As an avid sports fan, I was sitting on the edge of my seat as I watched the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. As an avid food lover, my mouth was watering every time the camera would pan to the food vendors walking around. It got me thinking, as a foodie, which park should you visit, Fenway Park or Dodger Stadium? Which city should you visit, Boston, MA or Los Angeles, CA? I did a little research to determine which places a true foodie should visit.
“In Alex Cora We Trust”
Fenway Park, built in 1912, is the oldest ballpark in the league but received a revitalization in 2009. At that time, management cut ties with their long-time hot dog manufacturer and began searching for a new supplier. They eventually selected Kayem Foods. Kayem Foods has continued one of not only Fenway’s, but baseball’s most famous ballpark snack: the Fenway Frank.
“Live. Breathe. Blue”
Established in New York in 1883, the Los Angeles Dodgers eventually joined the National League West division before the start of their 1958 season. While the now famous Dodger Dog was born in the West, it took major inspiration from the team’s Eastern roots in Brooklyn, NY. First served in 1962, after Dodger Stadium’s opening, the Dodger Dog took its’ inspiration from Coney Island’s “footlong franks,” however wasn’t an entire footlong.
So whats the difference between the two famous sausages? The famous Fenway Franks are boiled and then grilled, before being put into a classic, New England, split-top, hot dog roll. The renowned Dodger Dogs are offered steamed or grilled, however the later is known as the “classic.”
Snacks, Treats and Sweets, Oh my!
In addition to selling baseball’s favorite food, both parks offer other tempting snacks. At Fenway Park, despite the name, fans can enjoy a Yankee Lobster Roll, highlighting one of New England’s attractions, the seafood. These colossal lobster rolls are available chilled or topped with melted butter. In Dodger Stadium, management tried to capture the LA street-food scene with the LA Extreme Bacon Dog, a hot dog, wrapped in bacon and then covered with grilled peppers, onion, mustard, and mayo. For a complete list of stadium offerings (and location within the parks), visit the following links: Fenway Park or Dodger Stadium.
In addition to the delicious food served in the parks, both cities offer thousands of restaurants and some of the most popular, are in close proximity of the park.
Boston
Wahlburgers – Opened by the Wahlberg family, this burger restaurant aims to make their guests smile by sharing “good food, a few laughs and lots of love”
132 Brookline Avenue,
Boston, MA 02215
(Just 0.2 mile from Fenway Park)
Top of the Hub – Located on the top floor of the Prudential Center (the second tallest building in Boston), this fine-dining restaurant offers “Boston’s best skyline views”
800 Boylston StreetPrudential Tower, Floor 52Boston, MA 02199-8142
(Just 0.7 mile from Fenway Park
Los Angeles
Burgerlords – Started in 2012, they’ve “crafted a menu to fit any appetite,” including their famous Vegan Burger and vegan fries
943 N. Broadway St. #102Los Angeles, CA 90012
(Just 1.1 miles from Dodger Stadium)
Cole’s Restaurant – Opened in 1908, this is LA’s oldest restaurant, offering what they claim as their creation, “The Original French Dip Sandwich”
118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(Just 2.9 miles from Dodger Stadium)