ARAMARK Invites Fans to Finalize Menus at 11 Major League Ballparks

Inspired by local tastes, executive chefs develop sandwich finalists

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With final preparations underway for the 2011 baseball season, baseball fans have a very important decision to make at 11 Major League Baseball stadiums. At Fenway Park in Boston, will it be Fenway’s Turkey Gobbler Sandwich or the Monster Roast Beef Sandwich? At PNC Park in Pittsburgh, will it be the Pulled Pork and Pierogi Stacker or the Stuffed Pepper Hoagie?

“Fans love to eat at the ballpark and what better way to serve fans’ taste preferences than by letting them vote for their favorite sandwich”

At these and nine other big league ballparks, ARAMARK – the leading provider of award-winning food and hospitality services for Major League Baseball teams and fans – and its MLB partners are letting fans decide what sandwich should round out their menus.

Fans will be able to vote for their favorite signature sandwich finalist for their ballpark on their team’s website or at the 11 stadiums, where their sandwiches will be sold throughout the first half of the 2011 season. Each ballpark’s winning signature sandwich – determined by total sandwiches sold and online votes – will be announced after the All-Star break and be featured on the menu for the rest of the season.

“Baseball fans may not be able to control the outcome on the field, but they do have an important voice in their ballpark’s menu,” said Marc Bruno, president of ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment. “Fan feedback is essential to our menu development process and helps ensure we are offering food options that appeal to our fans’ appetites.”

In addition to utilizing fan feedback, ARAMARK’s award-winning team of chefs used the off season to research local food trends, explore new ingredient combinations and test recipes to arrive at the sandwich finalists, which were developed exclusively for each ballpark.

“Fans love to eat at the ballpark and what better way to serve fans’ taste preferences than by letting them vote for their favorite sandwich,” said Ed Lake, ARAMARK regional executive chef. “Every season our goal is to create new and unique offerings for them to enjoy.”

As baseball’s premier concessionaire, ARAMARK uses consumer input to develop hospitality programs that enhance the guest experience at baseball games. Additionally, through its long-time partnership with the Culinary Institute of America, ARAMARK’s chefs are at the forefront of creating outstanding menus and dining options.

For a closer look at the food and beverage programs, including new menu items, that will be available at each of ARAMARK’s ballparks this season, visit www.ballparkfoods.com.

Signature Sandwich Finalists

Atlanta Braves - Turner Field

Cobb Smoked Pulled Chicken – House-smoked, pulled chicken with Vidalia onion straws, secret signature sauce and country slaw on Texas toast

Turner Field Brisket Sandwich – 18-hour braised beef brisket with smoked onions, secret signature sauce and country slaw on a corn-dusted Kaiser roll

Boston Red Sox – Fenway Park

Monster Roast Beef Sandwich – Thinly sliced Boar’s Head roast beef, topped with sautéed onions smothered in barbecue sauce, crispy onions and homemade pickles on a Kaiser roll, served with chips

Fenway’s Turkey Gobbler Sandwich – Sliced Boar’s Head turkey with cranberry sauce, topped with hot stuffing and gravy on a Kaiser roll, served with chips

Colorado Rockies – Coors Field

Manzo Panino – Smoked brisket topped with horseradish cream, sharp provolone, banana peppers and fire-roasted tomatoes on a crusty baguette

Il Porchetta – Slow-roasted pork loin braised in Italian-style gravy and topped with rapini, sharp provolone and spicy Italian long hot peppers on a crusty baguette

Houston Astros – Minute Maid Park

Hill Country Pork Hoagie – Slow-roasted pulled pork with garlic, red pepper and herbs, spicy chipotle aioli and sweet vinegar slaw on a sourdough hoagie with a side of kettle chips and a pickle

Texas Tom Turkey Sandwich – Roasted turkey breast with pepper jack cheese, spicy chipotle aioli, lettuce and corn salsa on a jalapeno-cheddar Kaiser roll with a side of kettle chips and a pickle

Kansas City Royals – Kauffman Stadium

Royal Pork T – Crispy pork tenderloin, topped with caramelized onions, fried pickle chips and Kansas City barbecue sauce

KC Ribeye Stack – Char-grilled ribeye, topped with cheddar cheese, apple wood bacon, sautéed mushrooms, crispy onion ring, lettuce, tomato and onion with Kansas City smokey and Gold barbecue sauces on a fresh potato bun

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Angel Stadium

Angelito’s Jalapeno Bacon Club – Grilled chicken, jalapeno bacon and pepper jack cheese, with an Anaheim chili marmalade, chipotle onion aioli, lettuce and tomato on a potato roll

House-Smoked Beef Brisket Griller – Homemade, slow-smoked beef brisket with pickled jalapenos, gruyere and sharp cheddar cheeses, balsamic red onions and garlic aioli on sourdough bread with horseradish dip

Angels Smoked Pastrami Reuben – Homemade smoked pastrami with gruyere cheese, sauerkraut, and Dijon bistro sauce on a pretzel roll

New York Mets – Citi Field (fans to vote for their favorite sandwich – all sandwiches to remain on menu)

Barbeque Bacon Burger – All-beef Brooklyn Burger with cheese, crispy bacon and house-made barbecue sauce

Hot Pastrami Sandwich – Citi Field’s own house-braised, hand-carved hot pastrami piled high on rye bread with deli mustard

Italian Sausage and Peppers – Fresh hot or sweet grilled Premio sausage topped with Melissa’s Produce peppers and onions

Shrimp Po Boy – Blackened shrimp with Creole mustard on a freshly baked ciabatta roll

Oakland A’s – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Bacon Jalapeno Meatloaf Sandwich - Handmade bacon and jalapeno meatloaf, sharp cheddar cheese and crispy fried onions on a brioche bun

Mamacitas Carnitas - Seasoned carnitas, queso fresco, pico de gallo, sweet pickled jalapeno, and shredded lettuce on a ciabatta roll

Philadelphia Phillies – Citizens Bank Park

Grilled Chipotle Chicken Wrap – Grilled chicken with sliced avocado, tomato, romaine lettuce, cilantro and low-fat yogurt on a whole wheat wrap

Char-Grilled Turkey Burger – Seasoned turkey patty with sliced avocado and homemade tomato salsa on a multi-grain whole wheat roll

Pittsburgh Pirates – PNC Park

Pulled Pork and Pierogi Stacker – House-smoked pulled pork topped with caramelized onions and two pierogi on a pretzel roll

Stuffed Pepper Hoagie – Banana pepper stuffed with sausage and cheese, topped with fresh marinara on a hoagie roll

Toronto Blue Jays – Rogers Centre

Barq’s BBQ Smoked Beef Brisket – Hickory apple house-smoked beef brisket, Barq’s Root Beer barbecue sauce, braised pickled red slaw and crisp onion straws on a cornmeal-dusted baker’s bun

“El Toro” Hand Pulled Chicken Sandwich – House-smoked pulled chicken, with Canadian peameal bacon, pico de gallo, maple-sautéed sweet red onions, fresh greens and smoked chipotle on a ciabatta bun

About ARAMARK

ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, as the industry leader in FORTUNE magazine's "World's Most Admired Companies," and as one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, www.aramark.com, or www.twitter.com/aramarknews.

(Editor’s Note: Photos of Signature Sandwiches Available Upon Request)