The Twins introduce new menu items to Target Field lineup

The Minnesota Twins and Delaware North Sportservices hosted a sampling of the new Target Field food lineup and TwinsDaily’s John Bonnes and Parker Hageman were on-hand to cover the new items and some ballpark favorites.

Beginning at Hrbek’s the Twins introduced some of their new food items, including offerings from [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] elebrity chef Andrew Zimmern (a lamb/goat burger), freshly battered walleye fingers from Mac’s Fish & Chips, Panino’s Baked Sandwiches, new brats from Sheboygan Sausage Co and a trio of mac ‘n cheese selection from the Food Network just to name a few.

The Twins dubbed the event “The Graze” as a collection of media members and lucky season ticket holders circulated the ballpark sampling a variety of food and beverages.

New Cajun Mac & Cheese to shovel in your Mac hole. #TheGraze twitter.com/OverTheBaggy/s…

— Parker Hageman (@OverTheBaggy) March 28, 2013

The threesome of mac ‘n cheeses were exceptional, particularly the new Cajun Andouille using Kramarczuk’s sausage, and this dish received John’s highest vote of the day.

While the improvement to the starting rotation has yet to be seen, the one area they did improve is shaving calories. Two new stands will offer those who prefer healthier offerings to the standard ballpark fare.

#MNTwins will be offering healthy foods (but they'll keep them behind glass so the dont hurt anyone). #TheGraze twitter.com/TwinsDaily/sta…

— Twins Daily (@TwinsDaily) March 28, 2013

The first of which is a to-go stand which dishes out fresh fruit cups, bananas, hummus and chips, and wrapped sandwiches. This can be located along the first base line.

You don't make friends with salad. #TheGraze twitter.com/OverTheBaggy/s…

— Parker Hageman (@OverTheBaggy) March 28, 2013

The second healthy menu option is the new Garden Goodies stand, also along the first base line, which makes fresh salads using vegetables and herbs that are grown locally and served by “participating youth from ethnically diverse areas of the Twin Cities.”

The Twins missed a golden opportunity to brand this stand “Gardy’s Goodies”, in my opinion, but with only the year remaining on his contract, the organization may not wanted to have grown too attached…

Sheboygan will be #MNTwinsnew sausage vendor but Kramarczek will have stands too. #TheGraze twitter.com/TwinsDaily/sta…

— Twins Daily (@TwinsDaily) March 28, 2013

Sheboygan Sausage Co, along with the tried and true Kramarczuk’s, will be dishing out sausages – Italian, Polish, bratwurst and cheddar bratwursts throughout the year.

It was around this time in the sampling that our pair of testers grew weary.

Pounded some cheddar wurst. Starting to get food cramps. #TheGraze

— Parker Hageman (@OverTheBaggy) March 28, 2013

It's possible I've reached the "blackout" stage of eating now. Just said hi to someone, but can no longer remember who it is. #TheGraze

— Twins Daily (@TwinsDaily) March 28, 2013

The duo recovered quickly when they found out the beverage sampling was on deck.

Here we go. #TheGraze just got more interesting... twitter.com/OverTheBaggy/s…

— Parker Hageman (@OverTheBaggy) March 28, 2013

Perhaps the biggest tweeted question of the day involved the whereabouts of the Surly taps. There will no longer be a “bandwagon” stand but a full-fledged tap stand just inside Gate 34 and carry Surly’s Bender, Furious and Hell. Fulton’s Sweet Child ‘O Vine will also be on tap there as well as the Town Ball Tavern.

The vendor stand just inside Gate 34 will now basically be a Surly/Fulton stand w snacks.

— Twins Daily (@TwinsDaily) March 28, 2013

The State Fair stand will boast the new Mac’s Fish & Chips, including the new fresh battered walleye – you can’t get any more Minnesotan than that. (No word on if the fish was actually zander…)

Walleye at State Fair Stand will be freshly battered on-site. (Not unlike the starting pitching - HIIIYO!) #TheGraze twitter.com/OverTheBaggy/s…

— Parker Hageman (@OverTheBaggy) March 28, 2013

Understanding that you don’t just want to be inundated with food shots all day, John Bonnes wisely added this contribution:

Who am I kidding? Here's what you really want to see... twitter.com/TwinsDaily/sta…

— Twins Daily (@TwinsDaily) March 28, 2013

Along the third base line, hungry fans can locate Panino’s buffalo chicken and spaghetti sandwiches in addition to the gianormous meatballs at Frankie V’s. The new comer is the creation of Andrew Zimmern’s – a lamb/goat burger found at the AZ Canteen.

This has a long name, but it shortens down to "goat burger." It's actually really good. #TheGraze twitter.com/TwinsGeek/stat…

— John Bonnes (@TwinsGeek) March 28, 2013

Despite sounding like an unusual combination, the burger was amazingly juicy and tasty.

The tour came full-circle back to Hrbek’s where the new malt cups and milkshakes could be sampled. John, of course, was more than ecstatic to try both:

Just so you know @twinsgeek's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. twitter.com/OverTheBaggy/s…

— Parker Hageman (@OverTheBaggy) March 28, 2013

It's back, baby. A time-killing boon for parents of restless kids everywhere: the rock-hard frozen malt cup. twitter.com/TwinsGeek/stat…

— John Bonnes (@TwinsGeek) March 28, 2013

Along with the new items, plenty of the old favorites will return, such as the Murray’s Steak Sandwich, the El Burrito Mercado’s Walk A Taco, Tony O’s Cuban Sandwich and Loon Café Chili.

Opening Day cannot arrive quickly enough but the Twins have a fully loaded food and drink menu to draw you into the ballpark all season long.