The appetite at the WM Phoenix Open is almost as substantial as the crowd it draws each year. As one of the grandest events on the PGA Tour, the tournament along with its affiliated entertainment at the Coors Light Birds Nest festival, are expected to satiate the culinary cravings of approximately 700,000 attendees. Phoenix's M Culinary Concepts is at the helm of this mammoth task, serving up a staggering accumulation of provisions that include 114,000 chicken wings and 2,500 gallons of ranch dressing, allegedly enough to fill four hot tubs.
According to Phoenix New Times, M Culinary Concepts, a veteran in fielding the gastronomic pleas of the Open for the past 25 years, is prepared to quickly serve a multitude of dishes ranging from 37,000 salmon filets to 76,500 cookies. Co-founder and chief culinary officer of M Culinary Concepts, Michael DeMaria, told Phoenix New Times that pulling off such a large-scale operation is a result of a flawless choreography involving approximately "950 total staff working the event" and a network of kitchens strategically positioned across the expansive course.
The synchronization doesn’t just stop there. Phoenix Business Journal reports that M Culinary has had to expand beyond local facilities and procure some resources out-of-state due to overlapping with another titan event—Super Bowl Sunday. Doug Janison, managing partner at M Culinary, highlighted that the firm had to ship additional equipment in from out of state, acknowledging the pressure it puts on budgets, but ensuring that "the WM Phoenix Open budgets are set."
Those working behind the scenes, such as Michael Stavros, director of BizDev for M Culinary, are well aware of what it takes to feed the masses during such a busy time, and to consequently operate on more than just a catering level. Stavros disclosed to Phoenix Business Journal, "For at least one week out of the year we quit being a catering company and become a logistics company." The Phoenix Open sees its fair share of action beyond the greens, with M Culinary also catering to Super Bowl crowds, hosting a minimum of two Super Bowl-related events every night leading up to the big game.
Despite the behind-the-scenes frenzy, M Culinary's efforts ensure that the front-of-the-house experience for attendees remains top-notch. From macaroni and cheese at the Bay Club to freshly shaved deli meat sandwiches at Skybox 16, hunger is certain to meet its match. It's clear—no guest at the 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open will be leaving the tee boxes with an empty stomach.
