USPA International Cup

Suri West, one of the most popular restaurants in Palm Beach County, will cater the VIP tent for the Nov. 25th USPA International Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club.

The USPA International Cup game will be part of a polo doubleheader, a holiday tradition that ends the biggest week of fall polo and season at the nation’s largest polo club. 

The United States and Brazil will play in the sixth annual game. The opening game of the doubleheader is the Carlos Gracida Legends of Polo Memorial, continuing the Hall of Famer’s legacy by honoring one of the sport’s greats, who died tragically in February, 2014 at age 53.

Suri West, located in the heart of Wellington at 13410 South Shore Boulevard, honors the traditional small plate “Tapas” style while offering a one-of-a-kind American alternative cuisine. 

Suri West takes the “farm to table” concept to the next level with its own rooftop herb garden. The “Alt-American” cuisine also showcases many local farms and purveyors as well as many other responsible vendors offering the finest products available.

Suri West, owned by husband and wife John and Maureen (Bunny) Pata, is known for its famous meatballs and Argentine asado during the high goal polo season. Suri West is in the midst of its second season and fifth year at Suri East, its sister restaurant in downtown Lake Worth.

“We definitely wanted to help out Melissa Ganzi any way we could,” said Maureen Pata, referring to the Grand Champions President and Florida Circuit Governor. “I love the polo people, the crowd and to see everybody’s face when the season is rolling. We know everybody in polo so it made sense partnering up.”

Pata is known for her meatballs. She does all the cooking for Italian Night every Thursday. She was influenced by her grandparents, who owned a restaurant near Suny College in New Paltz, N.Y. She learned everything growing up in the restaurant, watching her “hands-on” grandmother “rolling meatballs in the kitchen.” 

Pata said there will be a variety of appetizers and desserts available for guests including meatballs and ahi tuna in the VIP tent which was sold out last year.

“It sounds like a wonderful event and we are happy to be a part of it,” Pata said.

Also joining Suri West as event sponsors are Alta Palla, which will supply the flavored sparkling mixers for the VIP bar and Tito’s, the official VIP liquor.

San Francisco-based Alta Palla, founded in November 2015, is a healthy, organic and Fair Trade-certified sparkling fruit juice beverage the whole family can enjoy any time of the day. 

Texas-based Tito’s Handmade Vodka is produced in Austin at Texas’ oldest legal distillery. The company makes it in batches using old-fashioned pot stills and taste-tests every batch. It is designed to be savored by both spirit connoisseurs and everyday drinkers alike.

It will be the sixth time Grand Champions Polo Club will host a major international men’s game in club history.

Since 2012 in front of sellout crowds and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, the U.S. has beaten England, Chile, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay in the annual battle for the coveted cup.

In last year’s USPA International Cup, Team USA (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Julio Arellano, Nic Roldan) defeated Uruguay, 6-3, to claim its fifth consecutive title. Arellano was named Most Valuable Player.

The Legends game is 1 p.m. followed by the USPA International Cup at 3 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the doubleheader benefit The Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the development, history and tradition of the sport of polo by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport.

Tickets, ranging from $20 to $1500, are on sale and various sponsorship packages are still available. They are:

$1,500 VIP Sponsor: Includes one reserved table for eight in the VIP tent, corporate partner signage and parking.

$250 Grand Champions Tailgate Package: Includes a reserved tailgate spot with parking for one car, tent and one table with 4 chairs.

$200 VIP Pavilion Tickets: Includes one VIP admission ticket to the VIP tent with a field side view of the game. 

$20 General Admission.  Field side parking not included.

For tickets, tailgates and sponsorships call 561-644-5050.

During fall, winter and spring seasons, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s largest club with 11 well-manicured fields, hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal in addition to special events such as the USPA International Cup.

Grand Champions Polo Cup attracted a record 72 teams during its 2017 winter season that featured the $100,000 World Cup, $50,000 National 12-Goal, 20-Goal Sterling Cup and 20-Goal Molina Cup, and another 18 teams during the spring season.

The entire fall season is being live-streamed on Wellington-based ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting with cutting-edge technology. ChukkerTV also features team challenges and instant replay which made their debut at Grand Champions in January, 2014.

Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its’ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its’ Polo On Demand program, the only polo club in the U.S. to offer the unique program.