In his blog at comcastsportsnet.tv, Nat's third baseman Ryan Zimmerman told readers of his favorite eateries in the Capitol region:

Speaking of DC, I thought I’d throw out a few of my favorite restaurants in the area. I love to eat good food (doesn’t everybody) and us young guys enjoy all different types of food when we’re on the road traveling. Hanrahan, Lannan, the other Zimm – all of us who aren’t married and don’t have families with us on the road figure what better way to spend our down time than eating. Haha. So here go my favorite spots in Arlington and DC:

Arlington
Liberty Tavern
Restaurant 3
Even Tide

DC
Capitol Grille
Sushi Taro

My favorite food: any steakhouse! (Prime Rib, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Morton’s)

Zimmerman Photo: Scott Ableman's photostream

From NESW (via Deadspin):

Guy Fieri Lookalike Dupes KC Royals Broadcasting Crew, Video. This is so sad. There must be so little to do during Royals games. Now they are interviewing people that kind of look like people that work for the Food Network.

City: Los Angeles, CA
Foodie: Jackie, @ThatSportsBabe

Venue: Dodger Stadium, Staples Center
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)
Address: 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, California 90012; 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90015



Jackie's Taste

Philippe The Original
1001 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-3781
http://www.philippes.com/

Philippe’s, an institution in downtown Los Angeles, is known not only for its french dip au jus sandwiches but the atomic hot mustard accessory that is "eat at your own risk."

Located on the backside of downtown in a building that was originally a machine shop on the bottom and an Inn on top, it is the go-to place before Dodger, Laker and Clipper games. They serve beer and wine at a price worth going out of your way for to get your grub and chug on before you tackle the expensive concession stands at game-time.


Opened in 1927 (but re-opened in 1951 at this location), Philippe’s has sawdust on the floor and roughly 8 lines across a deli counter. The wait to order your yummies is always a good 10 minutes minimum but worth every second. While they do serve breakfast (all day!) stews, chili and various soups, they are known for their signature sandwiches. You can choose between beef or ham (which they begin serving at 6am) as well as pork, lamb, tuna and turkey. There is also the option of going single dip, double dip or “wet” with the delicious au jus for the accompanying French roll as well as adding American, swiss or bleu cheese. (I recommend plain, no cheese) An array of side dishes are available too for a nominal fee, my favorites being the macaroni salad, potato salad and giant pickles. Word to the wise: Don’t even think of asking them for the "au jus on the side" or ketchup. You WILL be given a very ugly look


Recently featured on the show Man Vs. Food on the Travel Channel, host Adam Richman demonstrated how the fiery mustard was made. Needless to say SARS masks were involved and there were tears and eventual exodus to the parking lot because he “couldn’t take the heat in the kitchen.”. Created in a vat containing 2 gallons of 100 grain white vinegar, 10 gallons of white vinegar, 35 pounds of mustard flour and some paprika and salt, that is only a portion of what they manufacture daily. It is said that they go through 80 gallons of it PER WEEK. The equivalent of cocaine in a paste form, it will nearly put a hole in your nostril from the afterburn thru your sinuses but I guarantee you will not leave hungry or congested from Phillippe’s after a hearty sandwich smothered in signature mustard.

With the emergence of downtown’s new residential communities popping up, the influx of the all-nighter and hungover crowd has boomed making the lines severe morning, noon and night.. Bring your appetite and your patience to this beloved establishment but leave your credit card at home. CASH ONLY.

Black & White photo credit: philippes.com

Sandwich: intellichick's photostream

To kick off the 2009 baseball season, our friends at Real Clear Sports put aside ballpark staples to list some of baseball’s fanciest foods. "From Gordon Biersch’s garlic french fries in San Francisco to a BBQ stuffed baked potato in Houston to the Ybor City Cuban in Tampa, the Top 10 Lavish MLB Ballpark Foods are sure to fulfill even the hungriest of appetites."

City: Baltimore, Maryland
Foodie: Meghan, Girls Don’t Know Sports

Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Camden Yards)
Address: 333 W. Camden St. Baltimore, MD 21201
Team: Baltimore Orioles (MLB)


Meghan's Taste

Part of what makes Camden Yards so wonderful is that it’s nestled in the heart of downtown Baltimore and there is so much more there than just the stadium. This means that there are many great places to go before, during and after the game...all easy to stumble to as you eat and drink your way across Baltimore.

Pregame

The best place to start before any Orioles game is Pickles Pub or Sliders, both conveniently located across from the main gate at Camden Yards. They have an outdoor area stocked with cheap beers, most notably National Bohemian (Natty Boh), the cheap beer of choice in Baltimore. Both also have a good selection of beers on tap inside if you like a classier beer. Sliders has excellent wings and has a great appetizer called a crab pretzel that is a favorite Baltimore dish. (Soft pretzel covered in crab dip, covered with cheese and baked until the cheese is melted...mmmmmm) Also, there are a ton of vendors that sell hot dogs, sausages, peanuts, and sometimes crab cakes that are always cheap and usually good.


Camden Yards

Must haves

Boog’s Barbecue: Former All Star Oriole, Boog Powell, has a delicious BBQ stand near the center field bleachers. The pit beef sandwich is worth every penny. This is the place to eat. End of story. It also has the best beer deals, in case you want something to wash down that delicious sandwich with.


Uncle Teddy’s Pretzels: I love soft pretzels and the hand rolled, buttered pretzels are something I eat at almost every game. If you don’t want a whole meal or need an extra snack. This is it. If you like sweet better, there is a cinnamon sugar pretzel as well.

Also Rans

Most of the rest of the food there is just your average fare, nachos, pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and fries (better with vinegar and Old Bay). Nothing too special. I’d only recommend if you really have a craving for average, greasy, overpriced food.

Rumored to Exist

I’ve heard that somewhere at the stadium they serve crab cakes. I have never seen one or known anyone who has tried one. That being said, I would stay away from those crab cakes. Until I actually meet someone who has tried one, I will refuse to believe that they are possibly any good. And there are so many places to get good crab cakes in Baltimore. Please, just go to Boog’s.

Post Game

Most tourists after the game will wander down to the Inner Harbor for some food. And if you want to eat at a soulless chain restaurant, go right ahead. However, if you want a more local feel, walk northeast of the stadium instead of just east to Historic Federal Hill. There are a ton of good bars and restaurants in this neighborhood. And you’re likely to get something decent to good wherever you go. So I’m just going to run down a few of my favorites. Remember, when in doubt anything with crab or old bay is probably a good choice.

Nobles: Typical bar food, burgers, wings, you know. They do have great giant nachos. They also have fun bar games including beer pong and corn hole. I have a soft spot for this place. This is also a good place for a crab pretzel.


Nick’s at the Cross Street Market: Go to the Cross St. Market for a great assortment of food. Nick’s has sushi, sandwiches and a raw bar that usually has crabs that can be bought individually or by the dozen. Never picked a crab steamed in Old Bay? Well you have been missing out. On top of that, there are giant beers and plenty of O’s fans.

Pub Dog: Delicious gourmet pizzas. All delicious but I recommend “The Original’ Wing Dog (Buffalo Chicken), The Atomic Dog (if you like spicy) or the Mr. Green Jeans (more traditional). And micro-brew beer, two for one deal. I’m a fan of the Amber Dog and the Irish Red, but again, you really can’t go wrong. Also, shuffleboard is on the third floor of this cozy row home turned brew pub.


Mother’s: This is one of the largest bars in Federal Hill. It also offers outdoor seating and two large indoor areas. There are TVs plastered to every wall so any game you might want to watch is probably on. The portions are generally big and the food is good. There is a large selection of sandwiches, wraps and entrees.

Regi’s: This is more of a restaurant than a bar. It has outdoor seating which is always nice. Great American food all around. Burgers, sandwiches and tater tots with brie and bacon are all good bets on this menu. Most of the appetizers are good and the salads are all delicious.

Don’t Know: It’s a little farther away than the rest of the bars. (A few more blocks) However, the food here is worth the walk. The mac and cheese is great and cheap. The Kobe beef sliders are awesome. There is a great selection of beers on tap. And there are tons of fun bar games including shuffleboard, corn hole, and buck hunter.

Map of Locations


View Larger Map

Camden Yards photo credit: Joseph D'Angelo's photostream
Pickle's Pub: Deborah Lewis pbase
Boog's: bunkosquad's photostream
Pubdog: Baltimore Sun

City: Phoenix, Arizona
Foodie: Matt Blake, Fanster.com
Venues: Chase Field & US Airways Center
Teams: Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Rattlers (AFL), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) & Phoenix Roadrunners (ECHL)
Address: East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85001



Matt's Taste:

Phoenix, Arizona - What used to be a lackluster downtown area for years, has officially made a comeback…And with the addition of the new Phoenix Light Rail system opening up in late December, it is only going to get better. In fact there are already blogs dedicated to food in downtown Phoenix. So while they focus on the all food downtown, I will focus on the best of the best around my two favorite places in town: Chase Field and the US Airways Center. Lets do this:

Majerle's


Named for none other than Dan Majerle, former Phoenix Sun, Marjerle's is a great place for anything from pre-game drinks, lunch during the week and…of course…watching your Phoenix Suns on the Road. My personal favorite: the Rojo Diablo. Yum Yum. And did I mention that they also have a location in Chandler?


Friday's Front Row

There is no other restaurant in town that beats out Friday's Front Row for stadium views. The reason being: it is located inside Chase Field. The best part about Friday's is that you can actually catch a Diamondbacks game from a table perched high above Left Field.


Friday's Front Row is most famous for Mark McGuire's bombshell batting practice homer that knocked out a light on "R" of the Friday's sign. And they left the sign un-repaired for the remainder of the season….Now was that '99 or '00?


Jackson's on Third

Well, the food ain't great here, but it's got the best value for the area and is located and hop and a skip from both Chase and US Air. The great part about Jackson's is that there is always plenty of room and an outdoor patio to boot. You can sure get lost, but you won't have to worry about missing the game.

Alice Cooperstown


If you feel the need to rock, you need to go to Alice Cooperstown. Named after Arizona resident and legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper. But really, this place is as much a ball park joint as any I've seen. Two items should say everything you need to know about Cooperstown: 'The Big O' Onion Rings & 'The Big Unit' Hot Dog.


Stoudemire's Downtown


Named for none other than….Amare Stoudemire. Want to know where all of the high-ups at the Phoenix Suns are eatin' their lunch? It's at Stoudemire's Downtown. They actually have things on the menu called: ENTRÉES. Plus on top of that they get the occasional celebrity appearance or three.

Among the most recent guests are NFL Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb, ESPN Columnist Rick Reilly, and restaurant namesake, part owner and Suns star Amare Stoudemire. They are just a few of the playoff celebrity sightings at Stoudemires.

Coach and Willie's

Nestled between the railroad and the best free parking spots near Chase Field and US Airways, is the always packed Coach and Willie's. The food is always solid and the service is fast. I love this place because it is always packed and lively. It is also located a pinch off the beaten path, so many people don't know about it. I've tried many times to meet up with people who can't even find it….Fun times at Coach and Willie's.

Pizzeria Bianco

Want something gourmet and damn good? You need to head down to Pizzeria Bianco. This nationally acclaimed pizza is seriously THE BEST that you can get on the west coast. That is for sure. I have been to the place twice and it was packed both times. Lines start up outside the restaurant before it even opens. You have to time it right, but to get there before a game can be a great night out. Highly recommended!


Matador

Ah yes, we had to have some Mexican in here didn't we? And Matador is the place to go for some good authentic Mexican food. I recommend the enchiladas.


Tee Pee Tap Room

The Tee Pee Tap Room is located just south of Chase Field and has some more great authentic Mexican food near the stadiums. Can't say it was my cup of "Tee," but my friends sure love the place.

---------------------------

So that is downtown Phoenix ballpark/arena dining for you. There are many good options, from gourmet to cabaret. The bottom line is that you can't go wrong with a visit to downtown Phoenix. I didn't even get into ball park food, but that is pretty run of the mill. Enjoy and feel free to add your own favorites that I may have missed!

City: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Foodie: Andrew Rosin, The Grand National Championships

Venue: Miller Park
Address: 1 Brewers Way, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214
Team: Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)



Andrew's Taste

I look upon a condiment like some of you look upon your first love or big days of youth. I know. You see that first sentence and you may look upon me crossly. I do not care.

I have tasted Milwaukee's secret. It is evocative of wistful days of yore. It is as wonderful as a first kiss, as magical as your first slowdance. If you were so inclined? You could replicate the feelings of that one time you were able to steal the other teams mascot.

The only person who even has come close to cracking the secret is Midwestern Hipster Icon Chuck Klosterman. He does not know, but it does have certain similarities to an alchemy of Barbeque and Sweet and Sour Sauce. And yet? It's so much more.

"You like-a de sauce, eh? The sauce is guud, eh?"

The sweetest of Vidalia Onions and herbs and spices the likes of which you have never seen. I thought I detected cloves, but being as I was in Wisconsin, I could have been drunk. But I can tell you the real secret ingredient of the sauce.

Love.


So when you come to Milwaukee, you need to do what CC does. Any food that you order has to come with secret sauce. Hamburgers, Nachos, Sausage Meats. You could put it anything if you were so inclined. Why?

Because the sauce treats you right.

Miller Park photo credit: compujeramey's photostream

Sauce: katherine of chicago's photostream

City: Chicago, Illinois
Foodie: JD, Not Qualified to Comment

Venue: Wrigley Field
Address: 1060 W Addison St., Chicago, IL 60613
Team: Chicago Cubs (MLB)

JD's Taste:

Chicago is known for its heavy, filling and delicious food. From Deep Dish Pizza to Italian Beef sandwiches, it is the city of big shoulders and big heart attacks. Wrigley Field is no different. The food is not always spectacular, but it will definitely give you a few moments of chest pain. Don’t worry though, that just let’s you know you’re still alive.

Wrigley Field is the most beautiful place in the world to see a baseball game. In May, the smell of fresh grass and polish sausages mix with views of beautiful vines on the outfield wall to remind old and young people alike what baseball used to be. The smells of the food are all a part of the experience, and there are many options when you are at the ballpark.

The Usual

Wrigley Field has the usual array of ballpark food. The hot dogs aren’t bad, but I recommend getting a kosher dog. Even though they are a bit more expensive, the meat is clearly higher quality. The nachos, popcorn, super ropes, and cotton candy are all standard as far as ballpark food goes. Nothing special about those.

A little advice on the peanuts at Wrigley: I’m not sure if other fields are like this, but peanut vendors circle the outside of the park like vultures exclaiming that peanuts are cheaper on the outside. This is completely false. I had/have many friends that vend, the peanuts are not cheaper on the outside and you might even get hassled trying to bring them into the park! Just wait until you get inside, it makes no difference.

The Different

At almost every hot dog stand in the park you can also get polish sausage or a brat. I personally love the polish sausage, but either one is great. You can get it with sauerkraut or grilled onions, but I highly recommend the grilled onions, they are delicious. Also if you are feeling really risky, there are a few stands scattered throughout the concourse that sell foot-long dogs. They are so unwieldy that it’s as much a show as a meal to eat them, but they are very tasty. I know there is one such stand in the new center field concession stand area behind the scoreboard.


The Italian beef sandwiches are amazing. You can get them with sweet and hot peppers but make sure to ask for them to put extra au jus on the sandwich. If not it will be very dry and not as heart-clogging.

Also, randomly, Connie’s Pizza has had a deal with the Cubs for what seems like forever. You can get a slice of pan pizza (not exactly deep dish, but not really thin crust) from Connie’s, but beware of the high prices. It is a decent slice of pizza, but not the best value.

After The Game

Tuscany right outside the field on Clark is delicious if you are in the mood for Italian. They have delicious pastas and you can take a date here after the game. It’s not only for dates though, and judging by my experience, you will probably be a little sauced when you stumble out of the stadium. Don’t worry, there are TVs showing games and the staff is willing to talk sports with you. You can also try Mia Francesca for good prices and decent food if you are looking for Italian.

There are a few good Mexican restaurants around the field, but El Jardin is the best for a quick burrito and that margarita that puts you just over the top from ballpark drunk to head in the toilet drunk.


For pizza, Giordano’s is right down Sheffield on Belmont. The deep dish there is amazing. You can get good deep dish in the city any time though. I feel strange saying this, but actually there is a thin-crust place I recommend even more, called Ian’s. It just moved in on Clark right by the field. You can get all kinds of crazy slices, from mac and cheese to Philly cheesesteak.

The best hot dogs in the city come with the most attitude. Weiner’s Circle is located about a mile south of the park on Clark. It has some of the best hot dogs ever. Order a char dog and cheese fries. The char dog is a hot dog that is actually grilled until it is slightly blackened. Be careful if you ask for your hot dog “with everything” though. In Chicago that means mustard, hot peppers, relish, tomatoes, raw onions, a pickle and celery salt. Also no one in Chicago puts ketchup on hot dogs, so ask for it separately if you want it (though personally that sounds gross to me).

Brat photo credit: jeffreyaki's photostream

Weiner's Circle: ajdavis' photostream

City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Foodie: James Beale, The Sports Complex

Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Address: 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Team: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)

James' Taste:

Mark Twain's wife, annoyed by his constant swearing, once decided to cure him of the habit by swearing herself. Twain listened to her for a while before delivering his response: "The words are right, but the rhythm is wrong."

The food at Citizens’ Bank Park, the home of the 2008 World Phucking Champions, is like that. The names – Tony Luke’s, Rick’s, Chickie & Pete’s, and McNally’s are among the big boys, thorough enough to impress even the most dyed-in-the-delph locals. But if it’s natural rhythm and cadence you’re after, your best bet might be the stadium-food standbys.

The truth about Stadium food at CBP is that – aside from the surprisingly excellent Bull’s BBQ, where you can cop a Turkey Leg that could double as a club in a pinch and catch Phillies legend Greg “The Bull” Luzinski mingling with the crowds outside– it’s made for outsiders. Is it dope that Tony Luke’s is making your sandwich? Yeah, of course, but smart locals are copping one from the original half a dozen blocks away and bringing it in anyway. I’ve heard plenty of people rave about McNally’s Schmitter, never the native Chestnut Hillers who grew up drinking beers at the original McNally’s while their fathers sat at the other end of the bar and pretended not to see them.

Not that this is wholly a knock mind you, Tony Luke’s worst is better than Shea “home of the NL East runner ups” Stadium’s best. Critics ranging from the New York Times to the Food Network to Philadelphia Weekly have noticed, naming the Bank as the shining star of stadium gluttony. Besides, the Phils do do typical stadium fare better than most. Per ounce (and really, is there any other way to drink beer?), the Bank sells the cheapest beer in major league baseball, along with a nice cross section of higher-end drafts.

What wins CPB awards may be the big names and myriad vegetarian options (most veggie conscious stadium in the bigs – who knew?). But what separates it from rest is the options. The tourists have their cheesesteaks, the suburbanites have their schmitters, the yuppie’s can sit in Harry the Ks, and the 20 gamers can enjoy a beer with Greg “The Bull” Luzinski at his BBQ stop.


As for the have-to-mentions:

• Dollar Dogs. The Bank’s aren’t awful as far as stadium dogs go, but they aren’t noteworthy either. Still, what the dogs lack in flair they make up for in volume – the Phillies have ‘dollar dog nights’ maybe a half dozen a year, when college students hit the tailgate early and end up ankle-deep in hot dog wrappers – it that sounds repulsive, skip the date and catch the next game. If it sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer night; well, cop a rack, set up in FDR, and join the happy crowds in the cheap seats.


• Crab Fries. I’m going to get raked over the coals for saying this, but sprinkling old bay seasoning on normal fries really shouldn’t increase their price by $4.




• Rick’s Steaks. For the visitor who needs the “authentic Philly cheesesteak” and isn’t afraid to wait for it. Even at the ballpark Rick’s is Rick’s, so order a wiz wit and act proud that you know how to talk like a real, live local.




• McFadden’s. An in-stadium bar that lets the clever drunk get around the 7th inning cut-off, McFadden isn’t an awful option for what it is. Come for the shots, stadium, and camaraderie during the playoffs and for a postgame order of wings during that mid-august series against Cincinnati.


• Harry the K’s. I touched on it before, but Harry the K’s is the rare stadium bar/overlook that you can sit at all game and not feel totally out of place. New stadiums often get knocked for their specialty locales, where non-fans go and drink white wine with their backs to the action. Not true of the K’s.


• Everything else. For all the effort the park puts into local food and flair, it’s a shame that none of it can be had on the second deck. If you’re in the terrace level and want a cheesesteak you’re either eating the generic, or making a full inning and a half trip downstairs. If you’re not there early, or set with gorgeous seats, you’re better off drinking your dinner.

Still, all the faults with CPB are faults of standards, which may tell of just how elite the food really is. Maybe the rhythm is wrong, but I’ll be damned if they phucked up the words.

CBP photo credit: wallyg's photostream
Chickie & Pete's; Rick's: Cavalier92's photostream
Bull: PRWeb

City: St. Louis, Missouri
Foodie: Aaron Hooks, Cards Diaspora; InsideSTL.com

Venue: Busch Stadium
Address: 700 Clark Ave, St Louis, MO 63102
Team: St. Louis Cardinals (MLB)

St. Louisan’s like their food like they like their women- fat and sloppy. Hence this nugget from SportsService, the official food and beverage vendor of Busch Stadium III, shouldn’t surprise you: “Cardinals fans in 2008 consumed more nacho cheese than in any other Major League Baseball stadium.”

During the course of my e-mail exchange with SS’s director of Standing Partnership, the wonderful Kristin Gumper, I wondered how Cardinals fans could consume more cheese than any other baseball venue, yet lag into the double digits when it comes to tortilla chips. “St. Louis fans put cheese on everything.” says SportsService, “We sell almost as much cheese on the side in cups as we dispense on nacho chips.”

Makes sense. Cheesy pretzels. Cheesy hot dogs. Hell, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some guy put cheese on his cheese. It’s not the quality; stupid… it’s the quantity. And when you come to St. Louis in the summer to watch Cardinals baseball, well, you’re going to get a lot of something (beer, food, VD’s). Don’t like it? You can take your fancy pants to San Francisco.

Recently the pride and joy of being a St. Louis resident was ripped by those evil child molesting (probably) Belgians. Anheuser-Bush was bought by InBev and one of America’s last, great independent companies became just another huge conglomerate more worried about the stock ticker than the taste buds of people drinking their beer. (Although, some may ask what the difference between Bud Light and tap water actually is.) Jingoism aside, beer consumption- and more specifically Bud, Bud Light, Bud Select, Michelob, Mich Light and the Michelob family of beers is the main course, the meal, if you will, when you’re in and around Busch Stadium. Not A meal. Not part of the meal… THE meal.

Alyssa Horace, 23, of Clayton MO explains: “I think most girls over the age of twenty one and under the age of 30 prefer to drink their meals.... Mmmmmm.... Bud Light.... so yummy. Wieners usually follow... I'm talking about the kind that come in a bun.... and no not the kind you're probably thinking. Get your head out of the gutter!”

If you served the food SportsService does to Cardinals fans in a restaurant, you’d be shot. But since you’re pretty sloppy drunk people have a pretty favorable view of the fare. Seeing as this is a website dedicated solely to the food, this particular column may seem unnecessarily harsh. Just remember that we, and probably you, would like the food roughly 7 to 10 times better after 6 massive 32 oz. Bud Diesels.

To make it as easy as possible, let’s break this down into 3 categories: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Cool? I’ve even tossed the food query out to several Cardinal fans that attend games regularly for their input. Some of their quotes are below…

THE GOOD

Try the nachos.

• Beer. If you aren’t drinking, you aren’t trying.
• Bratzel. NY Times approved!
• "I personally am a big fan of "the dessert cart." If you are lucky enough to visit the "exclusive suites" there is a dessert cart that comes around during the latter half of the game. It is heaven on wheels! A true vehicle of pleasure at your suite doorstep! It boasts trays of cakes, cookies, bars and more. Some of its specialties include Crème Brule Cheesecake, 6-Layer red velvet Cardinals Cake, chocolate and white chocolate brownies, fruit cups, ice cream bowls, 5-layer carrot cake, Death-by-Chocolate Cake, cookies as big as your head, chocolate mousse, and on and on. That is the sweet to usually a bitter defeat you are watching on the field! Well and that and beers large enough to sit in = heaven!” Kerin Abbey, 29, O’Fallon MO
• Nachos: Like we mentioned before, not good on the surface, but a Cardinal tradition. “I don’t like these nachos at all. They are soggy, the cheese is bland and the jalapenos give me explosive bowel movements. In short, they are my favorite Busch Stadium food.” Ryan Riggle, 32, Fenton MO
• Fountain Soda: The fact that that this cracks the ‘Good’ list should speak volumes. That being said, this soda takes like liquid cocaine. Or so I assume. Sniff.
  

THE BAD

Better pizza?

• Asian Action Cart: Overcoming a terrible name is one thing, but trying to convince drunken hoosiers that al la cart stir-fry is a good idea in 98 degrees and 120% humidity is a different beast. The food isn’t in and of itself terrible, but the placement is a little bit like a having a porno on at a prison-not smart thinking.
• Fry Action Stand: Create your own fries. #1 topping? You guessed it- cheese! A promising addition to the roster in 2008 couldn’t quite make it to the good list since the namesake of the stand were limper than Hugh Jackman at the Bunny Ranch.
• Hot Dogs/Brats: Much better in the New Busch Stadium than the old one. Kosher dogs are available and all are grilled on actual grills now with onions and kraut options that are free. I think they actually chopped Larry Bigbe up and made sausages out of him now that I think about it.
• “I'm far more concerned with the BBQ outside of the strip clubs- I end up in Sauget after most games. That being said, it's the best BBQ in the country.” Chris Jenkins, 28, San Diego CA.
• Pizza: Papa John’s has it’s integration in some stands, but in other pricier seats the ‘Za is made by hand. Bread, tomato paste and cheese is pretty hard to F up. Luckily Busch Stadium doesn’t too bad. It’s pretty doughy for a city that is famous for thin crust pies.
• Hardees’s: A huge fast food restaurant featuring gigantic thick burgers and 800 calorie diet busting meal deals? Fits in much more conspicuously than you’d imagine.
• Funnel Cakes: And as a special bonus the stand only hires reformed sex offenders!

THE UGLY

Cat food.

• Toasted Ravioli: A STL tradition gone horribly, horribly wrong. I’m pretty sure they’re using cat meat. Stray cat meat.
• Popcorn: A double whammy of tasting like its 3 days old and having enough salt to give deer heart attacks.
• “Don’t get the chicken breast. Please.” Gina Alles, 29, St. Louis MO.
• Philly Cheese Steaks: Have you ever tasted death in between two buns? Do you want to?
• Fried Cannelloni: With a name like SportsService, how could you not make fried cannelloni to die for? Also, people reading this that have actually been to Busch Stadium will be shocked this is on the menu. I’m sure of that.
• Hot Chocolate: Most certainly the vilest thing to ever cross your mouth in public. Unless you’ve happened to have given head to Rosie O’Donnell. Hi-yo!~

As a special bonus and just because we care… SportsService has revealed exclusively to FanFoodie.com the new menu items coming to Busch Stadium in 2009 (all tentative and subject to change…)

• Chialquillas (pronounced chill - a - key - es) A traditional Mexican corn tortilla casserole (nacho casserole): corn tortillas tossed w/ chorizo sausage, corn, black beans and a spicy chile-tomato sauce. This may be an action station as well as an item sold in the El Birdos concession stands.
• BBQ Pork Potato Skins
• Smoked Beef Brisket Enchiladas w/ caramelized onions and white cheddar.
• Lobster-Potato Crepes w/ Sherried Corn Cream

That’s it. That’s the food review for Busch Stadium in downtown St Louis MO, home of the 2009 All-Star Game. Happy eating.
________________________________________________

Aaron Hooks writes regularly for www.CardsDiaspora.com
And every Monday for www.InsideSTL.com

City: San Francisco, CA
Foodie: Diana Iakoubova, Yardbarker and The Sports Biotch

Venue: AT&T Park
Address: 24 Willie Mays Plaza San Francisco, CA 94107
Team: San Francisco Giants

Diana’s Taste:

I’m an Oakland A’s fan, and I completely accept the fact that our stadium sucks. Do I really care that much? No. Because I am there to watch a game, hang out with friends, drink beer, and eat food made of random animal parts. Giants fans, however, are much too “sophisticated” for such peasant-like behavior. They pay up the John David Booty for their tickets only to escape from the cold, foggy weather to a fine dining establishment such as the Acme Chophouse.

The Chophouse is located within the stadium walls, though you don’t need a ticket to get in. You do need a well-padded wallet, however. I have to admit that I have eaten here once (I definitely wasn’t the one paying), and the food wasn’t bad. But people, you’re here for a baseball game. Sure, a giant slab of red meat is appropriate for such an occasion, but the words “grass fed steak tartare” should never appear on a menu within the confines of a stadium. Ever.

What do I recommend instead? Some stinky, greasy Gordon Biersch garlic fries. “Amazing” is the only word that can be used to describe these, um, aromatic delicacies. You can find them at concession stands around the stadium, or at the Gordon Biersch brewery/restaurant, located about a mile north on Embarcadero. Pretty much anything you get at the restaurant is guaranteed to be delicious, and be sure to ask for samples of all their beers. They’ll keep ‘em comin’.

Finally, for a more “mom and pop” feel, hit up the South Beach Cafe on Embarcadero and Townsend, across the street from the stadium. I believe it’s run by a very nice Italian family (complete with hot Italian waitress, gentlemen) and has delicious, authentic Italian food. Try a pizza topped with prosciutto or some meaty lasagna - bomb. It also has a few outdoor tables where locals can be found sipping on their capuccinos, relaxing after their morning runs and pilates classes as their yellow labs nap underneath their chairs. A pleasant setting for a pre- or post-game meal…if you can stand the intense stench of yuppy, that is.

ATT Park photo credit: Diamondback75