The Pirates, along and food partners Levy Restaurants and Aramark, are putting the final touches on fun and inventive new foods and beverages that are making their debut park-wide on Opening Day, April 3, 2016. Foods range from the latest in trendy menu items, like braised pork tacos and hard rootbeer floats, to those monster ballpark creations, like a Cracker Jacks and macaroni and cheese foot-long hot dog with salted caramel sauce and fried jalapenos that we\u2019ve all heard about on TV and social media. So what\u2019s a Buccos fan looking for some good food to do?<\/p>\n
Let us try to help with this handy reference guide to the new food offerings at PNC Park that you can pair with the Pirates Park Amenities Map<\/a> (select the level option, section number and food to see what\u2019s available)<\/p>\n Aramark operates most of the food and beverage stands operated on the field, main and upper levels \u2013 including the Hall of Fame Club, and the Federal St. Grille and North Shore Refreshment Company sites. They have partnered with celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern to bring four signature items to PNC Park and five other stadiums in the MLB. Those items include:<\/p>\n \u2022 AZ\u2019s Canteen Dog- Piedmontese hot dog with roasted vegetable mayo, house-made grain mustard, cabbage slaw and pickled jalape\u00f1os, on a toasted bun Foods specific to PNC include:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Our Chicken \u2013 Fried chicken over Rivertowne Lager waffles, with vanilla-rosemary syrup (PNC Park, Hall of Fame Club)<\/p>\n \u2022 Cracker Jack and Mac Dog \u2013 Foot-long, all beef hot dog with Cracker Jack, macaroni and cheese, salted caramel sauce and fried jalapenos, on naan bread. Served with a bag of Cracker Jack (PNC Park, Section 144)<\/p>\n \u2022 Cracker Jack Sundae \u2013 Vanilla-fudge ice cream with crushed Cracker Jack, salted caramel sauce and cream cheese whipped topping (PNC Park, Hall of Fame Club)<\/p>\n Additionally, as part of their Healthy for Life 20 By 20 initiative, Aramark plans to expand the \u201cbetter-for-you\u201d products throughout the 10 ballparks it serves. Two healthier alternatives to the ballpark typical hot dogs and nachos are:<\/p>\n \u2022 GoPicnic Black Bean Dip pack \u2013 Black bean dip, crispy roasted plantain chips, Ginger Zip\u2122 fruit & nut mix, apricot Flexible Fruit\u2122 roll and an edamame, pepita & sunflower seed blend (gluten free, non-GMO and vegan)<\/p>\n \u2022 GoPicnic Turkey Pepperoni pack \u2013 Turkey pepperoni slices, asiago cheese spread, multi-seed crackers, Baja Blend\u2122 fruit & nut mix and Zeppelin\u2122 sea salt caramel lollipop (gluten free with no artificial colors or flavors, separate components within the box are also kosher, non-GMO and vegetarian)<\/p>\n Visitors to the premium spaces at PNC Park, specifically the Luxury Suites, Club Cambria, Pittsburgh Baseball Club and Lexus Club Dining Room are also in for some new eats, according to PNC Park Executive Chef Adam Holt.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we have some great things going for this year. We\u2019re keeping the favorites \u2013 they\u2019ll be here, but with our new items, we\u2019re adding new food choices and new experiences for the fans,\u201d he said. \u201cOur goal is always to enhance the whole experience of going to a game \u2013 from improving the time you get to spend watching the players on the field to ensuring that there\u2019s a variety of foods available for everyone in attendance.\u201d<\/p>\n Holt and his crew of 50 cooks and 10 dishwashers prepare food for about 5,000 fans a game in these special ticketed areas at PNC, which are operated by Levy Restaurants.<\/p>\n The Pirates Baseball Club level is getting some new food stands this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Il Forno, replacing the PBC Grill, features a 5,000 lbs. stone pizza oven, that Holt says shook the building when it was delivered. They will offer gourmet pizzas and a dessert pizza featuring Nutella and marshmallows. \u201cThese are baked nacho chips, a chipotle cheese sauce, red and green salsa, cotija cheese, fresh grilled corn, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and chile lime spices,\u201d Holt said. \u201cWe had a lot of fun coming up with that dish.\u201d \u201cNow, I\u2019m not a fan of the Phillies or anything \u2013 but one thing Philadelphia gets right is their cheesesteaks \u2013 and that\u2019s how we\u2019ll serve them here,\u201d Holt said, adding that unlike the traditional Pittsburgh versions, the PNC cheesesteaks will feature only meat, onion and sliced white American cheese \u2013 nary a bell pepper will be found.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Club level will also feature new portable \u201ccarts\u201d \u2013 a Gelato cart, a cocktail cart featuring some signature drinks, lemonade to mix with everything (\u201cYou would be surprised how many people love to mix lemonade with all types of hard liquor\u201d Holt laughed.), and a craft beer cart with a rotating mix of three beers on tap and wide variety of bottled and canned options.<\/p>\n Guests to the suites at PNC will be treated to additional drinks options this season as well. Levy Restaurants has named the park a test property for custom-built rolling beverage carts, similar to the rolling dessert carts already used in that area, which will visit suites throughout ball games.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were missing out on something when it came to beverage service inside the suites,\u201d Holt said. \u201cGuests have options in the suites selected by their hosts, and can leave the suite to visit one of the bars to get a specialty drink. But that meant that they were missing a chunk of the game \u2013 and our goal is to minimize the amount of time people are away from the game \u2013 after all, that\u2019s what they\u2019re here for.\u201d<\/p>\n So, the rolling carts will visit the suites, guests will place their order, the cocktail cart-tender will hand make their drink right there and they can enjoy their beverage with only a minor distraction from baseball.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect solution,\u201d Holt said.<\/p>\n The suites will also be getting a draft beer option this season. In the past, given space considerations, beer was only available in bottles and cans, but thanks to countertop cooler units that hold bladder bags that can be filled from kegs inside the park without the contents ever being exposed to air, guests will now be able to enjoy draft beer without leaving their suite.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"http:\/\/c8f.efa.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Andrew-Zimmern-Canteen-Dog-300x199.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 AZ\u2019s Canteen Sausage- Cheddar sausage with roasted vegetable mayo, house-made grain mustard, cabbage slaw and pickled jalape\u00f1os, on a toasted bun
\n\u2022 Lamb Koefte Burrito- Lamb koefte and fried eggplant slices with tomato cucumber salad, green hot sauce and tahini, wrapped in a tortilla
\n\u2022 Korean Fried Pork Belly Sandwich- Battered and fried pork belly with grilled pineapple, gochujang sauce and chili lime salt, on a toasted bun<\/p>\n![\"The](\"http:\/\/c8f.efa.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Cracker-Jack-and-Mac-Dog-300x225.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 Gunners, located almost directly behind home plate, is now Tres Rios Taqueros (Three Rivers Tacos) and will feature Mexican-themed foods including three types of tacos \u2013 smoked chicken, marinated beef and braised pork. They will also serve hand-made margaritas and a dish called \u201cHangover Nachos\u201d in case you have one too many margaritas the night before.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Bierbauer’s has served up more traditional ballpark fare in years past, but in 2016, Holt said they\u2019re, \u201ctaking that up a notch.\u201d Visitors can still get chicken tenders and hot dogs there, but they can also get two fan favorites – footlong sausages and hot Italian kielbasa with sauerkraut \u2013 previously offered elsewhere in the club. The newest addition to the menu there is a traditional Philly cheesesteak.<\/p>\n![\"Bierbauers](\"http:\/\/c8f.efa.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC_0506-300x200.jpg\")
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