They got game: Ballpark menu innovations of 2019
By Steve Dwyer on May 07, 2019This summer, fans will make their annual pilgrimage to a Major League Baseball stadium to catch a game or two. And their interest in the lineup will be exceptionally piqued.
In that particular lineup are the King’s Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sandwich, Bulgogi Beef Egg Rolls, Peanut Butter n’ Jelly Candied Bacon Sandwich and Grand Slam Tres Leches Milk Shake—to name a few. And as innovation goes, these new foods, being featured at four of 30 MLB stadiums, represent a veritable all-star team. The emphasis at ballparks this season is underpinned by several trends, including local culinary favorites, healthy and better-for-you options, intriguing hybrids, ethnic foods and a high number of tater tot takes.
When the season began in late March, hospitality providers Chicago-based Levy Restaurants and Philadelphia-based Aramark, both of which boast multiple hospitality arrangements with MLB teams, collaborated with partners to push the envelope on culinary innovation at the ballpark. Read on for a snapshot of the new entrees, snacks, appetizers and desserts stepping up to the plate at MLB ballparks in 2019.
Atlanta Braves, SunTrust Park (Delaware North)
With a new cutting-edge stadium entering its second season, the Braves are making sure their menu innovations stay in lock step. The new Chicken and Waffle Boat is made with Mango Habanero-tossed boneless chicken served in a warm waffle boat drizzled with honey and topped with toasted pecans. A foot-long hot dog—the Dinger Dog—comes complete with cheddar cheese and bacon jam wrapped in a puff pastry.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field (Levy)
New items at Chase Field include innovative vegan and vegetarian dishes: theCamelback Burger, built with a grilled plant-based burger, brown sugar-truffle ketchup, jalapeno relish, avocado, lettuce, herb mustard, cucumber and crispy onion flakes on a vegan bun; and the Mediterranean Vegan Wrap, featuring a spinach tortilla filled with nonmeat chicken, hummus, cucumber and olive tapenade.
Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park (Aramark)
Though it’s one of the oldest parks in the league, Fenway is known to keep menu offers contemporary. In 2019, fans can nosh on new Buffalo Chicken Topped Tots (Buffalo chicken, blue cheese and chives), a King’s Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sandwich (pulled pork, smoky bacon barbecue sauce and pineapple coleslaw on a King’s Hawaiian roll) and the LBLT, featuring fresh lobster meat, crispy bacon, leaf lettuce and sliced tomato. On the sweet side, the Banana Splitter consists of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, banana, hot fudge, sprinkles, whipped cream and a cherry.
Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field (Levy)
The Cubs expanded concession-stand offerings 34% over the past five years. New fare for 2019 includes Pork Tenders with an ethnic twist: Japanese barbecue sauce, cabbage, carrot slaw and crispy hand-breaded pork strips. Fans can investigate the Beer Can Chicken Sandwich and Chick-Ago Sandwich, the latter made with pickle-brined, breaded chicken thighs, tempura sport peppers, vine ripe tomatoes, dill aioli, onion roll and celery salt. Short Rib Disco Fries are braised beef short rib, roasted garlic aioli, queso fresco and green onions atop crispy fries. The Southwest Fiesta Specialty Hot Dog is topped with chile lime crema, pico de gallo, tortilla strips and housemade pickled peppers.
Chicago White Sox, Guaranteed Rate Field (Levy)
The White Sox are celebrating Chicago’s deep Polish heritage with Vienna Beef Polish Kielbasa sausage, with loaded baked potato or onion pierogis piled on sauerkraut, caramelized onions and homemade mustard sauce. Elote Nuggets are a basket of corn fritters splashed with cilantro lime aioli covered with queso cotija and cayenne. The Impossible Asian Appetizer Duo are Pan Fried Pot Stickers (ginger, scallions, cabbage and sesame with soy chile dipping sauce) and Crispy Spring Rolls (Napa cabbage, green onion with ginger jalapeno marmalade and Chinese hot mustard sauce).
Cincinnati Reds, Great American Ball Park (Delaware North)
The Reds are commemorating their 150th anniversary with a host of eclectic fare, including two varieties of egg rolls: Laura’s Lean Beef Egg Rolls and Bulgogi Beef Egg Rolls, both featuring carrots, onions and rice and served with gochujang sauce. The Big Red Machine Burger is topped with a split Big Red Smokey, sauerkraut and beer cheese and served on a pretzel bun. Wicked Chipotle Queen City Sausage includes a Queen City Sausage with queso, pico de gallo and crispy tortilla chips. The Cincinnati Hot Frybox consists of fries topped with sliced hot chicken tenders, pickle slaw and creamy ranch dressing. Desserts weigh in with The Reds Waffle Bowl Sundae, featuring soft serve ice cream in a Reds waffle bowl.
Cleveland Indians, Progressive Field (Delaware North)
The Indians are hosting the 2019 All-Star Game and are raising the menu stakes along with it. Short Rib Poutine is braised short ribs covered in gravy and served on wedge fries with diced cheese curds. A small new eatery dubbed the Cleveland Kraut Haus is located in the outfield section, where it serves high-quality dogs and brats with six kraut options.
Colorado Rockies, Coors Field (Aramark)
The new tater tot interpretations on ball park menus in 2019 continue unabated in the Mile High City, where Coors Field is debuting Elote Topped Tots, infused with street corn, zesty mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro, cayenne pepper and green chile queso. Meanwhile, it’s offering a shishito peppers dish made with crispy shishito peppers, Thai chile vinaigrette, green chile and chorizo queso.
Detroit Tigers, Comerica Park (Delaware North)
New and intriguing egg rolls are competing with tater tots for ballpark attention in 2019, and Comerica Park joins in the fun with its Coney Dog Egg Roll. This is a hybrid offering that fuses an egg roll with a hot dog and chili, drizzled with mustard and diced onions. Remaining true to the hybrid theme, the Tigers are turning a classic taco into a hot dog, as their iteration is topped with smoked pulled pork, pineapple relish, Sriracha aioli and cotija cheese.
Houston Astros, Minute Maid Park (Aramark)
The Astros are hoping to hit a home run with their new tater tots: Smoked Burnt Ends Topped Tots with queso blanco, barbecue sauce, green onions, pickles and smoked-pork burnt ends. Healthy fare expands with the Beyond Burger, a nonmeat patty served Caribbean-style with black beans, avocado pineapple relish and Sriracha aioli. Smoked burnt ends emerge again in the form of the Bayou City Hot Dog, infused with smoked-pork burnt ends, Rico’s cheese sauce, pickle chips, green onions and hot barbecue sauce. Also making its debut is the Fritos Pie Corn Dog, hand dipped in housemade Fritos corn chip batter.
Kansas City Royals, Kauffman Stadium (Aramark)
The Royals are debuting new items across the menu spectrum of side dish, appetizer, entree, healthy and sweet treat. Brisket Topped Tots are piled with smoked brisket, white queso, barbecue sauce and green onions. Tying into the plant-based craze is the Beyond Sausage, a 100% plant-based sausage served with vegan, gluten-free sauerkraut. The Artisan Chicken Sandwich is grilled or fried chicken, roasted garlic aioli, candied bacon, pepper Jack cheese, heirloom tomato, lettuce, avocado and fried egg on a split-top glazed roll. Ethnic fare is represented with Korean BBQ: smoked pork kielbasa, barbecue sauce and daikon kimchi slaw.
Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium (Levy)
The Dodgers are serving several new signature dishes celebrating LA spices and its street food culture. One is Esquite, sweet grilled corn in a mini souvenir Dodgers helmet topped with mayo, cotija and chipotle aioli and finished with lime juice and Tajin seasoning. Burrito bowls offer fans a choice of tempeh or chicken on a bed of rice topped with black beans and pico de gallo served in a souvenir bowl. The Dodger Sausage is al pastor-seasoned sausage stuffed with pineapple chunks, grilled and topped with pineapple salsa and cilantro-lime crema.
Miami Marlins, Marlins Park (Levy)
Marlins Park will trot out Pollo Frito, which is hand-battered fried chicken topped with lettuce, piparras peppers, garlic aioli and spicy tomato sauce and served on olive oil brioche. The Butifarra Dog is pork sausage topped with tomatoes, onions, peppers and aioli. The Frito Pie is topped with Spanish Iberico pork, chile and Idiazabal cheese sauce, while Sushi & Ceviche offers Japanese and Peruvian flair featuring sushi, ceviche and shredded all-natural chicken breast over white rice and tender potatoes pieces, smothered in aji amarillo cream sauce.
Milwaukee Brewers, Miller Park (Delaware North)
The Brewers are leveraging Wisconsin’s cheese heritage with the Ultimate Cheese Fry, a mix of twister fries and fried Sargento cheese curds topped with Sargento cheese sauce and bacon. Food venue Bernie’s Chalet is launching Bernie’s Bavarian pretzel, a German pub-style handcrafted pretzel with an earthy rye flavor, and a Belgium-style liege waffle made fresh to order and featuring pearl sugar, yeasted waffle dough and topped with a chocolate sauce. A new vegetarian option joins the portfolio: Gluten-free Elote en Vaso is grilled corn tossed in mayonnaise, chili powder, cilantro, lime juice and jalapeno.
Minnesota Twins, Target Field (Delaware North)
The Twins are upgrading a classic lunchbox item with the Peanut Butter n’ Jelly Candied Bacon Sandwich, consisting of jelly-glazed bacon and creamy peanut butter on toasted sourdough bread and infused with strawberry jelly candied bacon. The Boomstick is a 2-foot-long hot dog topped with chili, nacho cheese, grilled onions and jalapenos. Chefs added to their craft sandwich lineup with the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese and Philly Cheesesteak.
New York Mets, Citi Field (Aramark)
The Mets jumped on the tater tots bandwagon with Loaded Buffalo Topped Tots, featuring blue cheese, celery, carrots and zesty Buffalo sauce. The Champ Slider, the creation of chef Patrick Schaeffer, won the New York City Wine & Food Festival Burger Bash in 2018. It’s ground dry-aged beef, millionaire’s bacon, Cipollini onion agrodolce and sharp cheddar cheese fondue and served on a potato bun. The Citi sweet treats portfolio gets a boost with Stuf’d S’mores Nutella Bites, graham cracker-crusted challah bread French toast filled with a swirl of Nutella, marshmallow fluff and dark chocolate chunks and topped with maple dulce de leche syrup and toasted marshmallow.
New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium (Legends)
The Yankees are mixing up their concessions lineup in 2019 and cultivating its social gathering spaces. Shake Stands around the park offer Yankee Stadium Grand Slam Milk Shakes. One option is a Tres Leches Shake, with vanilla, tres leches cake, churro, condensed milk and puffed rice. Other notable foods include Avocado Bites, Kosher Wraps, Roast Beef Po’boys, Shrimp Po’boys and the Crispy Chicken Maple Sandwich. The MQRib Sandwich features slow-smoked baby back rib meat covered in black cherry barbecue sauce and garnished with dill pickles and white onions, served on a soft white roll.
Oakland Athletics, Oakland Coliseum (Aramark)
A new mobile concession stand called Nourish is dedicated to serving healthy fare, including build-your-own salads, rice or quinoa bowls. Tenders Love and the Chicken Signature Chicken Sandwich is a country-style fried chicken cutlet, thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, Vermont cheddar, Roma tomatoes, leaf lettuce, a house pickle and herb remoulade on a sesame seed potato bun.
Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park (Aramark)
The Cheesy Bacon Topped Tots start with American cheese sauce, bacon, shredded cheddar Jack cheese and diced scallions. Vegan Lettuce Wraps bring curry cauliflower, fried chickpeas and vegan coconut milk. The Donut Burger melds cheese, bacon and spicy cherry pepper jam on a glazed donut. For the first time, Shake Shack has brought its sit-down restaurant experience to a sports venue with Shake Shack at Citizens Bank Park. One of its signatures is the SmokeShack burger, with bacon, cherry peppers and ShackSauce. Elsewhere, there are Tandoori Chicken Wings, yogurt-marinated with Kashmiri chile pepper, tamarind and scallions.
Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Park (Aramark)
Healthy menuing steps up its game in the Steel City, and one option is Quinoa Blueberry Salad, with red quinoa, chopped hearts of palm, spinach, blueberries, cucumbers, carrots, sunflower seeds and balsamic dressing. As for more indulgent fare, The Pittsburgh Cone is made with kielbasa, pierogi, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing in a waffle cone. Cinnamon Chipotle Topped Tots offer up cinnamon chipotle-spiced pulled pork, green and red onions and chipotle maple syrup. The Shipwreck Sundae is a jumbo marshmallow coated with chocolate and a dusting of graham crackers and ice cream in a souvenir helmet sundae bowl.
Seattle Mariners, T-Mobile Park (Centerplate)
At the park’s Sultan of Sandwich concession stand, the Grand Salami Sandwich is a tribute to beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus. It consists of a half-pound of local salami, smoked provolone cheese and grainy mustard on a marbled rye baguette. Other new offerings include the Paseo at Edgar's Cantina and Edgar's Home Run Porch, which was recently voted the best sandwich shop in Washington.
San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park (Bon Appetit Management Co.)
The Giants unveiled a new park name for 2019, replacing AT&T Park, and added new food as well, starting with Super Duper Burgers, a local option emphasizing a commitment to sustainability. Also new for the season is Organic Coup’s certified organic corn dogs, edible cookie dough, street-style tacos, fish tacos and Irish Cheddar mac ‘n cheese, which comes with a choice of toppings.
St. Louis Cardinals, Busch Stadium (Delaware North)
The city of St. Louis is tethered to Budweiser and toasted ravioli. So it’s no surprise that the team is debuting the Budweiser Burger bar, or that one signature item is a burger topped with toasted ravioli. The bun, cheeses and sauces are infused with Budweiser beer. There’s also new 9-inch pepperoni pizza pretzel braids, Buffalo chicken pretzel braids, chicken and waffle sliders and Country Bob’s barbecue nachos.
Texas Rangers, Globe Life Park in Arlington (Delaware North)
The Rangers, playing their final season at their existing park, are going out with a bang, debuting The Fowl Pole, a 2-pound hand-battered tender consisting of multiple chicken breasts wrapped together and served with waffle fries and ranch and honey mustard dipping sauce. The Fried PB&J sandwich offers a deep-fried twist on the classic offering, bacon-wrapped wings make a lineup debut, and Right Field Bacon Bombs incorporates provolone cheese wrapped in bacon strips, deep-fried and served with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce. Vegan-friendly options step up in the form of the Beyond Vegan Burger, Vegan Street Tacos and Fresh Veggie Wrap.
Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre (Aramark)
Log Cabin Topped Tots leverage provincial Canadian maple flavor along with baked beans, bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, smoked pulled pork and sour cream. In the better-for-you bucket is the 32 Ingredient Salad, consisting of 32 plant-based ingredients, including Brussels sprouts, kale, green cabbage, romaine lettuce, carrots, butternut squash, red cabbage, white and red quinoa, sunflower and pomegranate seeds, orange juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic and more. The Southwest Inspired Caesar Bowl is crisp romaine, fried tortilla strips, black beans, salsa, quinoa, chickpeas, roasted squash, guacamole, cotija cheese and poblano dressing.
Washington Nationals, Nationals Park (Levy)
The Nationals' innovative foods for the season include Bone-In Smoked Beef Short Rib and Elote, and Carnitas, Barbacoa and Chicken Tinga tacos and nachos, along with D.C. favorites such as the Crab Cake Sandwich and Ben’s Half Smoke.