There is a growing competition between MLB ballparks when it comes to concessions, as the "generic hot dog your bag of Cracker Jacks is just not the way to go anymore,” according to ABC's Rob Marciano. This year has produced some of the "craziest, most extravagant Opening Day food ever.” The Mets are offering “peanut butter-coated bacon on a stick,” while the Braves are offering the Burgerizza, a “20-ounce burger complete with five slices of cheddar cheese, plus bacon, slid between two pepperoni pizzas for buns.” The Twins are “bringing the heat with a buffalo chicken Bloody Mary, complete with a chicken wing.” Fans can "go for the double play: Add a bacon cheeseburger slider for an extra four bucks.” The Indians’ slider dog consists of a "hot dog topped with Fruit Loops, mac and cheese and bacon,” while the Rangers are featuring a “fried chicken and doughnut skewer.” Reds fans can "get some crab dip on (their) French fries,” and the Cardinals are offering a "sweet, sugary skewer: Strawberries and brownies drizzled with your choice of white or milk chocolate.” ABC's Dan Harris said some of the food options come "with a defibrillator." Harris: "It's like that good for your arteries” (“GMA,” ABC, 4/3).
CALORIC DOUBLE-TAKE: FORTUNE's Colleen Kane noted the D-backs' Cheeseburger Dog is "a giant hot dog made from cheeseburger." Char-grilled hamburgers are "ground up, mixed with chopped bacon, pickles, green onion, and cheddar cheese, formed into a foot-long tube and then frozen." They are then "breaded, seasoned and dunked in the deep fryer, and topped with more bacon, lettuce, tomato, and secret sauce." Meanwhile, the Braves are offering a Tater Tot Chop consisting of "two waffles made out of pressed tater tots sandwiching bacon, melted cheese, and jalapenos, with Coca-Cola-infused ketchup." Also at Turner Field, the Punisher is "country fried smoked rib meat drenched in Monster Energy Drink-infused sauce and topped with an onion ring and 'slawsa' on a bun" (FORTUNE.com, 4/3). NBC's Dave Briggs noted the Blue Jays' menu includes "buffalo cauliflower poutine covered in its namesake spicy sauce and the proverbial cherry on top: cheese curds, gravy and scallions." Rogers Centre visitors can also try "chicken and waffles sticks drizzled with maple Sriracha" (TODAY.com, 3/31).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Pirates this year are selling a hot dog that has "caramel sauce, Cracker Jack, jalapenos and macaroni and cheese on it." USA TODAY's Nate Scott writes, "We are human beings, people. We are organic creatures. We live and one day we will die. Our time on this earth is short, and while I can appreciate a treat, this is disrespectful to our bodies. This is hubris. This is us laughing at the heavens, chortling at the bodies we have been blessed with and doing our best to destroy them" (USATODAY.com, 3/24).
