Toronto Star Referrer

New Rogers Centre menu brings the heat

MLB provider Aramark is cooking up poutine hot dog, banh mi chicken sandwich, mac and cheese

EDWARD DJAN STAFF REPORTER

Ever wondered what poutine on a hot dog would taste like? Well, thanks to the Blue Jays, now fans will have a chance to find out.

Aramark Sports and Entertainment, the provider of hospitality services for nine Major League Baseball stadiums including Rogers Centre, unveiled its new food additions on Monday, including a “poutine hot dog”: a classic Schneiders hot dog topped with hash brown potatoes, cheese curds and gravy.

For fans with a sweet tooth, there’s the “peanut butter and jelly churro,” which features three churros covered in cinnamon sugar, drizzled with peanut butter and strawberry jam. The treat also comes with strawberries and nuts.

Monday’s announcement from Aramark comes as Rogers Centre prepares to welcome fans after undergoing $300 million in renovations. The Jays are scheduled to face off against the Detroit Tigers at their home opener on April 11 at the newly renovated, retractable-roof stadium.

New food offerings by Aramark include plans for “Seasons Inning

Stretch,” a series of limited-time dishes based on the season.

“In the spring, venues will showcase fragrant and light ingredients, while the summer months will highlight classic concessions with a refreshing twist. And, as the baseball season comes to an end, warm, fall-flavour profiles will take centre field,” the food provider said in a release.

This spring, the seasonal offering is a banh mi chicken sandwich. The dish features halal ginger chicken, kimchi mayo, cucumber, pickled carrot and cilantro on a baguette.

Aramark said it will also introduce “elevated takes” on classic gameday foods. One offering is jerk chicken nachos — white corn tortilla chips and plantains covered in jerk chicken, pineapple pico, pineapple sour cream, green onions and cheese sauce — as well as a jerk chicken sandwich served on a brioche roll with pickle slaw and fried plantains.

“Our teams have been working through the off-season to develop menu creations and venue advancements that will deliver the memorable game day experiences that fans have come to expect and we look forward to showcasing everything new that we have to offer,” said Alison Birdwell, president and CEO of Aramark Sports and Entertainment.

Aramark said due to the Outfield District expansion, fans will have a variety of new food and beverage venue options including the Catch at Section 106, offering craft cocktails, mac and cheese, Montreal smoked meat and Cuban sandwiches. As well, the Stop will be at centre field at the 100 level and offer a “neighbourhood bar atmosphere,” serving up cocktails and food such as banh mi sandwiches.

Rogers Centre will also be home to a “hot dog headquarters” called Schneiders Porch in Section 209.

Other features fans can expect to see on opening day include Park Social, at the 500 level in left field, described as a “park within the park.” Aramark said the space will be open to fans of all ages and will include “food truck-style eats like bacon-pepper grilled cheese and milkshakes.”

The hospitality company also said that the Corona Rooftop Patio at right field, at the 500 level, will offer “modern takes on ballpark classics and an iconic Toronto staple, the peameal bacon sandwich.”

Aside from the food, Aramark will also expand Walk Thru Bru’s presence at the Rogers Centre, adding 13 new Mashgin units that use AIbased self-checkout technology at the grab-and-go beer market. The units will be in Sections 125 and 518.

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2023-03-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestarepaper.pressreader.com/article/281908777404745

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