Highway Robbery at the Ballpark?
Washington’s Nationals played their home opener in a sparkling-new stadium last weekend, but our chief curiosity is this: How’s the food?
The offerings at the new Nationals Stadium include a litany of local favorites, including the famous (infamous?) chili dogs from Ben’s Chili Bowl and Gifford’s ice cream. The Washington Post’s rundown included interviews with a range of ballpark diners (read it here) and their main concerns were long lines and, unsurprisingly, COST.
A family of six spent $90. A father-son team spent $57. Yikes!
We’d like to say there are easy alternatives, but a game just isn’t a game without popcorn, a questionable hot dog, and warm, flat beer. When you go out to the ballgame, do you grudgingly accept that you’ll spend a small fortune on nourishment? Is it just part of the package?
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About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is a monthly online publication edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
The Humble Gourmand encourages users to comment on any and all of its features, but reserves the right to remove any material deemed inappropriate.
Lauren
April 3 12:57 p.m. 1Not that I'm biased, but I'm still a Fenway Frank girl.
Jackson
April 3 2:02 p.m. 2Fenway Franks or Phillies Phranks. Obviously, either one costs at least three times what they're really worth, but at least there's a brand you're buying into. At the other parks, it's just annoying.
Each franchise should build a brand around its local offerings -- New Orleans could have crawfish and gumbo on the normal menu, and king cake for dessert, for instance, with a localish beer to wash it down. At least then you might feel like it's worth the experience.
Though brands don't work 100% of the time for me. In New England, it's tempting to just promise yourself a couple of Jordan's Natural Casing dogs and you can probably hold off from a Fenway Frank for the afternoon.
Jackson
April 4 9:43 a.m. 3To follow up on that, my co-worker Hillary reports that Safeco Field in Seattle has some great micro-brews and decent food, and that makes the experience even when you're rooting for a sub-par Mariners team.