Jon Rahm has decided to bring his national and cultural heritage to the Champions Dinner of The Masters Tournament 2024, creating a menu that reflects the best of Spanish cuisine in general and Basque cuisine in particular. The menu was officially unveiled on Tuesday March 19 .
Rahm has the honour of hosting The Masters Champions Dinner in his role as defending champion, a tradition started by Ben Hogan in 1952. The menu he will serve in honour of past champions is so exquisite that it deserves a closer look.
Jon Rahm will be serving no less than six courses of tapas and pintxos, an indispensable part of the Basque table. We are talking about:
- Ibéricos (acorn-fed Iberian ham and cured pork loin).
- Idiazábal with black truffle (made with Idiazábal cheese, typical of the Basque Country and Navarre, and black truffle).
- Tortilla de Patatas (the famous Spanish omelette with potatoes and potato confit)
- Chistorra con patatas (traditional Basque chorizo sausage with potatoes)
- Croquetas de pollo (chicken croquettes, a staple of Spanish and Latin American cuisine)
- Rahm has added a family touch here, as the sixth tapas and pintxos dish is his own grandmother’s recipe for ‘lentejas estofadas’ (stewed lentils).
Although it may seem that it is time for dessert, the first main course will be just arrived, and Jon Rahm has chosen ‘Ensalada de Txangurro’ for it, a traditional Basque dish based on shrimp and potato salad. This is followed by the main course, where diners can choose between Chuletón a la parrilla (Basque ribeye with tudela lettuce and piquillo peppers) and Rodaballo al Pil Pil (turbot with white asparagus from Navarre).
If anyone is still looking for dessert after such a feast, Rahm reserves the cream and cream “milhojas” (ore mille-feuille). This is a traditional Spanish puff pastry filled with custard and Chantilly cream.
In general, non-American champions try to bring a bit of their own national culture to the Masters champions dinner. Without a doubt, Jon Rahm has more than achieved this goal with his menu.
Who will be invited to The Masters Tournament 2024 Champions Dinner?
The guests invited to The Masters Tournament 2024 Champions Dinner are not known with certainty, as the list has not been made official. However, the list of eligible former champions is as follows:
- Jon Rahm (2023)
- Scottie Scheffler (2022)
- Hideki Matsuyama (2021)
- Dustin Johnson (2020)
- Patrick Reed (2018)
- Sergio García (2017)
- Danny Willett (2016)
- Jordan Spieth (2015)
- Adam Scott (2013)
- Bubba Watson (2012, 2014)
- Charl Schwartzel (2011)
- Ángel Cabrera (2009)
- Trevor Immelman (2008)
- Zach Johnson (2007)
- Phil Mickelson (2004, 2006, 2010)
- Mike Weir (2003)
- Vijay Singh (2000)
- Mark O’Meara (1998)
- Tiger Woods (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
- José María Olazábal (1994, 1999)
- Fred Couples (1992)
- Ian Woosnam (1991)
- Nick Faldo (1989, 1990, 1996)
- Sandy Lyle (1988)
- Larry Mize (1987)
- Bernhard Langer (1985, 1993)
- Ben Crenshaw (1984, 1995)
- Craig Stadler (1982)
- Fuzzy Zoeller (1979)
- Tom Watson (1977, 1981)
- Raymond Floyd (1976)
- Tommy Aaron (1973)
- Charles Coody (1971)
- Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)
- Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978).
The dinner is reserved for The Masters champions only. However, some members of Augusta National are occasionally invited, such as the chairman of the club, who usually attends.