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Ballpark Banquet
Written by Leah McLaughlin
FLUSHING - This Monday is the official opening day at Citifield, with the Mets facing off against the Florida Marlins and 2010 Mets Hall of Fame inductee Darryl Strawberry throwing out the first pitch. It's shaping up to be a pretty spectacular afternoon, so if you've got tickets, you're in for a great day, not to mention a fantastic meal (or two, or three). Hands down, the food at Citifeld is some of the best ballpark eats in the country, and some of the tastiest finds in New York City. In terms of flavor payoff for price, Yankee Stadium isn't even in the same league.
Last year, I went ballistic over the chicken mole pipian tacos at El Verano Taqueria, an authentic Mexican taco stand from Floyd Cardoz, executive chef of Tabla in Manhattan. I also loved the best dog in the park, the Blue Point dog at Catch of the Day, from Esca chef David Pasternak, a lifelong Mets fan. The dog's steamed in Blue Point lager and the bun is buttered and toasted. Just like you'd make at home. This year, Pasternack returns with another fantastic offering, a crab cake sandwich on a potato roll with tartar sauce. Made with fresh backfin crabmeat, it tastes like a crabcake should: More crab, less cake.
Are imported Shackburger's really worth the wait?
Shake Shack offers up its beloved Shackburger and this year offers a strawberry shake "hand spun" from frozen custard. I loved both, but the lines at the Shack are too much. Long lines are one of the reasons I can't deal with Yankee Stadium. Last year, I stood in line for 45 minutes for the luxury of paying $42 for two forgettable cheesesteaks and two beers. Missed an inning. I'm not a huge baseball fan, but when I go to a game, I want a chance to watch some of it. Thankfully, you can see the action from nearly anywhere in Citfield (which means you don't have to pay for pricey box seats), but not from the Shake Shack line. Same goes for Blue Smoke.
Box Frites, the Belgian fry shop opposite the very affordable Big Apple Brews beer booth, scores big with its new garlic parmesan frites. Having been sacked by traditional ballpark garlic fries, these are milder and to my mind, a whole lot better. The cheese softens the garlic's bite. I didn't try their other new offering, disco frites, doused in gravy, cheddar cheese and "fresh cheese curds" because it didn't sound very appetizing to me. I'm a ketchup gal.
A pie to die for from Cascarino's.
The Mets' official pizza comes from The Original Cascarino's Pizza, a College Point institution for more than 20 years. You might think pizza's pizza, but the new Grandma's slice with vodka sauce, mama mia. Creamy, cheesy, sweet and crispy. College Point can be tough to get to if you don't have a car, so for some visitors, this might be your only opportunity to try this unforgettable za.
The porchetta sandwich from Piccola Venezia restaurant is available at the Caesars Club behind home plate.
The club food options aren't as memorable unfortunately. Caesars Club, located behind home plate, is one exception, with an awesome Piccola porchetta sandwich developed by a legendary Queens restaurant, Piccola Venezia (a favorite of Lidia Bastianich). Tender, rosemary-scented rotisserie pork is layered with balsamic brasied onions and served on ciabatta bread with a schmear of rough-chopped tapenade. I'm still thinking about this sandwich.
Melissa's fruit cart is a surprisingly refreshing option.
I've also got to give Citifield and Aramark, the ballpark's main food partner, major kudos for making sure there are lots of healthier options. Melissa's fruit cart, with seriously fresh fruit, is just one example. (PS: It would be better if that fruit were local.) This year, Kozy Shack, the pudding people, will be offering a gluten-free stand. The harvest veggie burger, available from Yves Vegetarian, is totally decent, and the sushi from Great Neck's Daruma of Tokyo - truly fantastic. I also like that some local folks - Mama's of Corona, Tai Pan bakery and Cafe Hanover - get to show their stuff. If Citifield is the one Queens place Manhattanites venture to (sad), at least they're getting a taste of what the borough really offers. Unless, of course, they opt to wait in line for the same burger they can get in Madison Square.
Last year's lines. 15 feet deep.
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