Legends’ game concessions go way beyond peanuts and Cracker Jack

Hungry Lexington Legends fans will find new ways to whet their appetites at the ballpark when the season starts April 7.

For years, the food in the concession stands and ballpark restaurants was prepared by Aramark, said Eric Freeman, the new director of food and beverage. “Now it’s all in-house.”

At ballparks across the country, there is heated competition for the most outrageous, must-try stadium food. The Atlanta Braves are introducing a Burgerizza this year; a Wisconsin minor league team has one, too, as well as a funnel cake burger.

“We’re just there in the off-season thinking, thinking, what’s the craziest thing we can do?” Freeman said.

For fans who like a challenge, at Whitaker Bank Ballpark there is the Walk Off: 24 scoops of ice cream topped with Mini Melts (a kind of freeze-dried ice cream), chocolate syrup and gummy candy, for $25.

“It’s kind of a fun thing for a family or group of friends to share,” Freeman said.

Or not.

“Some people want to see if they can take it down themselves, and if they can, more power to them.”

The Legends will focus on “putting a new twist on some things,” Freeman said. To help with that effort, the Legends hired executive chef Chris Stanley, who is beefing up the options in the Kentucky Ale Taproom.

“He’s bringing some new burgers, all Kentucky Proud beef, to the taproom menu, like the Texan, a burger topped with house barbecue sauce, jalapeño slices and melted cheddar jack cheese,” Freeman said.

There will be lots of new items in the concession stands as well, he said. There will be a fried bologna sandwich on a glazed doughnut. It will be made with Fischer’s Kentucky Proud bologna, egg and cheese, and will be served on a hot glazed doughnut for $5.75, Freeman said.

And a concession stand that used to serve Gold Star Chili will now be the Broadway Cantina, with Mexican food offerings including pulled pork nachos, churros, tacos and burritos.

There will be new burgers in the stands, too, including one combo of burger and grilled chicken breast, with cheese in the middle, he said. Fan favorites including popcorn, pretzels and chicken tenders will be available, as will the popular $2 hot dogs.

And the Thirsty Thursdays, with12-ounce draft beers and 12-ounce sodas for $1, will be back, with Kentucky Ale, a craft beer from West Sixth and one from Founders in Michigan on tap.

There will be a new bullpen beer patio, too, with no seating but cocktail tables and drink rails.

“It’s a nice new area where people can hang out, get some food and take it out there, and we’ll have plenty of the drinks,” Freeman said.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Legends’ game concessions go way beyond peanuts and Cracker Jack."