Shaquille O’Neal is known for his towering presence and dynamic personality. Everybody is aware of his indelible mark on the basketball court. However, his exploits off the court are equally fascinating, particularly his gastronomical adventures. 

One such instance is when he poached a top chef from Hyatt to cater to his personal culinary needs. In another instance, his surprising Thanksgiving admission left a woman feeling rather modest about her own lifestyle. 

Shaquille O’Neal hires a top Hyatt chef 

Shaq has a personal chef named Thomas Gosney, who worked at the Hyatt in Orlando as one of their top chefs before Shaq hired him. And now, for 15 years, Gosney is Shaq’s personal chef. He cooks anything Shaq wants.

“He’ll cook anything, but usually I have him stick to the basics. I eat the same thing every day,” Shaq revealed in his book, ‘Shaq Talks Back’.

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Gosney’s transition from a top chef at Hyatt to Shaq’s personal cook is a testament to the millionaire’s penchant for his quality curated meals.

Shaq’s daily menu, as described in his book, extensively displays Gosney’s culinary prowess. Gosney cooks anything, from a unique McMuffin sausage for Shaq’s breakfast to a turkey club and fries for lunch. The chef knows how to cater to the NBA stars’ gastronomic needs with precision and creativity.

A Thanksgiving revelation that made a woman feel poor 

It was during a Thanksgiving episode of “Cooking with Shaq,” that the basketball star made a surprising admission that made a woman feel poor.

Susie Bulloch, who was invited to teach Shaq how to cook, shared her experience on a podcast. “I taught him how to spatchcock a turkey and we did some bacon-wrapped carrots and he is like ‘I have never cooked a turkey in my life,’” Bulloch recalled. When she asked who cooked his Thanksgiving turkeys, Shaq casually replied, “My chefs.”

This revelation left Bulloch feeling modest about her own lifestyle. “Oh, we live differently. I forget we are not the same,” she mused. Despite their different lifestyles, Bulloch found Shaq to be “the nicest person.”

Shaq’s culinary journey, from poaching Hyatt’s top chef to his surprising Thanksgiving admission, offers a fascinating glimpse into the superstar’s life. Shaq is a man who enjoys the simple pleasures of life (a good home-cooked meal). And, mind you, he’d do anything for it!

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