THE COOLEST BALLPARK FOODS IN THE COUNTRY

Much has been made of how much it costs to do just about anything as a family nowadays. A day trip to a ball game with a family of four in 2012? Probably around $40. For parking alone. The tickets, the food, the drinks, the merchandise, concession supplies – you might as well buy the Golden State Warriors for the prices you’re going to pay. So if you’re going to shell out more than a few bucks to watch your favorite team get absolutely destroyed by the Miami Heat, New England Patriots or New York Yankees, you might as well get your money’s worth. And I’m talking foodwise. That food better be absolutely epic.

So where can you go to find the coolest food on the hottest days? Here are the top ballpark foods in the country:

5. THE CHAMPION HOT DOG, ARLINGTON BALLPARK, TEXAS RANGERS.
As if possibly seeing the former leader of the free world sitting behind home plate isn’t enough, coming to see the MLB’s Texas Rangers play also offers you the chance of biting into what former Rangers All-Star pitcher Nolan Ryan calls “a tremendous wiener”. We’re talking two feet of hot meat inside of what can only be a baguette, as there can be no hot dog bun in the continental United States that large. Smothered in carmelized onions, jalapenos and some delicious mustard, it’s surprisingly simple, which makes it so good. Instead of throwing a bunch of stuff together, the pound of meat you get here is worth the $26 you shell out for it. If the stress of watching a team lose two straight World Series doesn’t give you a heart attack, this hot dog certainly will.

4. ALLIGATOR SAUSAGE PO’BOYS, LOUISIANA SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS.
Watching grown men beat the snot out of each other as thousands of spectators indulge and cheer them on is a tale as old as time. You’re telling me that when two cavemen started fighting over a cavewoman there wasn’t a third caveman in the back thinking “Ooga, ooga booga dooga do”, which roughly translated means “I’ll watch these idiots go at it while I eat all the wild boar we hunted today”. Well, it’s no different when you go to the Superdome and watch the Saints’ vicious defense hunt down and illegally attempt to injure their opponents, all for your enjoyment. And what better way to enjoy it than with some local flavor in your mouth? Po’boys are awesome – no doubt. But some down home southern-fried alligator sausage sandwiches? Trust me, there’s nothing that will make you forget that half your team is suspended for a year than taking a big bite out of something that will one day be your shoes.

3. LUTHER BURGER, GCS BALLPARK, GATEWAY GRIZZLIES
The cool thing about Minor League Baseball is it’s a heckuva lot cheaper than a day at the worst pro team’s stadium in America and usually has great giveaways and delicious food. Not much explanation needed on this one: Krispy Kreme donut + 2 burgers + cheese + bacon = seventh inning stretch pants. Yeah, you’re gonna want to buy a commercial air freshener for the car ride home.

2. CHIEFS BRISKET STACK, ARROWHEAD STADIUM, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
One of the NFL’s most disappointing teams (home playoff wins since 1994: 0), the Chiefs also happen to have one of the league’s most rabid fan bases and apparently its most ingenious food manager. You want to talk about some real barbecue topped with pickles and onions, and oh yeah, some Texas Toast? Saucy, rich and absolutely delicious, enjoy the meal while the fans shake the stadium and then relax a little as they all leave with two minutes ago because the Chiefs are probably down by 28 at that point.

1. CRACKER JACKS, EVERYWHERE
I know, I know. It’s not creative, not filling, and there are ballparks where a box costs $5.75. And even if there’s a prize in it, it’s probably some lame paper football or something. But it’s taking a bite out of Americana and connecting us with our roots. Our sugary, delicious roots.

Who thinks we are the only ones at the games that are eating? When I was at the raiders vs jets game a few years back Mark Sanchez was eating a hot dog! I had one earlier myself and I must say they are pretty good but I was surprised to see Sanchez eating one!. Let's take a look at some athletes that were caught eating during the game.

Best for their Gilroy garlic fries, Orlando's Caribbean Cha Cha bowls and barbecue, and Crazy Crab Wharf's grilled crab sandwich and crab cocktails.

Best for their steak sandwiches from Murray’s, pork chops from J. D. Hoyt’s, and chili from the Loon Café.

Best for their Brother Jimmy’s barbecue and Johnny Rockets, plus dishes from star chefs Masaharu Morimoto and April Bloomfield in the VIP areas.

Best for healthy Ichi rolls (sushi named for Mariner Ichiro Suzuki), organic smoothies, and veggie hot dogs.

Best for their St. Louis Hot Dog, St. Louis Seasoned Fries, Stuffed Potato, Turkey Leg and Pulled Pork Potato Skins.

Best for their Mexican tapas, chopped brisket sandwich, Champion dogs, tacos, and Frito pie hot dogs.

Best for their branches of Shake Shack and Blue Smoke from NYC restaurateur Danny Meyer, and chef Dave Pasternack’s Catch of the Day, including lobster rolls, crab cake sandwiches, and clam chowder.

Best for their Bushfire Grill's cheeseburgers, Big League Grill's Stadium Kielbasa, Sidekick's nachos and Frozen Daiquiris.

Best for Gates’s whole smoked prime rib, beef-brisket and pork-shoulder sandwiches, and barbecue baked potatoes.

Best for their Primanti Brothers Sandwiches, Manny's pulled pork and burgers, and Quaker Steak & Lube's BBQ, ranch, and Louisiana Lickers wings.

As much as we love concession stand foods, we can only get them during baseball season. Here we found some recipes online that teaches you how to create some of the best stadium foods at home, so you can enjoy it throughout all the seasons.

AT&T Park Gilroy Garlic Fries Recipe:

Ingredients

• 4 minced garlic
• Vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 2 lbs. russet potatoes, cut into wedges
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Spray baking sheet with vegetable oil.
3. Toss potatoes with 3 tbsp of vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper then place the coated potatoes onto the baking sheet.
4. Bake the potatoes, turning on all four sides, until browned and crispy for 30-45 minutes.
5. With the remaining 1/2 tbsp of vegetable oil mix it all together with the garlic and parsley and then coat it on the hot fries.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Fenway Park Lobster Roll Recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 lbs of boiled diced lobster
• 1 tsp of finely-chopped parsley
• 2 celery that are chopped into small pieces
• 2 lemons juice
• Lemon wedges
• 1 tsp finely-chopped tarragon
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper
• 10 New England-style hot dog buns
• Butter
• Finely-chopped chives

Preparation

1. Combine lobster meat with celery, lemon juice, mayonnaise, parsley, tarragon, salt, and pepper.
2. Butter and toast the buns on both side until golden brown.
3. Distribute the lobster mixture onto each buns.
4. Top the lobster roll with some chives and lemon wedges.

Hot dogs, by far, are the most sold and favorite food to eat at the ballpark. Over 2.4 million hot dogs are consumed at the ballpark every season with an average of two hot dogs per person. Babe Ruth devoured about a dozen hot dogs between games of a doubleheader. Hot dogs have become a stable in the American diet with over a thousand variations to this traditional treat. Here we compiled a list of the best ballpark hot dogs all across America:

The South Philly dog is a mix of the traditional hot dogs and Philly's famous Italian sandwiches. The hot dog is includes Hatfield brand beef dogs, topped with broccoli rabe, longhots, and sharp provolone on a seeded Italian roll.

This California Cheesesteak Dog consist of a halfpound charcoal-grilled beef frank buried underneath a pile of steak, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and cheese sauce.

The BBQ Bacon Dog is a grilled hot dog wrapped in bacon and piled high with baked beans, dill pickles, pico de gallo, barbecue sauce, spicy mayo and fried tobacco onions, served on a Fazio's Bakery.

This Doyer Dog is topped with chili, chopped tomatoes, Wiz style cheese sauce, and pickled jalapenos from a jar.

The Sonoran Dog is a bacon-wrapped dogs jammed into a roll filled with beans, mayo, mustard, salsa verde, grilled peppers and onions.

The Torta De Salchicha is a split natural casing Cloverdale brand hot dog loaded with red onions, avocado and jalapenos.

Vienna Beef Dogs is a vienna dog served on a classic Chicago style toppings such as sport peppers and neon green relish, and Gonella Baking Company's poppy seed buns.

This Meat Lover Dog is a quarter-pound hot dog wrapped in bacon, deep-fried and topped with beef and black bean chili, shredded jack cheese, crispy fried salami on a Klosterman Baking Co.'s hoagie bun.

The All Star BBQ Dog consist of an all-beef frank covered in pulled pork, cole slaw, pickle slices, and signature barbecue sauce.

Birdland Dog is a local Esskay brand wiener with slices of charcoal grilled pit beef, pepperoni, potato hash, tomato relish and crispy fried onion rings.