Yesterday (April 1), Baseball Roundtable took part in what has become rite of spring – the Twins’ Annual Food and Beverage Preview. Sponsored by the Minnesota Twins and Delaware North (the team’s food and retail partner), this annual media event features a look at (and taste of) the upcoming season’s new Target Field food and beverage offerings. For true Minnesotans, it’s kind of like munching your way through the State Fair – only in a ballpark.
The Twins Keep Raising the Bar
As I’ve noted here before, when I first began attending MLB games, standard fare consisted of (not always piping-hot) hot dogs and (not always ice-cold) beer (usually just two or three choices) and soda. For those wanting to step outside the box, there were peanuts, Cracker Jack®, licorice ropes and popcorn (sometimes served in a megaphone-shaped container, popular at the ballpark, not so much at home). For the really adventurous, there were frozen malt cups (with a wooden spoon after taste). When pizza and burgers arrived on the scene, we all thought baseball’s culinary landscape was complete.
The 2024 Twins Food and Beverage Preview (like those that went before it) brought home once again how wrong we were about reaching the ultimate in ballpark fare – and how committed the Twins are to continually raising the ballpark food and beverage bar, while also building an ever-stronger Minnesota connections.
Here are a few of Baseball Roundtable’s favorite new Target Field offerings for 2024 – as judged by super-taster Bob King – AKA Bob The Grill Guy – and me. I’ve noted which are from Minnesota firms. Note: Many, not all, of the photos show the sample size from the Food and Beverage Preview, rather than full size offering (generally, if the descriptive sign is in the photo, it’s a full -size offering). I’ve also noted which new offerings are “Minnesota-made.” Prices were not available at the event.
—-Baseball Roundtable New Food Favorites—-
Number One – East Coast BBQ Mac N’ Meat (Minnesota Made) … Creamy mac and cheese topped with your choice of barbequed chicken, rib tips or pulled pork. Bob and I both rated this as the number-one new food – and we both recommend going with the rib tips (although all three offerings are tasty). Just the right amount of “smoke” in the sauce, without overpowering the flavor of meet. The ribs tips (our favorite) were the moistest and meatiest. Bob called it some of the best he’s had – and went back for seconds, despite the volume of food we had yet to taste. High praise from “The Grill Guy.” If we were to pick a new concession “Grand Slam” this year, this would be it. Section 131.
Number Two – Official Fried Chicken Might Buffalo Dry Rub Wings (Minnesota Made) …. A new addition to the Official Fried Chicken line – wings marinated, breaded and pressure-fried. Crisp on the outside, moist on the inside, dry-rubbed with a tasty and proprietary (a secret worth protecting) blend. We officially declare that Official Fried Chicken knows its chicken. You can’t go wrong with any of their offerings. Section 134.
Number Three – Bussin Birria Tacos (Minnesota Made) … Tender, well-seasoned braised beef, topped with melted cheese and served in a just-crisp-enough griddled corn tortilla – with cilantro, chopped onions and a tasty consommé dipping sauce. Hrbek’s, Section 114.
Number Four – Tie
Red Cow Ultimate Burger (Minnesota Made) … Certified Angus Beef done just right, topped with Wisconsin-aged cheddar, lettuce tomato, onion and Red Cow Sauce. If a traditional burger is what you crave after a 6-4-3 double play, this is the one for you. Red Cow knows its burgers. (This one is as traditional as starting the tenth inning with no one on base.) Section 233.
Burger Fries (Minnesota Made) … A new take on French fries, turning them into potato nachos. Crisp fries topped with juicy Philly Cheesesteak, American cheese, caramelized onions, jalapenos and Two Mixed Up house sauce. The fries make a Minnesota-nice bed for the juicy cheesesteak mixture and the jalapenos add a little “bite.” Perhaps not for everyone, but we liked them. Hint: Take and extra napkin or two. Thrivent Club.
—–Baseball Roundtable New Dessert Favorites—–
Number One – S’mores Boozy Ice Cream …. One of several new desserts that represent a new spin on old favorites. Soft-serve chocolate ice cream mixed with vodka and toasted marshmallow syrup – topped with a marshmallow and graham cracker. Finally, a dessert designed for ice cream-loving adults (of which I am one). This will replace soft serve I usually enjoy on game day. Hint: Get the kids their own vodka-free ice cream treat before you order this. You won’t want to share. Gate 34.
Numbed Two – Papa Pete’s Mini Donuts (Minnesota Made) … Traditional fried donuts (think County or State Fair) tossed in cinnamon and sugar, but with new taste possibilities offered by dipping choices like hot honey, salted caramel or chocolate. This is a sweet and tasty deal, great for sharing. Section 136.
Number Three – STEPCHLD Sweet Potato Fritters (Minnesota Made) … Are sweet potatoes a ballpark dessert? They are now. Especially when transform those yams into tasty fritters topped with maple syrup, cayenne pepper and whipped goat cheese. The whipped goat cheese cuts the sweetness a bit and the pepper adds a touch of warmth. Look out sweet potato pie, fritters are coming! Truly a dessert, Truly on Deck, Right Field.
—–Baseball Roundtable’s Favorite New Adult Beverages—–
The Cutwater Crew
Number One – Cutwater Mango Margarita … The Cutwater Cocktail Bar at Minnie and Paul’s offers a range of premium Cutwater premade cocktails. The Mango Margarita was a big winner with both Bob and me. Minnie & Paul’s, underneath the centerfield neon.
Number Two – Vanilla Creamed Whiskey (Minnesota Made) … Mixing Keeper’s Heart Rye, with Monin Vanilla Creme Syrup and soda. Taste likes old-fashioned Cream Soda, only with a kick. Bob noted that he could “get into a lot of trouble with that one.” You might also consider the Cherry Smashed Whiskey or Irish Mojito. Sophisticated ballpark imbibing. Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern, Section 229.
Spicy Watermelon Margarita – Should be a summer favorite. Refreshingly light. Hrbek’, Section 114 & Keeper’s Heart Town ball Tavern, Section 229.
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—–Other New Offerings—-
Union Hmong Kitchen Banh Mi Brat (Minnesota Made) … Nicely seasoned sausage with pickled vegetables and caramelized garlic aioli. This puts the James Beard-nominated Union Hmong Kitchen’s twist on the traditional bratwurst. Section 127.
Smashed Baked Potato … Design your own comfort food baked potato, with such toppings as bacon bits, brisket, chili, butter, sour cream, beer cheese and onions. Section 117.
Lord Fletcher’s Walleye Burger (Minnesota Made) … Seared Walleye Burger with smoked tarter sauce. Gate 34 – 10,000 Lakes Bar.
Just A Burger (Minnesota Made) … Double smash burger, topped with lettuce, onion, American Cheese and Two Mixed Up house sauce, served on a brioche bun. Big enough to share. Keeper’s Heart Town Ball Tavern, Section 229.
Q’BO Latin Food Chicken Tinga Arepas (Minnesota Made) … First of all, an arepa is a South American dish consisting of ground maize dough stuffed with a variety of fillings. At Target Field, you will find crispy arepa stuffed with Chicken Tinga, cheese, sour cream, Pico de Gallo and pickled onions. Truly on Deck Market – Right Field.
Parcelle C.R.E.A.M & BluePrint Smoothies (Minnesota Made) … Parcelle specializes in tasty organic, nutritious food offerings. The BluePrint Smoothie features: blueberry, avocado, banana, blue spirulina, vanilla protein, coconut milk and agave, while the C.R.E.A.M. Smoothie has strawberry, banana, coconut milk, dates, agave syrup, collagen, peptide and aloe. Section 126.
A Double Header – Curds and Cakes – Section 232
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s 2,000 words worth of images – and one additional word. Yumm!
—–An Old Standby—–
Target Field has always taken pride in its Bloody Mary’s. The Ultimate Bloody Mary. Hrbek’s, Section 114.
—–And Don’t Forget—-
The all-inclusive Legends Landing (Sections S,T,UV) … Al- inclusive game tickets starting at $42 each, with all-you-can eat hots dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, chips, peanuts, assorted Pepsi products , bottled water and frozen desserts.
The Family Value Stands (Located in Sections 120, 133, 311) … A menu of traditional ballpark staples, all priced under $5..
There you have it. Go Twins – and happy eating.
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