With the popularity of the Premier League growing a lot in Brazil in the past few years, some media outlets are keeping permanent correspondents in England, especially in London and Manchester.
And as the league’s fans are often curious about the job, ESPN even launched a podcast called ‘Correspondentes Premier‘, where journalists have a chat about their day-to-day life in the country.
Now in a very interesting story, especially if you’re hungry, website UOL have an article talking about the food offered by Premier League clubs to journalists, and at some grounds it’s evolved from a pie.
João Castelo Branco, who’s been ESPN’s correspondent for over fifteen years, claims that there are three special clubs who must be praised for their food.
“I’ve been to practically every Premier League stadium and there are definitely three highlights in regards to the food they serve: Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea,” Castelo Branco says.
“Manchester City and Arsenal give beer after the game, but since I can never enjoy that part, because I work late and finish when it’s all closed, I’ll point to Chelsea as the best in this aspect, by far, for the quality and variety of food.
Chelsea and Stamford Bridge picked as a favourite by Natali Gedra, who’s Castelo Branco’s partner at ESPN: “Although Arsenal has a very nice buffet, I prefer Chelsea’s. First of all, the salads and the antipasti are very good, they change, but it’s never so so, the desserts are always great, and that counts for me a lot (laughs).”
But there’s a least favourite as well, and that’s from the Premier League greatest champions. Manchester United’s food doesn’t please Fred Caldeira, Esporte Interativo’s journalist: “It’s a matter of expectation versus reality. You can’t put the Leicester and Manchester United in the same boat. Because of this balance, the service of United falls short. Not that it’s bad, but stays behind others I’ve experienced like Manchester City and Arsenal.”
The same is opinion is shared by the ESPN correspondents. Castelo Branco says the Manchester United food “is not usually very nice to be honest. There’s less option and it’s not the best. I don’t rate it”.
And Gedra confirms: “It’s really the most simple.”
But all the journalists are happy with the treatment they receive in the Premier League, as they tell stories about Brazilian clubs who couldn’t even offer water on a hot afternoon. “It seemed that the press was just accepted in there and was not part of a relationship at work, as the Premier League is keen to build,” Caldeira says.
Expecting something similar, Castelo Branco tells a funny story about his early days as a correspondent: “The first game I worked here was at the Emirates, and I was worried we’d be in the stadium for a long time, because I arrive early and leave late. So I took a baguette of bread with pâté in my backpack. I got there and there was a great buffet (laughs).”
To check the food offered by Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, check UOL’s story.
