With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just days away, athletes have started settling into the Olympic Village—and naturally, curiosity around daily life has followed.
Ahead of the Opening Ceremony scheduled for February 6, members of the Canadian women’s ice hockey team offered a candid look at what’s being served in the dining hall in Italy.
The food reveal, shared through social media, sparked interest for one surprising reason: pasta and pizza were not the top favorites.
A First Look at the Olympic Village Meals
The behind-the-scenes glimpse came from a TikTok video posted on February 3 by Julia Gosling, featuring teammates reacting to their first dinner in Italy. While Italian cuisine carries high expectations, the athletes kept it real by showing exactly what landed on their plates.
Sophie Jaques highlighted a classic option while pointing to her meal.
“I have pasta with a regular meat sauce,” she said. “And then they had fresh mozzarella, so I had to grab it, and focaccia.”
The mention of focaccia quickly became a theme, as several players echoed the same choice.
Plates Packed With Protein and Bread
Daryl Watts took a lighthearted approach while showing her dinner, joking about what was missing.
“This is what I got: beef, veal, Brie [cheese], focaccia, I think this is parmesan, burrata, pasta. No veggies, they’re coming, OK?”
Julia Gosling and Jenn Gardiner followed with similar plates, reinforcing the idea that focaccia was the standout item of the night.
Julia explained her selection:
“I got pasta with meat sauce. Zucchini, focaccia bread—I already took a nibble out—and beef.”
Jenn, after sharing her own plate filled with pasta, focaccia, and salad, summed up the mood simply:
“I’m gonna need to go back, I'm starving.”
Focaccia Steals the Spotlight
TikTok | juliagosling88 | Athletes gave a thumbs up, but viewers gave a hard pass to the dry catering.
The team’s excitement around the bread was clear. Julia captioned the post with enthusiasm:
“First meal in the village!!! FOCACCIA IS A HIT!! addicted already!”
While the athletes seemed satisfied, viewers' reactions were mixed. Some questioned the presentation and moisture of the food, with comments like, “Why is it all so dry?” and “It looks like hospital food.”
Others offered cultural context, pointing out Italian dining customs. One viewer noted that meals are typically served in separate courses rather than all on one plate. Another added bluntly that Italians do not combine everything together during dinner. Still, the tone remained playful, and the athletes appeared unfazed.
Team USA Athletes React to Olympic Swag
While the dining hall sparked debate, the arrival gifts for Team USA athletes received overwhelming approval. Upon checking into the Olympic Village, athletes were welcomed with swag bags packed with apparel and accessories from Nike, SKIMS, and Ralph Lauren.
Several athletes shared video hauls online, showing clear excitement over the gear. Ice hockey player Taylor Heise wrote,
“What a dream … The opening and closing fits are gonna be AMAZING!”
Snowboarder Hahna Norman echoed that excitement, saying,
“All this stuff is so awesome… I’m in love with this. Holy smokes.”
Both Taylor Heise and Hahna Norman are set to represent Team USA as the Winter Games officially begin on February 6.
The early snapshots from the Olympic Village highlight the everyday side of the Games that fans rarely see. From honest reactions to Italian dining hall meals to excitement over team gear, these moments offer a grounded look at athlete life before competition begins.
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics get underway, attention will soon shift from focaccia and fashion to performances on the ice and snow—but for now, these small details are shaping the early buzz around the Games.
