Headed to see the Rainiers? Check out these new foods at Cheney Stadium

Sliced brisket sandwiches, handmade ice cream sandwiches, hot dogs topped with peanut butter.

Ballpark dining doesn’t look much like the old days when you’d have to settle for a limp hot dog on a waterlogged bun.

And I’m fine with that.

The newest eats at Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium have this going for them: Many come from Tacoma-based businesses.

But then, there’s this: There aren’t many stellar values in ballpark dining.

I did find plenty to eat without feeling ripped off (too much).

Here are a few dishes to try at this year’s new food vendors, a revisit of a few favorites, plus notes to help you navigate stadium dining if you’re heading to a Rainiers game. They’ll be playing more than a dozen home games in the next three weeks.

PARTY DECK/LEFT FIELD TERRACE

The stadium’s new party deck opened in spring and comes equipped with a cocktail bar and picnic-bench seating for feasting on the new eats along the adjacent Left Field Terrace. The new dining options on the terrace are the R Bar-B-Q Stand, operated by Ivar’s (which operates five other concessions in the park), plus The Original Cookie Airstream trailer. Tacoma’s It’s Greek To Me had operated a gyro sandwich stand on the Left Field Terrace, but just closed for the season.

MENU REVAMP?

Earlier this summer, the stadium’s concession operator, Ivar’s, had planned to revamp its menus at its five stands— Ivar’s, Kidd Valley Burgers, Invincibles Pizza, Flying Taco and Fowl Territory. The menu revamp did not happen and it’s unclear whether it will this season.

ICE CREAM SANDWICH

Find it: Left Field Terrace by the Party Deck.

This is a business mash-up with a brilliant dessert outcome. Deborah Tuggle of Lakewood-based Bite Me, Inc., a cookie company she started in Tacoma 18 years ago, teamed up with Tacoma business owner Layla Isaac. Isaac is founder of Ice Cream Social, the scoop shop with two locations.

The business women combined Tuggle’s famous Belgian chocolate and walnut cookies with Isaac’s vanilla ice cream. The result is a big, thick chocolate chip ice cream sandwich with a creamy center.

Pro tip: Let the sandwich rest for a few minutes before tackling to allow the cookies to soften. At $7 each, the ice cream cookie sandwich is built for sharing.

Also available: Warm cookies, $5 each, plus milk or cold-brew coffee.

BARBECUE SANDWICHES

Find it: Left Field Terrace by the Party Deck.

They didn’t taste much of smoke, but the barbecue sandwiches at R Bar-B-Q Stand were roasted slow-and-low.

For $12, with a side, get either a pulled pork or sliced brisket sandwich with baked beans or mac and cheese.

First, the quibbles. The lack of smoky flavor led me to question whether barbecue was the right moniker. The ratio of meat to bread was flipped in favor of bread.

Now for the good stuff. Brioche buns were buttered and toasted. The tangy sauce was applied upon request. The mac and cheese on the side was a good choice. It wasn’t gummy and was full of creamy cheese (think: Velveeta-ish).

Also available: Pulled pork mac and cheese, $7.

FISH TACO TRIO

Find it: Ivar’s stand.

It’s one of a few new items at the Ivar’s-operated stands. The trio of fish tacos at $10 is a bit on the expensive side (adding fries would make it a better deal), but the fried cod tucked into warm flour tortillas with a creamy sauce and cabbage left me full but not guilt-ridden like after I devour that full pound of garlic fries.

Also new at Ivar’s: Salmon salad ($12).

CRACKER JACK HOT DOG

Find it: The Red Hot stand

Tacoma-based The Red Hot is an off-shoot of the Sixth Avenue neighborhood craft beer and gourmet hot dog emporium of the same name. The specialty here is brew and dogs. Find a much finer craft beer/cider tap list than at the other brew stops in the stadium ($9 a glass, though).

My go-to is usually the Wurst Sausage in Baseball ($8.25) with sauerkraut and dill, but this year I navigated to The Cracker Jack, a decadent beef dog with creamy peanut butter, a crispy slice of bacon and a topping of Cracker Jack caramel-coated popcorn ($7.75). It’s the greatest novelty food find in the stadium.

Tip: They have vegan dogs at this stand.

ALSO TRY

Grounders garlic fries ($7) are a must eat and available at the Kidd Valley or Fowl Territory stands. For vegetarians, check out the new veggie burger added at the Kidd Valley stand ($8.25).

This story was originally published August 8, 2017 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Headed to see the Rainiers? Check out these new foods at Cheney Stadium."