Vienna Beef Returns To Wrigley Field
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The last time a Vienna Beef hot dog was served at Wrigley Field, Fergie Jenkins was still pitching and Ryne Sandberg was in his first season with the team.
But now, Vienna Beef is the top dog at Wrigley Field once again, replacing Sara Lee Ballpark Franks.
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The Cubs announced the change in a news release Monday. The Ricketts family, which owns the team, is making a number of vendor changes, with a focus on local, family-operated companies.
Vienna Beef was introduced to Chicago at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and opened its first hot dog stand in Chicago the following year.
With the new contract, Vienna Beef hot dogs will be found at concession stands, grill carts and in hot boxes strapped to vendors' chests. The hot dogs will be served on poppy seed buns from Gonnella bread.
A number of new specialty offerings also will be available, including a Taco Dog with all the fixings of a taco on top, and a Heater-a hot dog, with blue cheese coleslaw, celery salt and buffalo sauce on top.
In other changes to the menu at Wrigley, D'Agostino's Pizza replaces Connie's Pizza. While Connie's is a South Side operation, D'Agostino's opened its first location in 1968 just down the street from Wrigley Field, at Southport Avenue and Addison Street.
Also, the Old Town-based Stanley's Kitchen and Tap will provide hamburgers at Wrigley. Wicker Park's Fifty/50 will provide Buffalo wings, and Chicago-based Enjoy Life Foods will provide gluten-free and allergy-friendly food items.
Among the new items available from Enjoy Life Foods is a "Not Nuts Beach Bash," which features sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried pineapple, apricots and cranberries – but as the name says, no nuts.
And if you're looking for a healthy alternative for dessert, Wrigley Field will now be offering Starfruit Frozen Kefir, a lowfat, gluten-free product similar to yogurt that will come in original or pomegranate flavors.
Whether you're out to try the frozen kefir or you're more of a peanuts and Cracker Jack person, you can learn all your options for dining at the Friendly Confines on the Cubs' Ballpark Food Map.
