While Paris focused heavily on plant-based menus and sustainability in the 2024 Summer Olympics, Italy has gone for something simpler for the ongoing Winter Games. Local cuisine. Comfort food. And energy-rich meals that athletes actually want to eat.
It’s been a week since the Winter Olympics got underway in Italy, with Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo hosting the 25th edition of what is among the biggest multi-sporting events in the world. And while there have been plenty of talking points emerging from the sporting arena, from record-breaking feats to major controversies, Milano-Cortina 2026 is also making headlines for another reason – food.
The Winter Olympics in Italy may be about speed, precision and endurance. But inside the Olympic Village, the real competition seems to be happening at the dining tables. Because this time, it’s the food grabbing the spotlight. And unlike the Summer Games in Paris 2024, this isn’t a story of outrage. It’s a story of approval.
‘Pizzas and pasta are among the most popular dishes’
Athletes across disciplines are happy with what’s being served. No loud complaints about protein shortages, No debates about portion sizes, No viral posts slamming the menu. Instead, there are long queues.
And the longest lines? They’re not at the salad counters, they’re at the pizza ovens and pasta stations.
“Indeed, pizzas and pasta are among the most popular dishes, but precisely because of this they are the ones that create the most crowding. That’s where you’ll find the big queues,” said Elisabetta Salvadori, head of food and beverage for the Italian Olympic organising committee.
Yes, athletes are piling up plates of pasta. Slices of pizza are disappearing faster than medal hopes in a bad race. And organisers admit these carb-heavy dishes are the most in-demand.
For many fans, it might sound surprising. Professional athletes at the Olympics loading up on carbs? Popular perception is they are the primary fuel for high-intensity performances.
“Italian style has obviously characterised at least the carbohydrate offering, which, as you know, is a fundamental component in athletes’ nutrition. In this sense, pasta and pizza obviously reign supreme, much to the satisfaction of the athletes,” Salvadori added.
So while Paris focused heavily on plant-based menus and sustainability, Italy has gone for something simpler. Local cuisine. Comfort food. And energy-rich meals that athletes actually want to eat.
And sometimes – that simplicity works better than a perfectly calculated nutrition chart.
Chocolate lava cake stealing the show in the Olympic village
But in Italy, the meal doesn’t end with pasta, because the real superstar of the Olympic Village is a dessert.
A chocolate lava cake is stealing the show at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Athletes are posting viral videos of the molten chocolate centre, calling it the ultimate comfort food under Olympic pressure.
Some are requesting organisers to save a portion for them. Others are racing to the dining hall after events, just to make sure they don’t miss out.
In a Games filled with pressure, expectations and global attention, that warm, gooey dessert has become a small moment of joy.
A reminder that even Olympians, need comfort food.
From controversy over food in Paris, to a carb-loaded haven in Italy, the Olympic menu has taken a dramatic turn.
And maybe the lesson is simple.
Athletes don’t just need perfect nutrition plans, they need food that fuels them. Food that comforts them. And food that reminds them why they love being there.
A plate of pasta, and a slice of chocolate lava cake, can be just as rewarding as a podium finish.
Watch the full report here:
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