 You can always tell something about culture by what they serve for food at a ballpark, Seattle sushi, Baltimore crab cakes, etc. I grew up near Pittsburgh and even at the new PNC Park where I’ve visited for a couple of games, what I remember is the way the food mirrored the ethnic traditions of this diverse city: Polish and Italian sausage sandwiches and Willie Stargell’s fried chicken.
Yes, they expect to sell 4,500 hot dogs on Opening Day this year, but look at this excerpt from the article below for how “the times, they are a’ changin’” in a wellness way!
Take me out to PNC Park for some of that new grub.
If you gravitate toward the private boxes and tonier eateries such as the Lexus Club, you can look for changes there, too, brought about by Levy Restaurants' new executive chef Matt Roach, who started in November after working at US Cellular Field, home to the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox. He hopes to bring some of that mojo, but food wise, he's going to add more organic, local and sustainably raised ingredients, which he'll showcase at the Lexus Club's new Chef's Harvest Table.
For Monday, he's planning Honey-Thyme Free-Range Chicken; Spinach and Parmesan Stuffed Zucchini; Bibb Lettuce Salad with Poached Pears, Organic Goat Cheese and Lemon-Lime Vinaigrette as well as an Organic Mixed Green Salad; even a Smoked Tofu Salad.
"It'll change as the season goes along," the chef says. "Once local farmers get up and going, we'll start using their products as well."
As for fans who like to stand on tradition? You'll still be able to enjoy such local offerings as Primanti Brothers sandwiches and Quaker Steak & Lube chicken wings, along with Benkovitz fish sandwiches and Manny's (Sanguillen) pulled-pork barbecue.
And the Bucaroo's kids stand near the Left Field Gate will once again offer kid-sized hot dogs and other ballpark food at reduced prices (a secret find for adults who are too cheap to pay full adult prices but not embarrassed to line up with grade-schoolers).
Whatever your culinary pleasure, all fans can take comfort in knowing that beginning on opening day, Aramark will use only trans fat-free oil in its fryers (non-hydrogenated corn and sunflower oil). Cutting edge, but a move that mirrors a societal trend toward healthier lifestyles. "And we," says Mr. Musciano, "try to stay ahead of the trends."
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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