Allianz Field offered eight food items during its media tasting event at the stadium on Wednesday and the refocused menu leans into Minnesota’s heritage.
“We are transitioning a little bit to be more representative of where we are and what we are doing up here,” said second-year chef and St. Clair, Minn., native Adam Reitsma.
After his first season at Allianz Field, Reitsma took into account feedback from fans.
“Everyone’s saying they are concerned about price; they are concerned about quantity,” he said. “And I really had to put my head down and figure out how I can represent that aspect. It’s going back and looking at something simple.”
Here are some of the highlights:
Walleye Sandwich
Breaded and fried walleye, shredded cabbage slaw, tartar sauce and egg bun. Location: Grand Casino Brew Hall
“A really great coleslaw with sesame seed and a really light vinaigrette,” Reitsma said.
Swedish meatball sub
Swedish meatballs in a nutmeg cream sauce with pickles and fresh dill on a hoagie roll. Locations: The Hungry Loon in Sections 10, 13, 22, 34
Harkening to Minnesota’s Nordic culture, Reitsma wanted to “try to bring some of those flavor profiles to our guests.”
Pressed broccolini sandwich
Broccolini rolled in a basil pesto sauce with fresh mozzarella on a telerà roll. Locations: Street Fair portable Section 34
Reitsma picked this vegetarian option for most underrated offering this season. “Really good food doesn’t have to be a whole lot of nuts and bolts and everything in between,” he said. “If you do food simply and correctly, it will do the work for you.”
Shore Lunch
Breaded and fried walleye, crispy hand-cut fries, Texas toast, ear of corn, tartar sauce, lemon wedge. Location: Grand Casino Brew Hall
Reitsma looks at the delicate care put into preparing the potatoes as the star of this product. “We think of up at Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods; that’s Minnesota and that is what we are here to represent,” Reitsma said.
Other selected offerings
Bibigo vegetable spring roll with teriyaki sauce, cilantro and onion comes in after success Allianz Field had with a dumpling product. … Fans have been calling for a return of bigger pizza slices and that will be fulfilled this year with their offerings from Red Baron, Reitsma said. … Roots for the Home Team, a local non-profit in St. Paul, is offering a rotation of five salads/wraps. … Kramarczuk’s Cheddar Brat with grilled onion and grilled sauerkraut remains a juicy stadium staple. … Allianz Field will continue its “Guest Chef” program, starting off with Minneapolis Mexican restaurant Oro by Nixta for Saturday’s home opener against CF Montreal.
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