Chase Sapphire’s ‘Dinner On The Court’: A Slam Dunk In Experience Innovation

I had a night out at the home of the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Not for a NBA basketball game, but for a spectacle just as innovative as one of Steph Curry’s pregame trick shots. Chase Sapphire recently orchestrated what can only be described as a dinner to remember with a unique gathering called Dinner on The Court presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Infatuation. The concept was simple yet evocative — luxurious dining on the hallowed courts of basketball arenas. As a writer whose heart beats at the intersection of sports and luxury, this was an event I not only attended, but one that struck me with its finesse and commitment to redefining experiences at the crossroads renowned for competition – the sports arena.

The event in partnership with Infatuation SF symbolized the coming together of those with a discerning taste for premium experiences and a passion for the social nature of sports. Although participation was an exclusive privilege, it brought into focus deeper themes of community and broadening the idea of what luxury is.

Pre-Game Warmup

Guests entered through a special entrance at the Chase Center which led to the JP Morgan Club, an all inclusive space usually reserved for fans with V.I.P. Tickets. On this night everyone was better than V.I.P. - we were Chase Preferred. Upon entering the club, patrons were greeted with Krug Champagne and handed a card to fill out our name and initials for a “special gift.” As I walked through the club I noticed there were pouring La Fête wines in which, funny enough, Chris Paul is an investor. What isn’t funny is I completely forgot he was going to be at the event so when I heard a voice behind me say, “Can you pass me that bottle?” I can only imagine the initial surprised face I made when I turned around and it was Chris Paul. I played it cool (I think), gave him the black person nod, and said, “I got you, brotha.” After raising a glass with a La Fête Rose to toast the evening, I walked over to find out about my special gift. Turns out it was a Mark & Graham Overnight bag with an added bonus. There were embroidering machines on-site so every guest would have their initial sewn into their new bag and delivered to their seat on the court.

A Court Unlike Any Other

Enter through the players' tunnel, take your seat at center court, and dine on a carefully curated menu that's as elite as the athletes that usually grace these grounds. That was essentially the promise of the evening, and it was delivered. The event was exquisitely designed to make the otherwise boisterous and bustling basketball court a paragon of sophistication. A huge reason for that was Brandon Jew. The Executive Chef and Owner of Mister Jiu’s, a contemporary Chinese American restaurant in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. He prepared a four-course dinner with signature dishes from his one Michelin starred restaurant:

First Course

Razor clams, white asparagus. green garlic, fermented black bean

Second Course

Chongqing style Black Cod, liang pi, snap pea, sesame

Third Course

Stemple Creek Braised Beef shank, scallion pancake, fava bean paste, cilantro

Dessert

Lemon and chrysanthemum ice milk with ginger and snow lotus

‘I’m so honored to be creating a menu here at the Chase Center for the first Dinner on the Court Series, especially as the only Michelin starred Chinese restaurant in America. San Francisco’s Chinatown is a huge inspiration to us. It's an incredibly special place with rich history and we hope to continue the legacy of restaurants here, as well as to usher in the next generation of food. We gave it everything we’ve got and had a lot of fun doing this. Thank you to Chase Sapphire and The Infatuation for this opportunity!” - Chef Brandon Jew

Game Winning Shot

Beneath the spotlight usually reserved for last-second shots and buzzer-beaters, the night's usual clamor was replaced with the mellifluous hum of appreciation for fine dining and engaging conversation. As the evening was coming to an end I snapped a few more photos with the Golden State Warriors Championship trophies as guests counted down the last few seconds of the night. Event staff dropped off guests newly embroidered bags with an added gift inside, an official Golden State Warrior jersey and Mister Jiu’s Cookbook.

As I strutted of the court at the evening’s conclusion a couple things crossed my mind:

1. Damn, this was great! They totally won with this event series.
2. As far as basketball debates go, I have a new one. Who cooked it up more on the Chase Center court in San Francisco, Chef Jew or Chef Curry?