Football fans, rejoice — the new Bucs season is underway! This year, thanks to Raymond James Stadium’s new head chef, Robert Leonardi, the fans dining at the concession stands will have their taste buds tackled by a brand new menu that may just change the way people look at game day fare. When asked about his new menu, Chef Leonardi said it's, "new, fresh and delicious!"
The new menu at the stadium is by far one of the best selections I have seen available at an NFL stadium. From new food and drink options, like all-natural, hormone-free Niman Ranch sausages and gluten-free beer, this may change how we look at stadium food forever.
Here's a look at the new lineup.
The overstuffed turkey panini with Swiss cheese and herb aioli is plenty filling, while the smoked short ribs are fall-off-the-bone delicious, having been smoked for twelve hours and basted with a smoky barbecue sauce. An item meant for sharing (or binging on yourself) during game time is the gargantuan Victory Knot pretzel that's accompanied by three types of dipping sauces: beer cheese, spicy mustard and vanilla cream. If you're in the mood for something cheesy, there's the gigantic cheesy focaccia pizza bread that comes with a side of marinara or ranch.
If you're a fan of classic stadium food, don't worry because they still have the usual concession items — with a healthy twist. The new sausages and bratwurst from Niman Ranch are all-natural and hormone-free, available in flavors like apple Gouda, spicy Italian and classic cheddar. As for side items, such as coleslaw and pasta salad, both have been revamped and are mayo-free and now contain healthier ingredients than the classic, calorie-laden incarnations.
This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2010.