For Jordan Martinook, a good road trip is about more than hockey. It is also, on occasion, about food for thought.
The Carolina Hurricanes forward has spent his 13-season NHL campaign travelling from city to city during the hockey season, but his latest venture is giving fans a seat at the table to the restaurants and food that are all part of the road trip experience.
In this instance, no reservations are needed for Meals With Marty (@mealswithmarty48), Martinook’s popular new TikTok series.
“A casual fan might think we go to an NHL city and all go to dinner at the hotel, so this is a good way for people to see that we get to experience the cities we play in. It’s a cool way to have fans interact.”
A mix of food reviews and a behind-the-curtain look at player life away from the rink, the first two episodes have already set a high standard.
After welcoming fans to his new page, Martinook kicked off posting in Montreal at Garde Manger, where the group of Hurricanes enjoyed an impressive spread featuring beef tartare, octopus, tuna and snow crab – followed by main courses including scallops and duck.
“It was probably one of the best meals I have had since I started playing in the NHL,” Martinook told NHLPA.com. “It was a pretty crazy way to start off the series, with one of the best places and best meals we have had.”
The experience was, by his own admission, a five-star beginning to Meals With Marty.
“We started with such a fantastic restaurant, so the bar has been set.”
The Chicago chapter continued the culinary adventure, with Martinook highlighting another memorable dining experience in the Windy City at Naia, with a tasting menu ranking among his favourite meals of all time.
But Meals With Marty is about much more than showcasing impressive food offerings.
When Martinook was in the planning stages of the series, his primary goal was to give fans a different perspective on the players.
“I talked about it last year with the crew I go out to dinner with every road trip,” he said. “It was in my head to try and do something – I knew it would do well with the fans, especially our fans here in Carolina – so it was just a question of getting it off the ground at the right time.”
The concept might sound simple but making it a reality meant Martinook and his teammates would have to step outside how they are typically perceived and put themselves out there on social media.
“They [teammates] were a little hesitant at the start. As hockey players, we sometimes are in the mode of staying in our lane, where we don’t do stuff like this. I have always been like that, too, but I thought, ‘Let’s just do it.’ And it’s been fun.”
Martinook noted Eric Robinson once offering a suggestion.
“Eric said, ‘Maybe point at the food with a pickle. People will like that.’”
Now his audience has expanded beyond just hockey fans.
Martinook has noticed food bloggers taking an interest in the series. Among them is Nathan Kropp (@mrazsports), an Arizona-based creator whose videos feature athletes and other personalities discussing their favourite restaurants before he visits and reviews them.
Martinook followed his work throughout the summer and noted him as an inspiration for the idea. When Nathan reached out to verify that tidbit, the conversation developed into something more.
“He reached out and asked me if it was true,” Martinook said. “I played in Arizona when I started my career, so there is a connection from that. It’s awesome to be linked up because of that.”
The two are planning a collaboration, giving Meals With Marty the opportunity to reach a wider audience.
Despite its potential, however, the series will continue to retain its authentic charm.
Martinook shared that filming takes about five minutes on the night, with his babysitter handling the editing.
“I feel like it has been a big hit,” he said. “I read all the comments,” Martinook said. “We will try and innovate and see where it can go. We just want it to be fun and engaging.”
For Martinook, that is the purpose behind Meals With Marty.
“It’s been great so far and people seem to be enjoying it. It’s something that shows a different side of the players, which I think people appreciate.”
