Tennis culinary aces
High-end eateries take the food court at Open
Aroster of top chefs will join the tennis world’s biggest stars at the US Open in Queens next month — headed by the debut of restaurateur Simon Kim and his cult hit Coqodaq, Side Dish can reveal exclusively.
The Flatiron District hot spot — which featured Mayor Adams, Evan Mock of “Gossip Girl 2.0,” designer Phillip Lim, actor Ronny Chieng and rapper Busta Rhymes at its opening night party in January — has gained prominence for its Korean fried chicken dishes.
Kim the founder and CEO of Gracious Hospitality Management, the group behind Coqodaq and the Michelin-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse, which has outposts in Miami and the Flatiron District — told Side Dish he was excited to pair his passion for food with his newfound love of tennis, a sport he said he started playing during the COVID pandemic.
“We have the largest champagne list in America and we serve our [fried chicken] with champagne. It’s the high brow/low brow dichotomy that makes it such a dynamic offering — and perfect for the US Open,” said Kim, whose restaurant counts US tennis star Reilly Opelka as an investor.
‘ We can’t wait to serve our chicken nuggets. — Coqodaq owner Simon Kim’
‘Options aplenty’
Foodies will have several other mouth-watering options to choose from when the two-week tournament at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park begins on Aug. 26.
James Beard Award-winning Chef Kwame Onwuachi, the Nigerian-American author of “Notes from a Young Black Chef,” returns for a second year with a branch of his popular restaurant Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi, an Afro-Caribbean fine dining eatery at Lincoln Center.
“It’s such a big sporting event, part of a cultural moment, and it’s great to be part of an event that is so important to New York City,” Onwuachi tells Side Dish.
“So many people pass through to experience it. I’m just trying to give people an opportunity to try my food and culture at a place where it isn’t normally.”
At Aces, the fine-dining restaurant at the US Open, Onwuachi will be serving dishes like curry king crab, grilled fish dishes and fried branzino.
Another Michelin-starred chef, Ed Brown, and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will also be featured at Aces.
Out on the grounds, there will be kiosks helmed by the likes of Michelin-starred and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, who is back for her fourth year with Mediterranean bistro Fare; Chef David Burke’s popular Cuban-American fusion spot, Mojito by David
Burke, and Chef Josh Capon’s Fly Fish, offering lobster rolls, tuna poke and oysters.
‘Friendly rivalry’
Others participating include Pat LaFrieda Meat Co., Champions by Benjamin’s Steakhouse, San Matteo NYC, Dos Toros Taqueria, La Casa de Masa, Red Hook Lobster Pound and Hill Country BBQ.
The friendly rivalry among the chefs was one of the draws for Kim.
Coqodaq offerings will include Kim’s iconic “golden nugget,” with a caviar pairing, located on the club level of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Coqodaq will also have a black truffle/24-carat gold offering called “black gold.”
For deep-pocketed foodies, a golden nugget set will be served with a tin of caviar and bespoke mother-of-pearl spoons shaped like tennis rackets, engraved with the US Open, Kim said.
He added that, together with his chef, Seung Kyung Kim, they are also working on developing some exclusive US Open sauce offerings, along with summery frozen yogurt options, with flavors like blueberry or peach, still to be determined.
“We want to bring the best of New York City to the US Open,” Kim said. “It is a fierce competition with world-class players, and we can’t wait to serve our chicken nuggets.”
Those looking for a preview of the food options and a chance to meet their favorite chefs can attend the annual Flavors of the Open, presented by Dobel Tequila, which will be held Aug. 22 inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Tickets are $184 per person. The United States Tennis Association and its hospitality partner, Levy, are organizing the festivities.