Tampa Bay sports fans will soon be able to enjoy a freshly-pressed grilled cheese to go with their overpriced stadium beer.
This week, St. Pete-based grilled cheese concept Fo'Cheezy Twisted Meltz announced an exciting new collaboration with two of Tampa Bay's professional sports teams.
“As of today, Fo'Cheezy Twisted Meltz is in partnership with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rowdies as the official grilled cheese for both of these teams! We will have four new exciting locations within these stadiums,” Fo’Cheezy owner Robert Hesse wrote on social media this week. “Stay tuned to the build out and future collaboration content with the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies.”
Folks will soon be able to find Fo’Cheezy’s prized melts and sandwiches at Tropicana Field’s Budweiser Beer Porch, first base food hall and third base food hall, in addition to The Rowdies’ Field Level food court at Al Lang Stadium.
These four new stadium concepts join Fo’Cheezy’s two brick and mortars in downtown St. Pete and St. Pete Beach, as well as it’s brightly-adorned food trucks that serve events and festivals throughout Tampa Bay and beyond.
Popular Fo'Cheezy melts include the "Mac n' Rib" loaded with sharp cheddar, mac and cheese, BBQ pulled pork, bacon and crispy onions and its "Hot Mess" stacked with poutine gravy, beef short rib, crispy tots and three types of cheese—which might have a home on its new menu for the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies.
Pinellas native and former “Hells Kitchen” and Food Network competitor Robert Hesse launched his Fo’Cheezy brand just a few years ago, inspired by '90s New York hip-hop and street culture.
His St. Pete Beach restaurant and food truck launched in 2020 and the downtown St. Pete outpost—located at 111 3rd St. N—opened just a year later, marking exponential growth for the St. Pete native and his hyper-local business.
In addition to its various brick and mortars and food trucks, the local grilled cheese brand is also known for its philanthropic efforts, often benefitting a charity that Hesse co-founded with Fo'Cheezy co-owner Craig Monroe—who's no longer involved—No Kid 86'd. The St. Pete-based charity “provides needs and services to the at-risk kids of the Bay" and a small portion of Hesse's restaurant sales are often donated to his charity.
It’s still unsure what melts, sandwiches and drinks Fo’Cheezy’s multiple stadium locations will dish out, so head to its @focheezytwistedmeltz on Facebook or Instagram at @focheezymelts for the latest updates on this new partnership.
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UPDATED: 06/12/23 10:08 a.m. Updated to make clear that Monroe is no longer involved.
Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz will sling in-stadium grilled cheese sandwiches for the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies
He's opening four new locations at the Trop and Al Lang Stadium.
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