Hollywood Park Casino Introduces a Diverse Eating Experience to L.A. Poker Players

You wouldn't expect to find exotic food dishes like New Mexico chile linguine or roast leg of lamb on a card casino food menu, but they are now standard at Hollywood Park Casino.

In August, Hollywood Park Casino revamped its casino food operation to offer more variety, better food quality, and faster service to players. Included in the makeover is a smorgasbord of new menu items, a new Mexican food section, and an expanded deli with sit-down dining located on the poker floor.

The most welcome change, however, has been the addition of a new daily food special menu. Five different food specials are now offered on a daily basis, including a soup of the day, catch of the day, pasta special, Pacific Rim special, and chef's special. New items are featured each day for all five of the daily special categories on a rotating 27-day schedule. Recent specials included Peking duck with tofu and mushrooms, and cabernet braised lamb shank with choice of soup or salad, rice or potato, vegetables, and bread for $4.95.

Taro Ito, Hollywood Park Casino's vice president of operations, views the daily special food program as a "huge customer service improvement," adding, "The majority of our patrons play here on a regular basis. The variety of menu choices we now offer means that a player can enjoy a new, high-quality meal at a great price each time he visits."

The new daily food menu was developed and tested under the experienced leadership of Hollywood Park's Executive Chef Paul Peron. Born in Lyon, France, Chef Paul has more than 50 years of experience in food preparation. Poker players worldwide know Chef Paul from his days at The Bicycle Casino, where he created a similar players menu that is still popular there today.

The casino simultaneously upgraded its popular Derby Deli with a new kitchen, enabling it to expand its menu considerably. The new deli now offers fresh, cooked-to-order items, including Philly cheese steak, Mongolian beef, French fries, and more. Several daily food specials are also available, including a new prime rib sandwich from the new carving station.

Adjacent to the deli is a new sit-down dining area with imported travertine tile, black granite, and a large horse racing-themed mural. The unique new dining area is located on the poker floor and offers a convenient place to eat next to the heart of the action.