Destination-Style Carts Feature Customizable Fare, Including Loaded Baked Potatoes, Stir-Fry and More
Buffalo, N.Y. (March 26, 2008) – As the countdown to Opening Day draws near, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, the nation’s first sports concessionaire, is upping its game in concessions and fine dining operations at some of the nation’s most beloved ballparks. This year, Sportservice chefs are focused on enhancing fans’ experiences through more innovative and “experiential,” high-quality cooking than ever before, and entirely new “destination” carts will allow fans to customize their dishes to perfection.
At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, fans will enjoy the new Asian action cart, where they can select their favorite hand-sliced meats and fresh vegetables before chefs stir-fry their dish and serve it up with chopsticks in a chow mein container. At Miller Park in Milwaukee, Brewers fans will be able to load their fresh baked potatoes as they watch players load the bases. The park’s new baked potato cart features a selection of tasty toppings for fans to customize their spuds with – including steamed broccoli, cheddar cheese, savory beef, spicy chipotle chicken, sour cream and hearty bacon. And for Texas Rangers fans, Sportservice is spicing up the menu at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, which will offer a brand-new, made-to-order burrito stand.
“With fare that’s infused with fun, flavor and local flair, a variety of delicious destination carts have been added to Sportservice-operated ballparks,” said Rolf Baumann, executive chef, Delaware North Companies Sportservice. “We’ve invested in and designed each cart to be a show-stopper. These new areas allow fans to customize their culinary experience and walk away with a one-of-a-kind creation that fits individual dietary needs and preferences. Fans can even watch as their dish is being created, so they’ll be able to enjoy all of the sights, sizzling sounds and savory aromas that go along with it.”
“Our chefs and food and beverage professionals are constantly striving to provide innovative, fresh fare that appeals to traditional palates as well as to fans following specific culinary trends,” said Rick Abramson, president of Delaware North Companies Sportservice, who began his career as a Sportservice vendor at Milwaukee County Stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1970’s. “In our experience, we know fans can hardly wait to get their hands on their first hot dog of the season, but as the season continues, they seek more adventurous options at the ballpark. Sportservice is here to ensure their game-day experience is filled with a variety of fun-filled, high-quality fare – whether it’s traditional or trend-inspired.”
In fact, Sportservice chefs spend their off-season perfecting new dishes to embrace evolving culinary trends. Many of these dishes have been captured in “Home Plate: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine,” the company’s second cookbook, which debuts this year in Sportservice-operated ballparks. During the 2008 season, fans will enjoy a variety of these well-researched, high-quality dishes, some of which are detailed below:
Arlington – Texas Rangers – Rangers Ballpark at Arlington
Looking to spice up menu offerings at the Rangers Ballpark at Arlington in 2008, Sportservice has invested in a new burrito stand, featuring made-to-order burritos. A brand-new, all-you-can-eat seating area offers fans a variety of culinary options, including favorites such as piping-hot nachos, hot dogs, ice-cold colas and fresh roasted peanuts. At the “Rawlings All American Grille,” fans can dine on beer-battered onion rings, tender pulled pork, French dip sandwiches, fresh fruit parfaits or desserts that two can share. At the Cuervo Club, fans can nosh on garden-fresh chef or spicy Thai salads, handmade panini or fresh fish sandwiches. And suite menus offer mini corn dogs, vine-ripened-tomato bruschetta, Great American salads, southern-fried chicken and home-style “mac and cheese.”
Chicago – White Sox – US Cellular Field
At the new “Comiskey Dogs–Chicago Style” stand, the famous Chicago-Style Hot Dog will be joined by its foot-long cousin, the Super Comiskey, featuring all of the Chicago-Style Hot Dog’s fixin’s on a longer dog. Rounding out the traditional offerings are hot roasted peanuts from a special on-site peanut roaster; fish sandwiches, pulled pork and brisket sandwiches; and savory Greek sausages. Fans can also enjoy two ballpark hot dogs for the price of one within one hour of the gates opening.
Cincinnati – Reds – Great American Ball Park
Fried cookie dough, a favorite featured in “Home Plate,” will make a strong showing at the ballpark this season, along with unique and healthy touches like hot roasted peanuts and almonds, made-to-order fruit smoothies, hot-off-the-popper caramel corn and juicy turkey burgers. Other new concession items include savory garlic fries and LaRosa’s calzones – a regional favorite. Sportservice will also present a new suite menu that keeps fans’ favorites and adds tasty new items, such as beef or chicken fajitas and black pepper- and garlic-encrusted beef tenderloin. In addition, Sportservice is adding the Montgomery Inn’s nationally popular ribs to the ballpark menu; they join the brand’s increasingly popular pulled pork sandwiches – both are prepared using Montgomery Inn’s award-winning BBQ sauce.
Cleveland – Indians – Progressive Field
The delectable cuisine at Progressive Field is mom-approved and features earth-friendly serve-ware. Kids can show their team spirit with the Tribe Pride Slider – a half cherry red, half blue raspberry Sno Kone, named after the team’s fuzzy, fuchsia-colored mascot, Slider. Making its debut straight from the pages of “Home Plate” is the Cleveland Bomber, with Italian-style beef, mozzarella cheese and sweet or hot peppers. Comfort food will be king with the newest of five concession stands featuring hand-dipped milkshakes (in vanilla, chocolate and chocolate-banana) and Slider Super Burgers and Slider Mini Burgers with secret “special sauce.” Grill carts will sizzle with smoky Italian sausages, kosher hot dogs, Polish sausages smothered in onions and peppers, and local favorites – pirogues and kielbasas. Fans will also enjoy an upscale picnic menu on the party deck featuring southern-fried chicken, Montgomery Inn pulled pork, corn on the cob, sliced watermelon and homemade potato salad. Sportservice is also utilizing an expanded selection of environmentally-friendly serve-ware, including biodegradable corn-resin cups and napkins, and trays made from post-consumer recyclable material.
Detroit – Tigers – Comerica Park
Sportservice chefs at Comerica Park are offering a renewed focus on heart-healthy cuisine with new offerings like fresh veggie sushi, plenty of juicy fruit, meatless taco salads and made-to-order pastas. Traditional tastes include home-style pirogues with fresh sour cream, onions and applesauce; savory bratwursts; Dippin’ Dots; spicy-hot Buffalo Wild Wings; and Hebrew National Kosher Dogs
Milwaukee – Brewers – Miller Park
Fans’ heads will turn with the upscale, healthy and freshly prepared menu additions, including hand-carved sandwiches and made-to-order stir fry and pasta on the club level. A new, hot roasted peanut cart joins the new, baked potato cart, where fans can pick from broccoli, cheese, beef, chipotle chicken, sour cream and bacon toppings. For a true taste of Wisconsin, fans can nosh on Kettle Brau cheese curds battered in Leinenkugle beer. Fan favorites from 2007, including lip-smacking cheese fries served in a Brewers helmet, mouthwatering nachos grande, buttery Super Pretzels and specialty and craft beers, will also be back. Of course, Sportservice’s Secret Stadium Sauce (created by Abramson himself) on sausages, also represented in “Home Plate,” will continue to tempt Brewers fans this season.
St. Louis – Cardinals – Busch Stadium
Sportservice has invested in three side-by-side carts to provide fans with more action-cooking than ever on the main level. At Gate One, fans can check out the new Asian action cart, which allows them to select from fresh beef, chicken and veggies, then have it stir-fried with rice or noodles and served with chopsticks in a chow mein container. Next, the new fry action station will make seasoned fries in garlic-Parmesan, Cajun and chili-cheese, alongside a brand-new peanut roaster, harkening back to the olden days. In the Red Bird Club, fans can indulge in eight flavors of creamy gelato, an Italian-style ice cream, or a cupcake bar with made-from-scratch cupcakes. On the lighter side, fans can choose from veggie burritos, grilled chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers and garden-fresh salads and wraps. In the exclusive luxury suites, baseball enthusiasts can dine on gourmet cuisine like spicy tuna and California crab sushi rolls; Italian-influenced antipasto spidini skewers; fried artichokes stuffed with feta cheese; salsiccia from St. Louis’ famed Italian neighborhood, “The Hill;” pizza with spinach and artichokes; and two new comfort foods with a twist – turkey-BLT sliders and patty melts on rye. According to Abramson, fans will still be able to capture their first juicy hot dog at the stadium this year, as the hot dog carts will also be prevalent this season.
San Diego – Padres – PETCO Park
Succulent southwestern options serve as the basis for PETCO Park’s unique menu, featuring local favorites like Rubio’s fresh fish tacos and Randy Jones’ BBQ. Healthy options like veggie dogs, veggie burgers, vegetarian burritos, veggie sushi, edamame and fresh fruit salad, along with traditional ballpark fare like bratwursts and the veggie-topped Diego Dogs (recipe available in “Home Plate”), can also be found at PETCO Park. PETCO Park’s new loaded ticket offers fans the best of everything – with ticket options ranging from all-you-can-eat concessions included – to tickets with a stored value of $20 for purchasing concessions and merchandise.
Flickr photographs: Sportservice chefs, gourmet cuisine and traditional favorites
YouTube: Behind-the-scenes tour of a ballpark kitchen where Sportservice operates
Delaware North Companies Sportservice Opening Day 2008 Media Kit
Delaware North Companies Sportservice
Major League Baseball
“Home Plate”
Biography of Rick Abramson
Biography of Rolf Baumann