Woo pig, foodie!
We trekked to Fayetteville for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks season opener to check out the edible offerings at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Right, and watch the game too.
This year, we were particularly interested in the game-day grub after drooling over a Sports Blog Nation (sbnation.com) post: "New Food Options Available at Razorback Stadium" that posed the question: "Is macaroni-and-cheese now a condiment?" The stadium is selling not one but two items heaped with macaroni and cheese and elevating it from side dish status.
We would investigate this development, as well as two other intriguing newer items.
But first, we'd have to find them. These not-so-delicate delicacies aren't found at every concession stand, we discovered after looping nearly all the way around the stadium before finding the joint Wholly Habanero (nachos)/Bodacious Burgers (dogs/burgers/sandwiches) stand by Sections 114/115, operated by Sodexo, the university's concessions partner.
Which means at least we burned off a few pre-grease-feast calories.
MAC ATTACK BURGER ($9)
Menu description: "The Big Cheese burger ('Classic perfection. A fresh burger grilled, then smothered w/ American cheese and loaded w/ your favorite traditional toppings all on a fresh split top sourdough. Served w/ choice of out of this world onion rings or seasoned wildly popular fries') topped w/ a helping of mac & cheese."
Our description: What we were served was a long wait. Bless the nice people working the stand, they did their best with only a primitive pen-on-loose-leaf-paper ordering system to manage the first-game football crowd, but it took a long while to wait in line and get our food. As some items were ready before others, they were quite cold by the time we found a nearby set of stairs on which to sit.
The big burger looked impressive by stadium standards (really, all the food did), but much of the macaroni had not only chilled, it spilled out of the bun. And picking up clumps of congealed pasta with our fingers (we failed to grab a fork and didn't want to give up our seat on the stairs) didn't appeal. The coarse, crunchy onion rings weren't otherworldly, but they worked.
Verdict: Cold cow, moo-ey!
QUARTER POUND MAC & CHEESE DOG ($8)
Menu description: "Comforts from days past, combined for maximum, modern WOW. A premium hot dog topped w/ macaroni & cheese, crisp bacon on a fresh pretzel bun. Served with fries or onion rings."
Our description: Hot dog -- this was our favorite of the newer fare! Maybe the slightly stiff pretzel bun made it unmanageable to bite into the meat-bread-and-mac-wich all at once. And maybe the chopped bacon on top was pink and flabby and not brown and crisp. But the combination of the smoky dog and the messy macaroni, enjoyed with a fine side of fries, did delight our inner child, if not our outer thighs.
Verdict: Ooh pig, yummy!
BIG RED PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH ($8)
Menu description: "Giant breaded pork tenderloin fried golden brown, topped w/ American cheese on a toasted bun. Dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion & pickle." No side items included.
Our description: We didn't make pigs of ourselves on this one. Of the four menu items sampled, this sandwich -- built around a stubborn, lifeless pork patty -- was the least pleasing. We'd expect Hogs, of all things, to be better represented in their holy temple.
Verdict: Boo pig, phooey!
BUFFALO CHICKEN NACHOS ($8)
Menu description: There really wasn't one -- only the "Choose one Protein and Three Toppings" sign instructions. The SB Nation post, complete with photo, was more detailed: "Looks like chunks of fried chicken in buffalo sauce with cheese, blue cheese chunks, tomato, onion, and cilantro."
Our description: My date, who waited in the nachos line while I waited for our sandwiches, noticed only traditional toppings listed: shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced jalapeno peppers. He ordered our pile of chips topped with tangy, spicy buffalo chicken, nacho cheese, salsa (ack, more spice!) and deceptive red jalapenos that looked like tomatoes (ack, even more spice!). He didn't see blue cheese, and we weren't abandoning our spot to inquire about blue cheese, and therefore the result left me a bit blue. And heartburny. Hiccup.
Verdict: Wah chick, bluey!
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jchristman@arkansasonline.com
What's in a Dame is a weekly report from the woman 'hood.
Style on 09/15/2015