From homemade Italian meatballs in New Jersey to gourmet burgers in Chicago and brisket sandwiches from Food Network, football fans can eat well after tailgating
BUFFALO, N.Y (Sept. 15, 2011) –Football fans this season will find plenty of tasty and innovative menu items, including many with local flavors, at stadium concessions operated by Delaware North Companies Sportservice.
Among the highlights are Food Network-created pub-style beef brisket sandwiches – a signature sandwich plus one celebrating local flavors – being served at five NFL stadiums. For example, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., home of the New York Jets and New York Giants, Sportservice is offering the brisket sandwiches, along with Food Network’s Buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese, at three portable concession locations.
Sportservice has added an upscale specialty burger bar at Soldier Field in Chicago, home of the Bears; stands serving fresh-baked pretzels and gourmet sausages at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, home of the Rams; and a retro beer stand at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
At all of its NFL venues, Sportservice added new menu items, including a unique Food Network take on a bratwurst at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., and a Polish dog at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y, home of the Buffalo Bills. These and other new menu items join many returning favorites, including a classic Reuben and a walleye basket in Cleveland, beef on “weck” in Buffalo and pulled pork sandwiches in St. Louis.
Sportservice’s New Jersey-New York “Home Food Advantage” menu items are back for the second season at MetLife Stadium. They include slow-roasted Italian pork sandwiches, pepper and egg sandwiches, and Executive Chef Eric Borgia’s family meatball recipe. Each game his culinary staff makes 5,000 of Nonna Fusco’s meatballs, named for Borgia’s grandmother.
“Fans don’t have to worry about filling up while tailgating because we’ve got delicious food right in the stadium,” Sportservice President Rick Abramson said. “Our chefs emphasize local foods and fresh ingredients and provide football fans with menus that go well beyond traditional stadium fare.”
The new Burger End Zone at Soldier Field offers Bears fans a wide assortment of contemporary takes on the ever-popular American tradition, including the chili, cheddar and pepper bacon burger; olive Giardiniera, provolone and fried pepperoni burger; a pulled pork, roasted pepper and Swiss burger; a bleu cheese portabella burger; and the build your own Chicago burger.
In Cleveland, Sportservice has added a “Your Dad’s Beer” stand featuring classic beer brands such as Stroh’s, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schaeffer and Genesee. Also new to general concessions at Cleveland Browns Stadium is a 10-inch brat topped with peppers and onions.
Sportservice at Ralph Wilson Stadium is introducing the Polish dog and the nacho grande, which features tortilla chips topped with chili, cheese, salsa and jalapeno peppers. Back again is Western New York favorite Red Osier hot roast beef, served in au jus on a plain or “weck” roll.
The Food Network signature brisket sandwich features porter-braised beef brisket topped with cheddar cheese, whole grain mustard and fried onions on a pretzel roll. Regional versions of the sandwich are also available at specific stadiums: the New Jersey/New York sandwich is topped with pepperoncini and smoked mozzarella; the St Louis features provel cheese and Red Hot Riplets; the Cleveland sandwich is topped with potato pancake, caramelized onion, horseradish sour cream and stadium mustard; the Buffalo is slathered in Frank’s hot sauce, blue cheese and sliced celery; and the Chicago sandwich is topped with Giardiniera, sharp provolone and celery-seed and sport pepper mayonnaise.
Carolina Panthers fans can enjoy Food Network and Sportservice’s unique take on a bratwurst, which is topped with local favorites pimento cheese and green tomato relish on a pretzel roll.