Name: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at the World Series of Poker.
Age: It’s been an issue ever since the first seven players sat down to play in 1970.
Appearance: Stale $20 hot dogs and $5 bananas.
What’s the beef? Stop talking about food — you’re making me hungry, and the WSOP is something of a let-down when it comes to cuisine.
C’mon, Las Vegas has some of the best food in the country. That may be true, but just try finding a good option when you — and your whole tournament field — goes on dinner break… and has to be back ready to play in an hour.
If there are more than 6 of you I’d recommend a family-style place. How about if there are 1,200 of us?
I guess you could try pushing a couple of tables together. Try a couple of hundred. The problem isn’t just a lack of nearby options to seat and feed the masses, or the lack of time, it’s also the quality and the price.
How about the WSOP kitchen at the Horseshoe? That’s right in the thick of it. According to Christina Gollins it’s too much like ‘the cafeteria at middle school’, with ‘stale $20 hot dogs.’
So what’s the solution? Norman Chad suggested a Dim Sum trolley in the tournament area, but something tells me that would cause more problems than it would fix. Imagine the line for the restrooms on a break; now picture that snaking through the tables as 200 players wait for an order of dumplings.
I see. Sounds like quite a pickle. I thought I warned you: stop talking about food.
There are plenty of fast food options just outside the Horseshoe or downstairs in the food court. Just go there: piece of cake. Cake? That’s your final warning. And remember, the WSOP is almost two months’ long: that much fast food isn’t great, especially when you’re sitting down all day making difficult decisions for potentially millions of dollars.
Sounds like packing your own meals could be the smart play. Many do just that, but even so it can be tricky to plan ahead when your days are focused on trying to win a bracelet, and don’t discount the benefit of a hot meal after playing all day.
Is there some kind of guide to cheap and easy eats near the WSOP tables? PokerOrg’s Lee Jones has some cheap food recommendations. It takes a little forward planning, but it can help you stay cool as a cucumber when you’re trying to bring home the bacon.
Now you’re doing it. You’re right, I give up. That’s lunch, everybody!
Do say: “Could you tell me the way to the nearest CVS? I hear their bananas are $1”
Don’t say: "Anyone want to buy this CVS banana for $4?"
