Ford Field Scores Local Fare For Lions' Monday Night Game, Season (VIDEO)
By Edward Cardenas
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Detroit Lions fans have a smorgasbord of dishes from local restaurants and suppliers to choose from this season.
Hand-crafted ice cream from Treat Dreams, customized burgers from the Mercury Burger Bar and all-natural sausages from Corridor Sausage Company - with toppings and style of meat reflecting the opposing team - are among the local favorites that can be found throughout the stadium.
"Detroit has always had a really great and rich food culture. But it has really come on strong in the last five to 10 years," said Executive Chef Joseph Nader, of the "unprecedented" lineup of restaurants at a local sports venue. "We wanted to bring that excitement and culture inside the stadium for the game day experience."
The fare at the 65,000-seat stadium goes well beyond the traditional hot dogs and popcorn offerings. Ford Field, and Levy Restaurants, provides a taste of Detroit and Michigan in the stadium's 132 luxury suites, five mini-restaurants, 40 general concessions during Lions games and other events.
Among the new features this season - which were sampled at a tasting event Thursday - include:
- A Detroit-style Chili Cheese Fry Coney Dog featuring a Dearborn Sausage Company hot dog,
- Baked Potato Fries: French fries loaded with bacon, cheddar and chive dip,
- Barry Sanders Fresh and Fit Meal with a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, carrots, apples, juice and a limited edition Barry Sanders trading card by Topps,
- Poppin' Nachos: Layered tortilla chips with cheese and deep-fried jalapenos.
- Zingerman's Gelato
- Russell Street Deli's corned beef sandwich, club sandwich, Dearborn Sloppy Joe with halal lamb, Italian pork shoulder.
- Mercury Burger Bar
The added exposure for the Mercury Burger Bar in just two Lions pre-season has already brought added awareness to the Corktown restaurant, said chef Ariel Millan
"We've had people say 'we came to the Club Zone and you were there," Millan said. "They showed up and tried a different variety than what we got (at Ford Field) and loved it there as well."
