For some people, Spring is their favorite season; the long cold winter has ended, the grass is green and flowers are in bloom, and there’s a general feeling of having a fresh start, even more so than the New Year. If you’re a baseball fan, like me, Spring has even more meaning. Opening Day (the beginning of a new Major League Baseball season) is always around the beginning of April. This year it was on the 6th.
Dating back to my school-age years, I can remember loving the smell of a glove, the sound of the ball as it makes contact with the bat, the look of a freshly manicured field, the energy from the crowd, a perfectly executed bunt, and the taste of roasted peanuts right out of their shell.
Citi Field is the new home for the New York Mets, replacing Shea Stadium, which was built in 1964. With this new name and new location, comes a new food menu, and it’s nothing like when I was a kid. Long gone are the days when peanuts, popcorn, and hot dogs were the only treats available. Today, well, it’s a whole new…ballgame.
Even though I’m a purist and would still prefer a hot dog at a ballgame rather than anything upscale, the options are still pretty impressive. Not a baseball fan? That’s okay. You can at least appreciate the culinary delights being offered at these games.
For more information, visit The New York Times “Dining & Wine” section.
Anyone else excited about baseball season? Or a huge plate of nachos?
Featured photos by Robyn Lee: Mama’s of Corona Sandwiches, El Verano Taqueria, Macaroni with White Cheddar and Pancetta, Blue Smoke Pulled Pork Sliders
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
*Laughing* Nice one, Ethan.
Jay, by “upscale crowd,” are you referring to Raiders fans?
Just give me hot roasted peanuts, a Polish Dog, and a beer (or two…or three) and I’m set.
And what is it with some major league parks not offering hot roasted peanuts? If you haven’t enjoyed these tasty treats yet, you’re missing out. They’re the best improvement to Ballpark food yet.
I’ll leave the brie and marinated artichoke hearts with a glass of chilled Chardonnay to the upscale crowd.
Looks great, but it deserves to be on a plate at home for lunch, not at a ballgame. The Giants have their froo-froo food courts, and fries cost six bucks! Gimme an A’s hot dog that snaps when you bite into it! And, they’re only $5.50.
While Spring is my favorite season, it’s supposed to be 98° here today, and it’s a “spare the air day” which means that only half the people are allowed to breathe. Meanwhile, if the Twins were to play outdoors, you might be able to see home plate under the slush. So I’m having my sliders for lunch, indoors, at a table like a normal human bean.
Too bad their new multi-million dollar stadium and million dollar food prices can’t produce a better producing ball team.
I saw something about this on Serious Eats and was really intrigued by the food. I don’t even like baseball (sorry! I’m only a basketball fan!), but going to the games and eating the food there is pretty cool. So I wouldn’t mind if there was fancier stuff because some of it sounds sooooo good.
Love the start of baseball season! My husband and I felt like we were waiting forever for April 6th to arrive. I can’t wait to start attending the River Cats games in Sacramento (AAA team for the A’s), and, I have to admit, eating their tri tip sandwiches! LOVE the tri tip there – those and the warm roasted peanuts are one of the big reasons I love the games so much (guilty). My husband on the other hand, goes for the giant polish dogs. Either way, there’s nothing like sitting in the sun and eating ball park food while watching the game (and the people) for an afternoon.
I’m with Richard on the $11 beers! What’s up with that?!! Outrageous! I guess if we’re all willing to pay, they’ll keep charging.
I realize this is more about food than a particular baseball team, but let me say thank you for at least focusing on Citi Field, instead of the new Yankee Stadium. I am so tired of all the focus being on The Yankees ball club. They are not the only game in town.
Great article. It is only 7:30 am, but I ‘m almost ready to have a hot dog sandwich with a side of that macaroni with white cheddar and pancetta! It’s fun to see all the choices, even though I usually stick to the basics.
I’m also in the camp that likes a dog at a game. I wouldn’t mind a better class of hot dog than what the Metrodome provides though. Personally, I’ve always thought the “dome dogs” were dogs in name only. A nice, natural casing wiener would really hit the spot in the new Twins Stadium, come next April.
Fantastic post, Amy.
I too, revel in the sounds of the crowd settling in to watch the classic pitcher-batter duel, the smack of a 90 mph fastball in the catcher’s mitt, the smell of freshly cut grass wafting up through the stands, the allure of chicken sausage and asparagus over cheese…
Wait… I MEAN A HOT DOG!
It’s another way for entertainment to cater to the the customers.
If they could figure out how to avoid charging me $11 for a beer, I would be happy.
There’s just something wrong about using a fork at a ballgame.
I’m a purist too, Amy. Show me the way to the hot dog and condiments and I’m set.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having all different levels of food at these venues, but are there really that many people who want a “sit-down” type meal while watching a game in the bleachers? Can’t you do that in your own home?
Great post, Amy. I join you in your love of baseball. I have heard about the new eats at Citi Field and I know it’s had positive and negative reviews. Not the actual food, but just the feel of introducing restaurant-style choices at a ballpark.
Fans used to complain about the bad food at Shea and now those same people are complaining about the upscale menu. Reminder to everyone – the bad food is still there, too.
Macaroni with White Cheddar and Pancetta?? I’d go to a game just to eat that.