Scoreboard Gourmet

wine, golf, onion sandwiches and mario batali

bits of espn.com's Q+A with Mario Batali by Max Klinger...

Do you play [golf] with other chefs? Who is the best golfer you know that is also a chef?

Yes, I do. Michael Schlow is probably the best. He owns a restaurant in Boston called Radius. He definitely has skills on the links.

Some sports are known for food: football and tailgating, baseball and hotdogs, what kind of food goes with golf?

It really depends on the venue. Some places have some really fascinating traditions. At The Masters they have these little onion sandwiches. Those are interesting.

The best clubhouse you've ever eaten in?

The restaurant at the Royal Mougins course in the Cote d' Azur region of France. That place was grand, a truly gorgeous dining room that overlooks the course.

If Tiger were a bottle of wine, what would he be?

A '74 Barolo. The best wine from the best vintage in Italy's most renowned region. It's big and powerful, but has a lot of finesse.

Miguel Angel Jimenez's only requirements for the team room in the Ryder cup were "Rioja wine, an espresso machine, and cigars." Would you suggest some specifics for him?

For the wine I'd say a Rioja from a bodega called Muga, espresso made with a Nespresso machine, and, of course, a Churchill cigar.

Tailgating in Style: luxury RV, private chef, premiere sports events

I knew there was some exciting stuff going on inside the RV's at Daytona. Here's something I just learned: any/all luxury coach owners can become members of the Featherlite VIP Club (even if your make is not Featherlite).

Why is that cool? Because Featherlite hosts various events for the members - including NASCAR, Kentucky Derby, and U.S. Open Golf rallies - and we're not talking day-old burgers in a steamer. VIP Club membership is Free; there are fees to attend the organized events. Contact the Featherlite VIP Club: 888-826-8273 or vipclub@fthrc.com.

Here's an example of the pampering: Private Chef Caterer Chef Albrich provides several days worth of meals for the VIP Club at the Daytona 500 (and at Homestead). Everything - shrimp, crab, sushi, filet of pork, filet of beef, fish, truffle mashed potatoes, mango and guava cheesecakes - is made on premise. As the Chef Albrich people say, this is tailgating at its finest.

Specializing in events such as multi-day motor sports races, bike rallies and golf tournaments, Miami-based Chef Albrich knows how to serve up VIP fare. Want to know more? Contact: marketing@chefalbrich.com or 305-817-2955.
pictures from the 2008 Daytona 500 courtesy of Chef Albrich

Arnold Palmer, An

Many people know that an Arnold Palmer is one of my favorite drinks. And now it's available in bottle or can thanks to the good (read: high fructose corn syrup loving) people of Arizona Iced Tea. According to them, this "tee" is a beverage Arnold "enjoys frequently."

For the sake of Scoreboard Gourmet, I overlooked the HFCS and gave Arnold Palmer a try. And for the people who have been asking for pictures of me, here's one of me actually consuming the ultra-sweet, chemical-tasting tea-lemonade. I just had a haircut and I'm standing in Mercer County Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder.