Patina ensures there’s a taste of Rochester at PGA Championship

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Fish has been procured from Asia, the beef for hamburgers is fresh, not frozen, and a host of culinary specialists from various Patina Restaurant Group properties flew into Rochester to ensure the dining expectations of golf fans are exceeded during the PGA Championship.

Part of that experience includes providing a taste of Rochester at seven on-course concession markets, in 34 corporate chalets and 27 suites, and at Club PGA.

Sort of a “when in Rochester, dine like a Rochesterian.”

That’s why Patina, the official catering group of the PGA Championship, has products from several area businesses, including Zweigle’s (Rochester), East Hill Creamery (Perry), Muranda Cheese Co. (Waterloo), Leo’s Bakery and Deli (East Rochester), Seaway Trail Honey (Brighton), Ridge Donut Café (Irondequoit), Cindy’s Grape Pies (Naples), Fee Brothers (Rochester), Black Button Distilling (Rochester) and Wegmans Food Markets.

“That’s the world we wanted to live in,” said Eric Babcook, general manager for Patina. “We did several site visits and tried different restaurants, wanting to find out, ‘What does Rochester, Buffalo and Western New York enjoy.’ ”

Ridge Donuts won’t be at the general concession markets, largely because such a small business couldn’t meet demand for fresh bakery goods on a daily basis. Instead, their donuts will be served in chalets and suites.

The suites will also feature chocolates from Watson’s Chocolates in Buffalo — complete with the PGA Championship logo.

Patina Restaurant Group is a division of Buffalo-based Delaware North Companies and operates a host of fine dining experiences across the country, from Disney properties in Orlando and Anaheim to the Empire State Building in New York City.

Delaware North provides concessions at a multitude of athletic venues, casinos and airports, including Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park and Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

From the Grammys to the Emmys, catering major events is nothing new for Patina. But with 225,000 spectators expected to flood Oak Hill this week, the company needs a small village to meet dining and drinking demands.

That’s why personnel from nearly every company locale are lending a hand this week at Oak Hill.

“We’re tapping into the breadth of the entire Delaware North operation,” said Charlie Roberts, director of public relations for the company. “It’s really all hands on deck.”

Patina will deploy approximately 700 personnel each day of PGA Week to prepare, cook and serve food and beverages, and they’ll work on a 24-hour cycle, Babcook said.

The company expects to serve 312,000 beers, 80,000 hamburgers, 75,000 hot dogs and 5,000 drinks made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

Unlike most events, the food and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price of a ticket, so there likely will be a need for more items than your usual golf major, since money is no object.

Babcook said estimates on needs were produced through Delaware North analytics.

The all-in-one ticket debuted for the four days of tournament play at the 2022 PGA Championship in Tulsa and has been extended to include the practice rounds at Oak Hill.

“Patina Restaurant Group has completely transformed the golf industry,” Babcook said.

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