Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Arcuri.
Hi Nick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally, I moved to Miami from Westchester County, NY to earn a degree in Psychology from the University of Miami. After graduating I realized the degree I earned was somewhat aimless and didn’t enjoy any of the job opportunities available. I was working as a waiter and bartender throughout my education both in NY and Miami for various catering companies and restaurants. I enjoyed many aspects of the restaurant world and was especially intrigued by the kitchen. Eventually while working at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables I decided to go all in and enroll in culinary school back up on NY. I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do with the education but I knew it was exciting so I went all in. I graduated from the French Culinary Institute which was a Master Chef authored and taught curriculum.
I cooked in many star-studded kitchens from Scarpetta restaurant at the Fontainebleau to Emeril Lagasse’s on Miami Beach. Eventually, while managing at a catering company in NY I learned about the world of dietetics and the Registered Dietitian credential. Always with an entrepreneurial outlook I thought what a cool trail I could blaze as a Chef and Registered Dietitian. I thought more about the potential careers available to someone with this dual skill set and athletic performance came to mind.
I discovered that there was an increasing respect for food and nutrition as fuel within the world of professional sports and there was was not a single Chef/RD working for any teams at that time. While there was a nutrition-minded and educated chef working in baseball, there wasn’t a single credentialed Registered Dietitian doing any cooking. After more digging I found Johnson and Wales University which at the time was the only accredited culinary school that also offered the dietetic course requirements to sit for the RD exam. They even had an entire major revolved around cooking as a dietitian for athletic performance, as well as many other populations that could benefit from medical nutrition therapy.
I immediately enrolled in the program and relocated to Denver, Colorado where I connected with the Team Dietitian at the Denver Broncos. I quickly became his intern making recovery beverages for the players and aiding in research as well as food production. This opportunity opened the door for the birth of my business CustomFit Chef with some of my original private chef clients such as Von Miller and Malik Jackson.
Upon graduation from the culinary dietetics program at Johnson and Wales as well as my completion of the Dietetic Internship I was presented with an opportunity to work with the St. Louis Rams for their Team Dietitian that actually cooks too. By that time he was one of only two cooking RD’s in all of pro sports. I decided to put my entrepreneurial ambitions on hold and dive head first into the NFL. I became a Registered Dietitian within two-months of employment around the same time my current boss took a job as Team Chef/Dietitian with the Milwaukee Bucks. I was presented with a contract from the Rams to become the official Team Chef/Dietitian. I was extremely lucky to have the right skills and experience at the right time because the Bucks were not the only NBA team interested in the capabilities and impact a Chef that was also a Dietitian could make within an NBA locker room. After a quick cooking interview I was presented with another contract for employment as Team Chef/Dietitian by the Memphis Grizzlies. So I was sitting in St. Louis looking at two contracts. I was overwhelmed but incredibly excited to choose the Grizzlies. I imagined having a much more profound impact on the overall health and wellness for 15 athletes in the NBA versus the staggering numbers of players and coaches in the NFL clubhouses.
Since 2015 I have had the incredible opportunity to build, from scratch as the Sport Dietitian/Team and Chef and Director of Team Nutrition both a Championship winning Dietetic and Culinary program for the Boston Celtics as well as the Memphis Grizzlies. There was next to nothing food service-wise at either team and I was able to control every nut and bolt from brand new kitchen blueprint design, to meal timing and food vendors, to supplement and vitamin protocol as well as food on the road on flights, at away arenas and hotels. I have had incredible opportunities to cook for incredible athletes. I got to author and cook Jayson Tatum’s first meal plan and introduced him to dietetic principles, I helped seal the deal as New Balance was signing Shohei Otani at a dinner we prepared in the Celtics facility. I was blessed to be a part of 4 Eastern Conference Finals and 1 NBA Finals series. Most recently in 2024 I was the Team Chef for the Miami Heat. While cooking for the Heat I had a few new opportunities that were very exciting to me. I was actually Tua Tagaviola’s Ozempic! His weight loss before last season was a combination of his work ethic and my meals! I cooked 3 meals a day for 5 days per week for Tua from February 2024 through this past season ending in Jan 2025.
After my 11th season in professional sports I have invested fully into CustomFit Chef, a Registered Dietitian created, comprehensive meal plan, catering and private chef service specializing in fueling the world’s best athletes. Im the sole caterer responsible for all the meals at the Unrivaled Basketball League, prepare private meals for Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez, Universtiy of Miami Baseball, visiting NBA teams such as the Knicks and Mavericks, visiting and local MLB teams such as the Marlins, Pirates and A’s, as well as many other athletes looking to take their game to the next level or the working professional looking to eat a healthier diet and maintain or alter their body composition.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being only the 3rd ever sport RD/Chef there were many challenges. It was such a new career path so it was a big sell in terms of selling organizations on the value and role of my professions as well as a HUGE sell in getting established professional athletes to buy into my culinary and dietetic philosophies in terms of principles and practices to help promote athletic performance and recovery.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My super power is my passion and attention detail. I decided to cook for a living because it was the only thing exciting at the time when I compared it to other more traditional office jobs. I figured, hey.. if money didn’t matter what would enjoy spending my day doing? and cooking was what I enjoyed. To this day I am truly fueled by my passion for cooking, creating and challenging myself. I apply this to every new client and account as I tailor and customize the experience to satisfy their goals. Whether it is an elaborate holiday dinner with a focus on comfort, indulgence and luxury or a finely tuned meal service prepared in accordance with a very specific custom meal plan, I immerse myself in the project and deliver.
At the time when I became a Registered Dietitian I was the third ever Cooking Chef RD in all pro sports in America. To this day there are not many, and out of those available I can guarantee most have never experienced master chef training. The combination of a Registered Dietitian’s understanding of human physiology, specifically that of an athlete and the important interactions that occur when certain foods are introduced at certain times coupled with the passionate mind and abilities of a professional chef can be a Very Serious advantage for any athlete or training individual.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see quality restaurants dying off and chains taking over. It is very sad, but true.. that our industry is very underappreciated and most people have no idea the pressures and stresses that go into a simple meal you casually enjoy with your family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://customfitchef.com
- Instagram: @ChefNickArcuri
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/nick-arcuri-986868238
