Medinah CC’s Executive Chef Michael Ponzio chatted with NBC’s Gary Williams during the Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” about the club’s many culinary initiatives.
While Medinah (Ill.) Country Club is enjoying the limelight as host of the BMW Championship, the club’s culinary operation, led by Executive Chef Michael Ponzio, is also enjoying some well-deserved media exposure.
During the Golf Channel’s Morning Drive edition, NBC’s Gary Williams talked with Chef Ponzio about some of the featured dishes and culinary initiatives at the club.
“This guy might be the most important person on this property, not only this week, but all fifty-two weeks of the year,” said Williams during his introduction.
VIDEO: Eat like the players: Chef Ponzio shows off his gourmet dishes at Medinah
Since his arrival at Medinah, Ponzio has not only helped construct and run a garden with 25 raised beds but also built a 240-sq. ft. chicken coop that houses over 40 chickens. (See Cultivating a Culinary Garden.) During that time, he and his team have successfully shifted the culinary culture of the club to focus on high-quality, fresh ingredients that help to create outstanding dishes. In fact, Ponzio presented at the 2019 Chef to Chef Conference in New Orleans on the topic of hyper-local cuisine and member wellness.
See also: Medinah CC’s Surprising New Moves