THE JOY OF BALLPARK FOOD
From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine
By: Bennett Jacobstein
Food Photography: Deborah L Jacobstein
Published: January 9, 2015
Publisher: Ballpark Food Publications
Non-Fiction
Baseball is synonymous with summer. People all over our country spend days, nights and weekends at ballparks cheering on their favorite minor or major league teams. Part of that enjoyment includes the food you eat at the game. Ballparks aren’t just serving hot dogs, peanuts, and cracker jacks anymore. There are foods to cater to every palate as well as dietary needs. Bennett Jacobstein and his wife, Dorothy spent a good share of 2014 visiting all thirty of the major league ballparks in the United States. Their purpose was to investigate the various food offerings and find out what is unique about each one. Their book also shares iconic historical information related to the classic song, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, the creation of Cracker Jacks, hot dogs, nachos, and how peanuts became a top-selling item at ball games. Each ballpark is featured including their signature hot dog and some of the more “unusual” and popular food choices. Dishes such as Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon at Safeco Field in Seattle, Wild Rice Soup at Target Field in Minneapolis, Rocky Mountain Oysters at Coors Field in Denver, and a Lobster Roll at Fenway Park in Boston are just a few of the stranger options to enjoy during a ball game.
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| Image taken of a page in THE JOY OF BALLPARK FOOD showing a photo of the menu from Wrigley Field in 1947. |
The enjoyment of food during a ball game has become big business and the Jacobsteins’ share some interesting tidbits of baseball history, how some foods were created, and unique hot dogs to fit every personality and geographic location. Wonderful photos are included throughout the pages to whet your appetite. After reading through these pages, you will want to order tickets to get to your favorite ballpark as soon as you can!
Our family has only been to four of the ballparks, and were familiar with several of the dishes mentioned at Wrigley and PNC Park. This book can certainly be used as a travelogue to visiting and tasting some of the chef-inspired dishes that have become so popular at games. Even though this book is offered in paperback form, it would make a great coffee-table book or conversation starter for summer gatherings or an excellent gift for that baseball fan in your life. Even non-fans will enjoy the food facts throughout the pages. The best part is that all royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. That makes this book a “Home Run”!
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| Bennett Jacobstein |
He is a retired librarian and publisher of demographic materials. He
currently works during the baseball season in the concessions stand at
Municipal Stadium, home of Minor League Baseball’s Class A Advanced San Jose
Giants. Every minor leaguer dreams of making it to the big leagues. Bennett had
his dream fulfilled when he worked as a concessions stand substitute at three
Oakland Athletics games during the 2013 season.
much better eater than ball player. He had a two-year Little League career in
which he went two seasons without getting a hit. His only RBI was when he got
hit by the pitch with the bases loaded. When not batting or sitting on the
bench, he would be found in right field praying that the ball didn’t get hit to
him.
his wife Debbie, the day his daughter Aviva was born, and the day he first
successfully replaced the nachos cheese bag in the dispenser at the San Jose
Giants’ concessions stand.
To learn more, go to http://www.ballparkfood.org/. You can also find out more on Facebook, HERE, and Twitter, HERE.
If you would like to purchase a copy of THE JOY OF BALLPARK FOOD, click the photo below:
Posted Under baseball, Bennett Jacobstein, Book Review, non-fiction, travel
That is so cool! I bet Russ would love this for his birthday!