BNP Paribas – Dining Options Expanded
The BNP Paribas Open is not only a showcase of the world’s best tennis, but an entire fan experience geared towards people from all over the world. The full days that fans usually spend at the tournament create a need for many dining options to provide for the thousands and thousands of people. Gilbert Verdugo leads a team of chefs from all over the country that work for Levy, the exclusive caterer for the BNP. ” We deal with an international clientele here, so we try to give them a variety of flavors, that appeal to every culture,” said Verdugo. “We have tacos we have house smoked barbeque pork, hand tossed salad, quiche, and we have sushi chefs on property that make sushi everyday.”
The Levy group is in charge of fourteen different stands throughout the grounds, and these aren’t your typical hot dog, hamburger stands. Each stand offers a unique type of cuisine ranging from pizza to gourmet salads and sushi. Also, to provide for health-conscious clients, there are vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
Fans have taken notice of the expanded options at the tournament. “It’s a lot of variety. If one day, we have to play tennis for two hours and it’s pretty hot out, you don’t want to fill up on a burger,” said tennis fan Robin Drummond. “You can get something light, which is always nice.”
“We’ve been coming here, probably six or seven years, and the variety’s increased over the years, so we think it’s really great,” said George Leblanc from Washington.
The Village, where many of the food vendors are located is adjacent to a large grassy area where fans can enjoy the great weather while eating their meal. There are also big screens for them to watch the action on all courts, creating a fan-friendly experience.
Most stands are open from 10 AM to 11 PM daily, giving fans lots of time to enjoy some great food.
