cuisine. Chef Tony Mantuano of Chicago brings his wine bar concept to the Open.
"You say wine bar at a sporting event, it's like where else could that exist but at a place like the U.S. Open," said Mantuano. "The guests that come here, the people that attend, they want great food and a world-class tennis tournament needs world-class food."
"There's no just, pick up a hamburger, there's a whole big story behind the hamburger. Every place has something special, something unique going on," said Chef Ed Brown, who started cooking at the Open more than two decades ago in tents.
Now there's a food village and 6 restaurants, including a pop up by Chef Michael White where you and your doubles partner can order a steak as big as a tennis racket.
"This is called the Tomahawk cut, which is actually the rib-eye, but it is a long bone of the rib-eye that usually would have a short rib on here but it's cleaned and we roast, this is 40 ounces," said White.
When people come to the U.S. Open they spend an average 7 hours there, plenty of time for one meal or even two.
"I was watching Nadal, he's so fit that I figured I had to jam down three tacos to try and get that body," one fan said.
It may take more than gourmet tacos for that.
