Kaysen, Zimmern Among Chefs Featured At U.S. Bank Stadium
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – When it comes to the Super Bowl of stadium food, the new home for the Minnesota Vikings already looks like a champion.
On Tuesday, U.S. Bank Stadium announced its culinary lineup, including cuisine from Andrew Zimmern and Gavin Kaysen, the fried chicken from Chef Thomas Boehmer at Revival and local restaurants like Ike's.
The team's concession partner, Aramark, already announced that Twin Cities celebrity chef and cable T.V. host Andrew Zimmern would be creating concepts and helping guide the new stadium's offerings. Zimmern will be selling porchetta, shredded chicken and lamb dishes at the latest version of his Andrew Zimmern's Canteen.
AZ Canteen started as a food truck and has spread to concepts in stadiums around the country, including Target Field.
Gavin Kaysen is a Twin Cities native who returned to Minneapolis in 2014 to open Spoon and Stable. Kaysen won the Rising Star award from the James Beard Foundation in 2008 for his work in New York City's Café Boulud.
Gallery: U.S. Bank Stadium Unveils Food Offerings
In the stadium, he'll team up with Zimmern to open another AZ Canteen. His outposts will sell savory meatballs and loaded hoagies.
"We are thrilled to partner with these notable and respected Minnesota restaurants and chefs to bring local flavor and variety into U.S. Bank Stadium," Vikings' owner and president Mark Wilf said. "The dining experience is a crucial component of our commitment to providing a memorable game day, and these prominent culinary partners, along with Aramark's robust menu and the innovative ways in which we serve our fans, will significantly enhance the hospitality experience during Vikings games."
Perhaps the biggest surprise at the stadium is Revival, the Minneapolis fried chicken hotspot that's expanding quicker than the waistlines of frequent customers.
Revival opened in 2015 in south Minneapolis, featuring long lines during busy times of people hungry for Chef Boehmer's fried chicken. On the heels of announcing an expansion to the Minneapolis location, and a new spot on Selby Avenue in St. Paul, Revival will bring its popular fried chicken, as well as some other southern specialties, to the stadium.
Ike's Food & Cocktails has been a fixture in downtown Minneapolis for decades, now with locations at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Minnetonka and Bloomington. Ike's owner, and Bloomington mayor, Gene Winstead will offer their popular steak sandwich and the signature Bloody Mary.
Aramark and Vikings officials did not disclose pricing at the launch of their food partners. They did say that the specialty food items wouldn't just be available in the suites or club level.
"That was very important to me," Jamie Hodgson, general manager for Aramark's M Hospitality, the stadium's food operator, said. "We told everyone we talked to they couldn't just be for part of the stadium."
Hodgson said deals are in the works for vendor relationships with local craft breweries, as well as other food partners. Those will be revealed over the coming months.
