Hey, Atlanta. Pittsburgh triple-dog dares you.
The Braves this year may have the Burgerizza, a heart attack-inducing bacon cheeseburger served between two 8-inch pepperoni pizzas, but the Pirates can do crazy, too.
When fans return to PNC Park on Sunday for the start of the 2016 baseball season against the St. Louis Cardinals, one heck of a concession awaits them at Riverwalk Grill in Section 144. It’s called the Cracker Jack & Mac Dog, and yup, it is a gut-buster.
And you thought last year’s much-ballyhooed Cuban Pretzel Dog, which paired a foot-long hot dog with diced ham, house-smoked pork, mustard and house-made pickles, was over the top.
Meant to marry two of baseball’s favorite eats — hot dogs and Cracker Jack — the naan-wrapped treat features a foot-long all-beef hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese, salted caramel sauce, deep-fried pickled jalapenos and a side of the iconic caramel-covered popcorn.
“It’s sweet and savory, with a bit of spice to it — a fantastic creation,” said Steve Musciano, general manager of Aramark, food provider for the ballpark, when trotting out the dish at a media event Friday. “People eat baked beans on a hot dog, right?”
Aramark executive chef George Drakulich came up with the idea this winter while he was watching TV and noshing on his favorite snack, popcorn.
“I tend to eat cheddar and caramel corn at the same time,” he said, “and it hit me that I liked the idea of combining sweet with savory.”
And so the dish was born, with a few tweaks to make it more substantial. Instead of cheddar popcorn and kettle corn, the hot dog gets a layer of homemade mac ‘n’ cheese and sprinkling of Cracker Jack, because the 120-year-old snack “goes with baseball.” A little fried, pickled jalapeno completes the flavor profile while adding a punch of color.
Mr. Drakulich knows what you’re thinking: Ugh! But once you try it, he said, ”your perception of what it is and what it actually tastes like is a big flip flop.”
Yes, he is aware that people are trying to eat healthy, “but if you’re coming to the ballpark, why not indulge?”
The Braves and Pirates have plenty of company when it comes to wacky ballpark food. Kansas City this year is introducing the Champions Alley Burger, a cheese-stuffed, tempura battered cheddar-bacon burger slathered with chipotle ketchup, fried pickle and slaw. In Toronto, Blue Jays fans can choose between Buffalo Cauliflower Poutine topped with cheese curds and scallions, and deep-fried chicken and waffles on a stick.
Not to be outdone, the Texas Rangers will offer a deep-fried chicken and doughnut hole skewers at Globe Life Park in Arlington this season, with buffalo honey sauce for drizzling. They’ll also serve something called The Wicked Pig, which brings together pulled pork, bacon, sausage, prosciutto, ham, pork rinds and — because it’s Texas — barbecue sauce in a sandwich.
And in Arizona, the Diamondbacks hope to wow fans with The Cheeseburger Dog. It’s a deep-fried hot dog crafted from char-grilled hamburgers and served with bacon, lettuce, tomato and a house-made secret sauce.
Back here in Pittsburgh, other new offerings from Aramark include fried chicken paired with waffles made with Rivertowne RT Lager and served with rosemary- and vanilla-infused maple syrup, deep-fried Oreos with a raspberry dipping sauce and a turkey gyro burger. At the new Andrew Zimmern Canteen in the Hall of Fame Club, fans can choose from a rotating selection of sandwiches created by the James Beard Award-winning TV personality and chef.
New dishes from concessionaire Levy Restaurants for club- or suite-level ticket holders include made-to-order street tacos, nachos and hand-crafted margaritas at the new Tres Rios Taqueria on the Pittsburgh Baseball Club level. At Il Forno pizzeria, guests can enjoy a variety of stone-fired pizzas — classic Margherita, spicy pepperoni and s’mores pie — made in a 5,000-pound stone oven.
(Prices for Aramark and Levy concessions were unavailable as of press time.)
For beer drinkers, the expanded Block House Corner at the base of the left field rotunda will offer a selection of craft and local beers, including Pittsburgh Brewing beers. If you’re more into spirits, the park will offer new 90-minute spirit tastings in Club 3000 on the PBC level on selected dates ($95-$115).
At the street level, fans have two new restaurants where they can fuel up: Slice on Broadway, next to Atria’s at the base of the Clemente Bridge, which will serve gourmet pizza-by-the-slice, hoagies and salads; and Steel Cactus on Federal Street, which will offer Mexican fare.
Gretchen McKay: gmckay@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1419 or on Twitter @gtmckay.
First Published: April 2, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
