Brewster Ballpark Food Bracket Challenge

[jleddy]

CALLING ALL BBA GMs!

I'm going to be running a bracket challenge to determine the best ballpark food in the BBA, just like the NCAAs or your other favorite pop culture bracket challenge. I'll come up with seeds and regions (Division? Type of food?) and we'll determine who advances by way of league polls. 32 teams means 32 foods...a perfect number to get down to one champion!

What this means for you is I need each GM to submit to me via forum DM or Slack DM (don't post it in this thread!) the very best food from your club’s ballpark. It can be traditional or it can be out-of-the-box. It can be a nod to your club's region or an homage to a current or past player from your franchise. It can be a snack or a dessert or a main course. You get to decide!

Please submit your item to me by no later than Friday, May April 10th so I can get it things squared away then during the course of the season, can roll out the match-ups. Please feel free to send one or two sentences describing the item but I'll add some commentary as well, so no need to feel like you have to write a menu!

Thanks!

[usnspecialist]

question sent via slack but might apply to others as well. Just food items, or are drinks acceptable too?

[jleddy]

question sent via slack but might apply to others as well. Just food items, or are drinks acceptable too?

Let’s stick with food. Thanks!

[JimBob2232]

Oh. I gotta think here. I feel like this one is tailor made for me.

[jleddy]

Oh. I gotta think here. I feel like this one is tailor made for me.

You got a lotta options to get creative (and get all of us hungry) down in Louisiana and Deep South!

Remember, this is for your BBA ballpark, not your local or favorite MLB ballpark/club. Eleven submissions already...you guys rock!

[ae37jr]

question sent via slack but might apply to others as well. Just food items, or are drinks acceptable too?

Let’s stick with food. Thanks!

Damn, I had phoenix VODAK meeting Mexico City banana bread in the finals of my bracket. Guess I have to change it now.

[RonCo]

Much thinking ensues. I think I'll have to try the whole menu, just to be sure which is my favorite.

Admit I don't envy the judge who has to score the Louisville Sludge Sandwich.

[CTBrewCrew]

CALLING ALL BBA GMs!

I'm going to be running a bracket challenge to determine the best ballpark food in the BBA, just like the NCAAs or your other favorite pop culture bracket challenge. I'll come up with seeds and regions (Division? Type of food?) and we'll determine who advances by way of league polls. 32 teams means 32 foods...a perfect number to get down to one champion!

What this means for you is I need each GM to submit to me via forum DM or Slack DM (don't post it in this thread!) the very best food from your club’s ballpark. It can be traditional or it can be out-of-the-box. It can be a nod to your club's region or an homage to a current or past player from your franchise. It can be a snack or a dessert or a main course. You get to decide!

Please submit your item to me by no later than Friday, May 10th so I can get it things squared away then during the course of the season, can roll out the match-ups. Please feel free to send one or two sentences describing the item but I'll add some commentary as well, so no need to feel like you have to write a menu!

Thanks!

Do you mean Friday April 10th? The season ends IRL on May 30th according to the calendar.

This is pretty cool idea BTW.

[jleddy]

Yes, sorry, April 10...I don't even know what day it is anymore!

[jleddy]

Please get your submissions into me by Friday so I can start cranking away on posts...only about 50% participation so far. Don't make me rig it so those who don't join in either get terrible food choices or I say mean things about your sisters.

[JimBob2232]

OH MAN....I was tracking MAY 10th! lol

[jleddy]

Okay, here we go! Thank you to the 19 out of 31 teams who submitted entries for their ball club. To the twelve who didn't, I hope your sons grow up to be Carlos Camacho and your daughters look like Carlos Camacho.

I'll be listing out the 32 entries alphabetically by city, then Sunday I'll reveal the seedings and brackets. There will be four "regions": Snacks, Desserts, Misc and the biggie, Burgers/Sandwiches/Hot Dogs. Then each Monday over in the polls section, I'll post the match-ups for each round to be put to a vote over a course of a week. GMs are encouraged to campaign for your vote in team news articles about their match-up. After five weeks, we'll have a winner!

Without further ado...


The AC/DC
Atlantic City Gamblers
Subs, heroes, blimpies, grinders, torpedoes, hoagies...whatever you call them, this genre of sandwich is quite popular in south Jersey. The AC/DC ("Atlantic City Deli Classic") is an Italian variety, featuring healthy portions of Genoa salami, cappacolla ham and provolone cheese with lettuce, onion, chopped peppers and oil and vinegar, all on white bread. The sub bread is delivery daily from a local Atlantic City bakery.


Big League Jalapeño Crunch Burger
Boise Spuds
On a toasted sesame seed brioche bun, this half-pound angus beef patty is complimented by two strips of crispy bacon and melted cheddar cheese. Oh, and this is the land of the potato, so why not add a stack of jalapeño potato chips for the namesake crunch?



Coney Island Pizza Dog
Brooklyn Robins
Who doesn’t love a Nathan’s hot dog on the boardwalk in Coney Island? Or a slice of the world’s best pizza when in New York? Well, how about both together? That’s right, a world famous Nathan’s hot dog topped with pizza sauce, melted mozzarella and slices of pepperoni. Just don’t ride the Cyclone after taking down one (or two) of these!



Hanski's Maple BBQ Brisket Sandwich
Calgary Pioneers
With two locations inside The Stockyard, Hanski's Barbecue features long lines for the famous sandwich. With slow-smoked with apple wood, you'll be served slices of brisket coated in Hanski's Special Whiskey Maple BBQ sauce and topped with coleslaw between fresh baked buns. The proprietor of the popular concession is Jack Hanski Jr., former Brewster pitcher of eleven seasons, eight of which were spent in Canada, between Montreal and Calgary. Born in Calgary, the son of BBA Hall of Fame shortstop Jack Hanski loves providing delicious food to Pioneer fans.



The Joe Lacy Special
California Crusaders
Named after the fan favorite outfielder, this classic bar food is the perfect snack between innings. Three pickled eggs seasoned with black pepper in a basket of pretzels and pepperoncini peppers with a side of ranch dressing. It’s five out of five stars!



Homer’s Citrus Dog
Charlotte Cougars
A classic Charlotte ballpark staple, this all-beef hot dog is covered by shredded twelve-hour-smoked brisket and topped with a mandarin-orange soda slaw that’s made daily in house and garnished with horseradish sauce and green onions. And yes, you can purchase a jar of the slaw at select concessionaires in the stadium.



Crab Mac n Cheese Dog
Charm City Jimmies
In the land of blue crab, why not order a ballpark classic with a regional twist? Charm City takes a hot dog and smothers it with warm, gooey macaroni and cheese then layers on two scoops of the freshest crab meat you’ve ever had. Don’t forget the Old Bay seasoning!



Portillo’s Italian Beef Sandwich
Chicago Black Sox
If you don’t know Portillo’s, you’re missing out. Thankfully Vinnie’s long history with the Portillo family as brought the legendary sandwich to the ballpark. Reviews have called it “shredded pieces of heaven on a roll”. If Vinnie wants to increase attendance, widening the seats after a season of Portillo’s isn’t going to help!



Sweet Chili Kettle Corn Balls
Des Moines Kernels
Iowa, corn. Corn, Iowa. After you’ve had your dog or nachos, why not satisfy that sweet tooth with this delicious dessert? Fine on their own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for just $2 more, this sweet treat comes with some sneaky heat from the chili powder…kinda like a Jefferson Riles fastball!



The Hot Mess
Edmonton Jackrabbits
With four Brewster clubs north of the border, you probably guessed a poutine dish would make the list. Made by the world-renown La Poutine restaurant, this is as much fun as you can have eating at your seat. Why the “mess”? Dig your fork into the cheese curds and fries and watch the gravy shoot out like an oil geyser. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya.



The Hawaiian Outrigger Dog
Hawaii Tropics
Named after the water vessel Hawaiian natives are so attached to historically, this hotdog will be tough to sink. An all-beef frank accompanied by pineapple chunks, bacon crumbles and a pineapple-strawberry reduction sauce. Oh, we forgot one thing…this is all between a glazed donut hot dog bun. That’s some serious kind grindz.



‘Canes-Style Shrimp and Grits
Jacksonville Hurricanes
Jacksonville cuisine is a blend of the best of Southern food and fresh seafood from the Atlantic. Here at the ballpark, the best-selling item is a plate of spicy grilled shrimp served with a cool and creamy sauce and chopped scallions over grilled polenta rounds. Order these and they might be gone before the next half inning!



Flamin’ Hot Wing Things
Las Vegas Hustlers
Nothing says sporting event food like wings. But these ain’t your daddy’s wings. Recently added to concessions at The Casino in 2040, instead of traditional chicken wings, these are deep-fried breasts of yellow-crowned night heron, a favorite of the club’s General Manager. Covered in buffalo sauce then rolled in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust, these morsels pack some serious flavor.



The Hang Ten Hoagie
Long Beach Surfers
Surf’s up in Southern California and so is my hunger level. Good thing the Pacific Ocean and all it’s fresh fish is so close because next time I visit the ballpark, I’m ordering this toasted hoagie filled with breaded tilapia and jalapeno slaw. It’s an upscale po’ boy for an upscale franchise.



The Kwakou Burger
Louisville Sluggers
Named after the club’s beloved slugging right fielder (and a riff of his favorite meal growing up), this burger uses Tsire seasoning from Kwakou’s homeland of Nigeria and is dressed with peanut butter barbeque sauce for a Sawyer Silk Award-worthy punch in the mouth.



The Good Morning Burger
Madison Wolves
Inspired by The Simpsons lore, this monster-of-a-meal is now a reality and on the menu at all Wolves concession stands. They take eighteen -- yes, eighteen! -- ounces of sizzling ground beef and soak it in rich, creamy butter, then top it off with bacon, a slab of ham and a fried egg, sunny side up. At $25 a pop, you could say Madison was retaining your salary.



Dulce de Leche and Banana Tamales
Mexico City Aztecs
A sweet take on a savory Mexican classic. Corn husks are filled with a mix of corn masa, banana bread, sugar and condensed milk, wrapped and steamed. The tamales come with a side of creamy, delicious dulce de leche and banana slices that is spread onto the filling and enjoyed. ¡Muy delicioso!



Blazers Blazing Nachos
Montreal Blazers
Who doesn’t love nachos during a ballgame? Take your choice of beef, chicken or the recommended pull pork and watch the attendant start to layer on melted three-cheese blend, banana peppers, jalapeños and diced tomatoes. Oh, they’re not done yet. The finishing touch is a drizzle of Blazers Blazing Hot Sauce (available at most Montreal-area grocery stores) that’s infused with everyone’s favorite Canadian beer, Molson. Mouth-watering and mouth-warming all at once! And yes, this baby comes in a commemorative Blazers batting helmet.



Bluebirds’ Best Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Nashville Bluebirds
When in Rome…or in this case, Nashville. Load up on napkins to wipe your mouth and your soon-to-be-sweating brow, this classic takes a jumbo fried chicken breast doused in proprietary blend of spices and sauces sure to set off stadium fire alarms and topped with two slices of pickles. Some are saying this is the best hot chicken outside of the original Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack.



Bases Loaded Beignets
New Orleans Crawdads
One of the very best foodie cities in the country, it’s no surprise Huckfeldt Memorial Stadium ranks at the top every year in best Brewster ballpark food. Four famous New Orleans hot and fluffy beignets covered mile high in powdered sugar. It’s so simple yet so delicious. We totally recommend adding an iced chicory coffee for just $3.



The Runza
Omaha Hawks
Mention the Runza and any Nebraskan will tell you it’s the greatest thing since Tom Osborne. A pocket sandwich stuffed with seasoned beef, homemade sauerkraut and onions with melted American cheese. Go ahead and order a double (if you can swing it).



Talons’ Famous $3 Sushi
Phoenix Talons
Sure, there’s the $10 ribeye steak and baked potato platters and the $1 hot dogs, but did you really think we wouldn’t go with anything other than the (in)famous $3 sushi? As one customer once said, “You don’t buy $3 sushi. You only rent it for a short time.”



Kate's Kookies
Portland Lumberjacks
Hope you have room in your belly. Located in the lower concourse in the leftfield corner, the popular Dessert Stand is where you can find the popular Kate's Kookies. Inspired by the region’s relationship to the outdoors, these treats are filled with pecans, chocolate chips, and a touch of maple syrup. We highly recommend the “21 and Over” variety too, as they are infused with bourbon from Eastside Distilling, Portland's top local distillery.



Meat Pikes
Rockville Pikeman
Any carnivores in attendance? Then you’ll love these skewers featuring bacon-wrapped steak, bacon-wrapped chicken, and bacon-wrapped scallops with roasted peppers and onions. That’s red meat, poultry, seafood and pork also known as the four food groups.



Most Wanted Brisket Tacos
San Antonio Outlaws
There’s nothing against the law that says you can’t help yourself to a few orders of these Tex-Mex-influenced delights. Featuring tender, slow-braised pulled brisket that melts in your mouth and seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, we recommend topping it off with cool salsa and creamy slices of avocado.



The Jon Reed Messy Burrito
San Fernando Bears
This excessive mess of a meal is reminiscent of its namesake and former Bear hurler. Stuffed with shredded steak, chicken, rice, peppers, and onions, then covered in melted cheese, sauce and sour cream, this baby weighs in at over two pounds and comes with a Bears logo’d bib. Anyone who can eat the whole thing in one inning without getting a hint of food on themselves gets half-price beer of their choice.



Seattle Special Pulled Pork Sliders
Seattle Storm
Looking for a pick-me up at the seventh inning stretch? Get your Starbucks fix in with these little guys. Featuring coffee-rubbed pulled pork and served with a cherry barbeque sauce, you’ll be tasked to find a better slider on the Brewster’s west coast.



The Juicy Lucy Burger
Twin Cities River Monsters
Twin Cities' Land O’ Lakes Ballpark features the local favorite and world-famous Matt's Bar, the inventor of this burger stuffed with molten, bubbly, waterfalling cheese. One bite and you know you’re in for an experience. If any cheese escapes your mouth and makes it onto your plate, just scoop it up with the Monster Fries that come with each burger.



Waffle Cone Chicken Poppers
Valencia Stars
A riff on the late-night Los Angeles staple, chicken and waffles, these calorie-packers are deep-fried chicken nuggets served in a massive crispy waffle cone and topped with a bacon-infused maple syrup. Sweet, savory and oh so naughty. There’s a reason why the lines are so long to order these guys every home game.



The B.C. Roll
Vancouver Mounties
Ballpark food just isn’t burgers and dogs and so many ballparks are ramping up their levels of culinary offerings. One of the best is in Vancouver, where sushi has been the city’s most popular food since the 1970s. Back then, renowned chef Hidekazu Tojo came up with the B.C. – British Columbia – sushi roll. Featuring barbecued salmon, cucumber and sweet eel sauce, it’s prepared uramaki-style, where the rice is out the outside. Mountie die-hards make sure to get the roll topped with masago (capelin roe) and sesame seeds.



Stelio’s Spanakopita
Wichita Aviators
New to the ballpark this year but already a favorite, this classic Greek dish has become a staple on all menus in the greater Wichita-area. This savory pastry is filled with spinach and feta cheese and is sold in individual squares or full pies. Don’t be surprised if you see an Aviator fan taking down an entire pie in one sitting during a game!



The Big Niner
Yellow Springs Nine
Grilled to perfection, this nine-inch Polish sausage is laid in a whole-grain bun and is most often served with spicy relish and sautéed onions, however customers can custom order their Niner, like Nacho Style (served with jalapeño peppers and creamy cheddar cheese), Columbo Style (Italian sausage instead of Polish) or Raw Dog (plain). Mae Nilson, a life-time Niners fan, wrote in on her submission “I need a Big Niner every day. We live by the ballpark and I find I’m never satisfied unless my boyfriend doesn’t bring home a Big Niner every night. If I’m not careful, it’s easy to get stuffed with a Big Niner.”

[RonCo]

It's almost embarrassing to say how happy this made me. Now, excuse me while I go get a snack.

[usnspecialist]

i would like it pointed out that when i submitted my Jon Reed Burrito, EVERYONE got a 1/2 price beer. Not just if you finish it within 1 inning.

[JimBob2232]

Well done! I have my final 4 picked out already!

[Fat Nige]

I have submitted our sweet dish offering

[crobillard]

Hilarious. There are some absolutely brilliant ones on this list.

[bigmike13]

This was awesome.

[CTBrewCrew]

LOL - "Yellow Crowned Night heron" ....also is MTL a full size helmet.... if so.....it may have just gotten my vote

[JimBob2232]

I missed the change for the play on words "The Gillstrom-Boli"