Outside the (batter's) box: New Fifth Third Field menu offerings dare to be different

The ballpark has a lot more to offer nowadays than the classic hot dog with a mountain of ketchup and mustard — Fifth Third Field is gearing up for Mud Hens opening weekend with the addition of a Glass City Cheesesteak Dog, a Pretzel Pizza Dog, and so much more.

The Mud Hens’ first home game of the season begins Friday at 4:05 p.m. against the Nashville Sounds, and the stadium’s hospitality team is ready to serve guests its newly developed menu items.

Corey Pleasant, the team’s food and beverage director, said out of the seven new food offerings, one he’s most excited about is the Glass City Cheesesteak Dog.

“We’ve always had Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, but the pairing on top of a hot dog, you can’t beat that,” Pleasant said at a preview event held for the new menu items earlier this month. “It’s like two meals in one almost.”

The Heated Hen Donut Sandwich is a trend that Maurice Anderson, the park’s executive chef, said he wanted to bring to the stadium — the sandwich is sweet, it has heat, and it’s savory — bringing all different types of flavor profiles together.

Chicken chunks are “real famous in this area,” Anderson added, and the Popcorn Chicken Basket has three different sauces — sweet barbecue, a tropical glaze, and Jamaican Jerk — and is accompanied by beer-battered fries, which is a new addition as well.

Other menu offerings include the Brisket Boy, Barbeque Chicken Nachos, Loaded Farr Out Fries, and Toft’s Tilly Tracks ice cream.

While building the menu, Anderson kept in mind current trends and what’s popular in the market, saying bringing something new to the field is exciting, especially while “bouncing ideas back and forth with Corey.”

“We always say we have the biggest restaurant in downtown Toledo,” Pleasant said. “Being able to showcase our different talents, especially with having an executive chef on board, we’re just not concession food where you have the standard hot dog, you can have sandwiches here with a donut being the bun.”

Food isn’t the only thing changing on the Mud Hens’ menu, new drinks are ready to be sipped as well, including FrozHen sangrias.

A Peach Apricot Sangria and Raspberry Dragon Fruit Sangria made locally by Urban Pine Winery, 3415 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee, are new to the stadium’s concessions, along with bottles of its Fresh Orchard (Italian Pinot Grigio), Everly Ann (Oaked Chardonnay), Big Red (California Red Blend), and Romeo (Chilean Pinot Noir) blends available in the ballpark’s suites.

“This will be the first time that wine slushies are at the ballpark,” said Jen McAlear, owner, winemaker, and sommelier. “A brand new option, kind of cutting-edge, that we came up with for having that non-glass option to get wine in the stands are these pouches. [The 375 milliliter] sangria pouches can be served chilled or frozen.”

McAlear expressed her excitement for Mud Hens’ fans to be able to enjoy a high-quality wine while watching a game this season.

“There’s nothing better than that,” she said.

“It’s just cool to see the growth of Urban Pine and the types of partners that are interested in partnering with us,” she said. “It’s just a huge honor to be able to partner with such a great company like the Mud Hens, and that they’re even interested in carrying our wine is such a compliment.”

One of the most famous songs in baseball, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” may have to change its lyrics from “Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,” to “Buy me some Brisket Boys and a FrozHen sangria,” after fans try what’s new at Fifth Third Field.