Eats

Eats

Here are this critic's top 10 choices of favorite foods By: Rick Nelson


 * 1:** The ballpark's No. 1 food item boasts one of the state's most storied food pedigrees: Kramarczuk. The second-generation northeast Minneapolis culinary landmark is grilling three varieties ($6.50, sections 119 and 312) of its divine, made-fresh-daily pork sausages (don't miss the "Hungarian," a bratwurst laced with sweet paprika). Each blistered beauty is stuffed into a bun and buried under an avalanche of sauerkraut, grilled onions or peppers. Take one snappy bite and a plain-old hot dog will never do, ever again.
 * 2:** Warm up on a chilly day with a steaming cup of hearty wild rice soup. This Lunds- and Byerly's-made classic ($6) is brimming with nutty, chewy Minnesota-raised wild rice and bits of almonds and smoky ham. Runner up: the robust beef-black bean chili ($6, Halsey's Sausage Haus), based upon a crowd-pleasing recipe from one of the city's original sports bars, the nearby Loon Cafe.
 * 3:** Get it while it's hot: Outside the ballpark on Target Plaza, Angie and Dan Bastian pop their addictively sweet-salty Angie's Kettle Corn ($5) for Twins fans. Go ahead, try and eat just a single kernel.
 * 4:** "How would you like that? Rare? Medium rare? Well done?" It's the query du jour at the Carvery kiosk, where thick hand-cut slabs of flavorful pot roast-ey beef are dipped in savory au jus and piled high on a giant bun. This monster disguised as a roast beef sandwich ($12, main concourse near Gate 14) is big enough to feed two.
 * 5:** Next door at Asian Wok, a.k.a. the ballpark's best-smelling food vendor, the heady scents of garlic and ginger grab curious noses to a pair of surprisingly spicy -- this is Minnesota, after all -- stir-fries ($8.50, main concourse near Gate 14) made with thick wheat-flour noodles. One is a lively peanut sauce with chicken, the other is a vegetable medley tossed in a sweet-fiery honey-red chile glaze, both are delicious. Chopsticks, anyone?
 * 6 and 7:** The Summit Pale Ale flows freely inside Hrbek's -- and outside, on its open-air patio -- but here's what to eat at this great-looking bar and grill: The wonderfully sloppy pulled-pork sandwich ($11, Gate 14), a toasted and buttered brioche bun weighed down with smoky, tender pork brushed in a slow-burn barbecue sauce and topped with a crunchy jicama coleslaw. Then there's the beautiful chopped salad ($12.25), brimming with pungent blue cheese, baby tomatoes that taste like tomatoes, salty bacon, tender chicken, purple cabbage and fresh romaine.
 * 8:** In a nostalgic nod to Minnesota taste traditions, the ballpark features several different Jucy Lucy style stuffed burgers. The pick of the litter is the Vincent Burger ($12, Hennepin Grille), a two-fisted medium-rare beef patty carefully stuffed with slow-braised short ribs and smoked Gouda. It's a reasonable facsimile of the same meal-in-a-bun -- minus, unfortunately, the awesome French fries -- served by chef Vincent Francoual at his eponymous downtown Minneapolis restaurant.
 * 9:** Don't settle for a drab hoagie when there's a piping-hot Cuban sandwich ($9, sections 111 and 309), a stack of sliced ham, marinated pulled pork, Swiss cheese, pert sliced dill pickles and a swipe of tangy Dijon mustard, all pressed between toasted Cuban bread. That it's inspired by Twins legend Tony Oliva is just icing on the cake.
 * 10:** Sweets are not the ballpark's strong suit. One exception: the brightly flavored Talenti brand sorbets (get the blood orange) and luscious gelatos (don't miss the double dark chocolate), sold in double ($5.25, Gate 29 and section 302) and triple ($7.25) scoops. Even better, the stand features two of the happiest words in the English language: "Free samples."

How to eat Healthy at Target Field

Shelley Greefield's guide to eat healthy:

1. Don't arrive hungry. Every smell will set you over the edge if you are already hungry. If you have a little something in stomach you will have more will power to pass on temptations you wouldn't normally eat.

2.Take some time to walk around and smell everything, I mean really stop, look, and take a deep breath. Go ahead and salivate like a dog for a moment. Use some self control and discipline yourself to look first and make a decision on your top two choices for what you will have while you are there.

3.Think portion control. If you can't decide, get something you can split with your companion. A few bites of something is all you really need anyways.

4.Make healthy choices. If you usually prefer a burger, try a steak sandwich minus all the fancy sauces. Most sauces are high in sugar and/or fat, and sabotage your diet. If you like chicken fingers, try a State Fair turkey leg (which I hear are the size of a line-backer's forearm!). Grilled options are always best.

Add a salad to your sandwich to complete your meal. As an example, in the 3rd base lounge they offer a prime rib sandwich, tossed salad, and pasta salad for $12. It's a great way to have a well rounded meal and be able to enjoy it guilt free!

5. Hydrate with water. Save yourself the extra few hundred calories (and $7) from beer, and stick with H2o! Being out in the elements, especially when it gets hot under the summer sun, is important to stay hydrated.

My Guide to Hot Dogs

I was not able to try a lot of food on the tour. But I did get to try a few things. I tried a big soft pretzel and The Twins big dog. The pretzel was just like every other place that sells pretzels but the big dog was amazing. Just by looking at these things will make your mouth water. The big dog id a quarter pound all beef hot dog. They say this was meant to replace the Metrodome's Dome Dog. They will be served from portable grills and at select concessions stands. YOu should hope that one of the select concession stands is the one right near your seat! To go along with the Big Dog there are three other hotdogs. There is the Original Twins Dog, the Dugout Dog, and the Dinger Dog. The orignial Twins hot Dog is made from the same recipe at the old Metropolitan Stadium (the Twins stadium before they had the Metrodome) which is a blend of pork, venison, Slim Jims, Grain Belt, and Norm Van Brocklin's sweat. Thesse hot dogs are served everywhere in the park. The Dugout Dog is an old-fashioned dog in a natural casing. Will be sold by "retro-attired" vendors in the stands, which presumably means that you can look forward to buying from a vendor dressed in a suit, not the original vendor outfit. Lastly there is the Dinger Dog, an "extra-long" dog, available only from "Hennepin Grille" locations at the park. The funny thing about this hot dog is that you will have to submit the results from your latest visit to your cardiologist before being cleared to purchase. Also requires a background check and a waiting period.