The Chevron Champions Dinner is an annual event that takes place at the Club at Carlton Woods in Houston, the host site of the Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the season. Hosted by the defending champion, the dinner features a curated menu that showcases the champion’s culinary preferences. This year, Nelly Korda fulfilled her hosting duties by crafting a menu that impressed attendees with its gourmet offerings. The dinner was attended by recent winners, veteran champions, and even former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.
The origins of the Chevron Champions Dinner are somewhat unclear, but it became more formalized in 2022 when Chevron assumed title sponsorship and enlisted super-chef Thomas Keller to oversee the menus. Keller, a renowned chef with two three-Michelin-starred restaurants, brought his expertise to the event, working closely with champions like Lilia Vu and Nelly Korda to create menus that reflected their cultural heritage. Vu’s menu paid homage to her Vietnamese roots, while Korda’s showcased her Czechoslovakian background.
Korda’s menu included a first course of bigeye tuna tartare with Regiis Ova hybrid caviar, sourced from a caviar company co-founded by Keller. This was followed by a cream of mushroom soup and a main course of herb-roasted filet of American wagyu beef with various sides. Dessert featured ovocné knedlíky, Czech-style dumplings with berries that Korda’s grandmother used to make. Keller’s version of the dessert was paired with vanilla anglaise, adding a unique twist to the traditional dish.
Guests at the dinner, including Lexi Thompson, Juli Inkster, and Lilia Vu, were impressed by the menu and applauded each dish as it was presented. Korda described the atmosphere as fun and lively, with plenty of banter and storytelling among the golf greats in attendance. Despite the lack of formal speeches, the gathering provided a unique opportunity for champions from different generations to come together and enjoy a memorable evening.
Korda expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with Thomas Keller and create a menu that represented her cultural heritage. She described the experience as a dream come true and praised Keller’s skills as a chef. The success of the evening was evident in the guests’ reactions and the clean plates that resulted from each course. Korda’s Champions Dinner was a resounding success, showcasing her dual talents on and off the golf course and solidifying her status as a rising star in the world of professional golf.
