It's a little frustrating to have our team chef resign on such short notice, but I get it. We've had a running thing in the locker room about asking if the meals meet different dietary standards, just to be difficult, for a couple of seasons. "Does this have peanuts?" "No thanks, I'm trying to eat kosher." "Got anything gluten-free?" You get the idea.
There's a comprehensive list that gets updated every season unless the team doctor submits a note. None of the complaints have been serious, just guys picking on the kitchen staff because they went on a two month stint alternating between pilf and "Caesar" salads with boiled chicken, kale, and no cheese or dressing before anybody from management noticed and told them to cut it out. The last straw was upsetting a full menu plan with complaints, so the chef remade the entire menu and all new prep to accommodate everything we'd said that week, taking it all seriously, right in time for somebody to bring in turtle brownies for the Moms' trip. We made 60-something of those fudgey, caramel-covered, walnut-crusted squares disappear in seconds right in front of the kitchen window. In hindsight, I can see where that might've been too far.

Now we're doing a weekly rotation among the players, prepping and cooking for the team while management looks for a replacement chef to run the kitchen. As it's my turn and I'm an intermediate or beginner cook, I'm trying to keep it sort of simple. Monday is leg day, so light and high protein is good; grilled chicken, zucchini, and carrots. Tuesday is a game day, and we'll want carbs, so spaghetti and meatballs is a safe and traditional idea. Wednesday is a travel day with a more intense morning skate, so it calls for high protein but something that we can eat in transit. I'm thinkin' Cuban sandwiches; ham, pulled pork, salami, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles on a dense-crumb bread like baguettes (getting actual Cuban bread where we'll be is a little difficult). Made early, pressed on a grill, and stowed at room temp until lunch time. Thursday is another game day, so more carbs. Gonna mix it up a little bit with a salmon and veggie stir fry. Friday is practice with late afternoon travel, so light and high protein again. I want to try doing a chicken and yellow rice bake. One of my childhood teammates' mom used to make that for us and it was awesome. Saturday is another heavy practice and weight room day, so heavy carbs and protein. I think we'll round out the week with a steak and potato foil pack with steamed vegetables on the side. Sunday is an off-day, so I only have to do lunch for myself. It's usually my cheat day. Depending on how the week goes, I'm ordering Chinese takeout or pizza.