The Hon. Kelley Kostin, 52-2 District Court Judge, hosted some special guests in her courtroom recently, including a chef for the American Olympics team.
It was a family visit ? Chef Daniel Moakes lives with Kostin’s niece, Emily Hunter, in England.
“It’s an exciting time, celebrating his selection to the Olympic team,” Kostin said. “It’s pretty cool.”
“Emily told us about the Olympic team ? it’s such a wonderful opportunity,” said Robert Kostin, Kelley’s husband. “I’m astounded with the size of the project, all the food the athletes consume – it boggles the mind.”
Moakes and the rest of the staff of Touch of Taste, based in Oxfordshire, England, will prepare about 750 meals a day, about 76,000 total, for about 200 American athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympic games in London, July 27-Aug. 12.
“We’ll be pretty busy,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing, a good opportunity. We’ve very honored. We’ll get them anything they need to get more medals.”
Athletes have very strict dietary requirements during the games, he said.
“Loads of different regimes for different sports,” he said. “We’ll cook anything, pasta, grilled, low sodium, some twice a day, some six times a day.”
Emily is the daughter of Kelley’s identical twin, Shelley. She grew up in Wiltshire, England, and Moakes is from Shropshire in northern England.
“I was working at a pub and Dan came in as chef,” she said.
“I tell people my aunt is a judge and my uncle is a lawyer, so be careful,” Hunter said.
Moakes has been cooking since he was 17 years old, about 15 years, preparing meals for restaurants, events, and people including Elton John and Queen Elizabeth.
“I love living with a chef,” Hunter said.
The Kostins will try to make the trip to England next summer to visit the family and see the games.
“It would be nice to go there and see everyone,” said Shay Kostin, Kelley and Robert’s son. “I haven’t seen them in a couple years.”