Theoretically, my lack of television could put a damper on my Olympic spirit. Luckily the internet and a friend with a DVR are keeping me completely in the loop. I’m filling up on as much swimming, diving and gymnastics as I can, but I’m open to watching anything.
However, I’m generally much more interested in food than sports. Luckily, the internet has been good enough to combine the 2 for me.
Among countless other things, the organizers of the Olympics have to provide 14 million meals for athletes and spectators. Civil Eats has a very interesting piece on where the food is coming from, what’s being served and how they’re making it happen.
The Olympic Dining Hall sounds fascinating. “It’s a 5,000-capacity, 24-hour facility where organizers expect 25,000 loaves of bread, 232 tons of potatoes, 75,000 liters of milk and more than 330 tons of fruit and vegetables to be consumed by the time the Games finish on August 12.” It’s all free. CNN has the details of what’s served and various athlete’s eating habits.
3 of the big sponsors of this year’s Olympics are McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury’s. Marion Nestle argues on Food Politics that fast food and junk food companies shouldn’t be sponsoring.
Supertaster James Norton decided to try out McDonald’s and Coke as fuel for his psuedo-Olympic trials. Apparently they’re not an excellent source of fuel. Who knew?
The Kitchn thinks that an international-themed potluck would be a great way to celebrate the Olympics and they are recipes to help make it happen. If I was more organized, I think it’d be a fun closing ceremonies party.
If international food isn’t your thing, maybe this Olympic rings themed party on Serious Eats would be more to your liking?
If You Can Make This You Can Make That has the instructions for making Olympic onion rings–in the Olympic ring colors.
If a full English breakfast sounds appealing, Food Republic has the recipe for you.
If you want to carbo-load like an Olympian, CNN’s Eatocracy has some restaurant suggestions to help you out, from a 2,000-Plus-Calorie Pizza to a 1,500-Plus-Calorie Breakfast.
My international travel so far all happened between 2002 and 2008 and in those 6 years I visited London 3 times. This Serious Eats post “10 Must-Eat British Foods During the Olympics” just makes me want to go back again. As does Chow’s list of London’s best pubs.