Chef Scores Gold in the Kitchen with Olympians in Rio

LIVONIA, MI — He may not win any Olympic medals, but one of Michigan’s own is scoring big with the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams as they compete for gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

It’s hardly a tough gig to be anchored off the coast of Brazil in a cruise ship

that houses both teams, and working with a staff of culinary artists, but it does have it’s challenges, Shawn Loving said.

“The biggest challenge is getting comfortable in a new kitchen, building trust among a new brigade of culinarians,” Loving told Hometown Life. “You try to build a kind of momentum that helps them understand what you’re trying to accomplish."

There are other challenges for Loving and his staff, including dietary challenges of players with certain food allergies; players who adhere a vegan lifestyle, or players who are particular about their foods, but for the most part coming up with a menu while cooking in international waters, using international food, doesn’t present as much of a challenge as one might think.

“I take inventory of all their (likes) when I meet with them,” Loving said. “I check their flavor profiles, and build from that. Contrary to popular belief, they have a palate that extends past Americana.”

The Rio Olympics is Loving’s second time around with many of these athletes, having served some of them during the 2008 games in Beijing, during the 2010 world championships in Turkey and again in Madrid, Spain in 2014.

Loving, who has been on staff at Schoolcraft College since 2002 has chaired the culinary program at the college, got his Olympic opportunity through work he was doing with the Detroit Pistons.

Frank Ruggirello, Schoolcraft’s executive director of marketing and advancement, said Loving’s work with Team USA helps to bring exposure to the college and its culinary programs.

“It’s a great opportunity for Chef Loving,” Rugirello told Hometownlife. “And it’s great recognition for the kind of program we’ve built here at Schoolcraft.”

Image: Debra Drummond via Flickr / Creative Commons