Kauffman Stadium’s new menu items: $19 tempura hamburger, healthier options

Kauffman Stadium continues to up its game with new concession offerings this season: a new cheese-stuffed specialty hamburger, a bacon-wrapped, tempura-battered hot dog and some healthier selections like black bean dip.

“Every year we try to introduce something new that will enhance the game-day experience,” said Carl Mittleman, president of Aramark’s Sports and Entertainment division, in a statement.

Aramark, which oversees the food, beverage and retail operations at Kauffman, will introduce:

▪ The Champions Alley Dog, a bacon-wrapped, tempura-battered footlong hot dog with sweet slaw and chipotle ketchup on a Farm to Market pretzel bun for $15.

▪ The Champions Alley Burger, a cheese-stuffed, tempura-battered cheddar bacon burger with sweet slaw, chipotle ketchup and fried pickle on a Farm to Market roll for $19.

The Champions hamburger and hot dog will be offered in Section 206.

Craft & Draft, a tap room behind the left field fence offering a variety of craft beers, including selections by Boulevard Brewing Co., was introduced at Kauffman Stadium in 2015. This year it will expand its beer offerings and add new menu items:

▪ A Jamaican jerk sausage sandwich on a toasted Farm to Market baguette with mango habañero salsa, green apple slaw and coconut chutney for $13.

▪ A kale salad with strawberries, apple, Marcona almonds, Boursin cheese and a poppy seed vinaigrette for $10.

▪ House-made doughnuts: cardamom spiced sugar with bourbon crème anglaise and cinnamon ancho chocolate sauces for $9.

Aramark also is offering a couple of new healthier selections as part of its Healthy for Life 20 By 20 initiative.

Its GoPicnic Black Bean Dip pack: black bean dip with crispy roasted plantain chips, fruit and nut mix, apricot Flexible Fruit roll, and an edamame, pepita and sunflower seed blend (gluten-free, non-GMO and vegan).

The GoPicnic Turkey Pepperoni pack: turkey pepperoni slices, an asiago cheese spread, multiseed crackers, fruit and nut mix, and sea salt caramel lollipop (gluten free with no artificial colors or flavors; separate components within the box are also kosher, non-GMO and vegetarian).

The packs will be available at 11 different concession stations for $9.　　　　　　　

Market Place, in section 203, also will have assorted vegetarian and “better-for-you” options including veggie dogs and burgers, hummus and pretzel chips, custom salads, wraps and whole fruit.

Andrew Zimmern, who is best known as host and executive producer of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods,” debuted as an Aramark ballpark partner at Kauffman Stadium in 2015. He introduced Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen Links and Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen Skewers, serving hot dogs, brats, sausages and flatbread sandwiches. Now his offerings will be rolled out to five other stadiums this year.

[Andrew Zimmern gets a taste of Midwestern woodchuck roasted by Jonathan Justus]

Kauffman’s Majestic Team Store also will sell the new Gold Threads hat — an honor reserved for the reigning World Series champ. The team will be wearing the hats and gold-lettered jerseys on opening day, April 3. The “KC” on the front is in gold, with the “2015 World Series Champions” logo on the side in gold. The hats will be sold exclusively at the Majestic Team Store through March 30 for $44.

Aramark is a partner at 10 Major League Baseball teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and — the team the Royals faced in the 2015 World Series — New York Mets. It also will manage the MLB.com Shop at All-Star FanFest this July in San Diego.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Kauffman Stadium’s new menu items: $19 tempura hamburger, healthier options."