The Rangers and Delaware North Sportservice this season have "more than 30 food items" in the new Cholula Hot Sauce Porch at Globe Life Park, according to Robert Philpot of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. One of the concession stands is called Just Bacon, featuring eight items with "bacon in their names, and that’s not counting the prepackaged bacon cotton candy." There also is a concession stand called State Fare, a "play on state-fair food," such as "fried Twinkies, fried s'mores with cream-filled cookies, chicken-fried corn on the cob." One of the "bigger deals" is the Holland Hot Tot’chos, which cost $17.50 and are named for Rangers P Derek Holland. They "consist of tater tots tossed in buffalo sauce, with chicken or steak, sauteed red and green bell peppers, pickled jalapeños and spicy queso hollandaise" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/3). In Dallas, Sarah Blaskovich wrote some of the "odder items" at the ballpark this year are "bacon sunflower seeds ($4.50) and bacon beer ($12)." The beer "comes from Oregon-based Rogue Breweries, no stranger to unique beers." Meanwhile, the idea behind the State Fare stand "is to advertise the new fried foods all in one location" (GUIDELIVE.com, 4/2).
MOTOR CITY MUNCHIES: In Detroit, Sylvia Rector noted fans at Comerica Park this year "can feast on new creations like coney quesadillas, house-made pork rinds -- and fried-jalapeño-topped deviled eggs on strips of bacon." Additionally, a "wide variety of fresh whole fruit, yogurt, juices, energy bars, Germack snacks, and healthy, freshly made salads and sandwiches will be showcased in a new Grab-n-Go area." The stand will offer "about 125 pre-packaged items including sandwiches, snacks, beer and soda, designed for quick service for customers who don't want to stand in a concessions counter line." Delaware North Sportservice Exec Chef Mark Szubeczak said that guests who "have special dietary needs" will have access to "vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free foods" at stands throughout the ballpark (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/6). Also in Detroit, Steve Pardo noted Tigers fans now "have a slew of new -- and decidedly porcine-heavy -- options." Mash-ups and fusions "abound in combinations that will likely raise more than a few eyebrows." The coney quesadilla is "a hot dog topped with coney sauce, cheddar cheese and onions then encased in a flour tortilla and grilled." Other new offerings include queso pork rinds, the foot-long coney dog, the pretzel dog, the chips & dip dog, the chicken bacon cheddar sandwich and an order of bacon and eggs. The items that sell will "stay," while the ones that "don't will be phased out." Szubeczak and his crew also will "offer healthy options." He is "working with about 30 Michigan farms and a section of the stadium will sell fresh salads, sandwiches, fruits, sushi and other less-decadent fare" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/3).
CAPITAL FARE: In DC, Kelyn Soong noted new concession stands at Nationals included "Throwin’ Cheese, which will feature three types of grilled cheese sandwiches, and the Virginia Biscuit Company, which will sell a selection of homemade Virginia biscuit sandwiches, Virginia wine and beer and a popcorn mix with smokey-bacon infused caramel, Virginia peanuts and hints of bourbon." By having a Virginia-themed stand, "all three local regions will be represented, with Ben’s Chili Bowl for DC and Chesapeake Crab Company for Maryland" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/1). Also in DC, Scott Allen noted the Nationals "partnered with Sam Adams to brew a Nats Anniversary IPA that will be available on draft exclusively at Nationals Park." Nationals Exec Dir of Ballpark Operations & Guest Experience Jonathan Stahl said that the beer "will be available in the Red Porch restaurant and at a couple of different stands on every level throughout the ballpark" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/1).
PHEELING PHULL: CBS Sports Network's Jim Rome said of the Phillies' new burger at Citizens Bank Park that consists of nine patties, "Let me be the first to say this is ridiculous! ... How are you supposed to eat that thing? You're not. You're just supposed to pay for it, tweet a picture of it and walk back to your seat like some kind of celebrity. ... It's so lame that MLB marketing teams have come to this. Using calorie counts to get retweets and page clicks? Come on" ("Rome," CBS Sports Network, 4/2).
