The Best Stadiums for Gourmands
Some stadiums have stepped their culinary game up beyond the quintessential ballpark frank. If you find yourself in a position to catch a game at any of these four legendary venues, these are the dishes you need to try.
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Shutterstock1AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
Home to the Melbourne Storm (rugby) and Melbourne Victory (soccer), this architecturally fantastic rectangular stadium with a bioframe roof is a marvel. Locals hit Edwin’s Cafe on the ground level for batter-fried Australian flathead tails with fat chips and lemon aioli.
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Shutterstock2Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Home field of the San Francisco 49ers and the recent Super Bowl 50, great food and drink abound here. Locals head to the suite level for the grilled Castroville artichokes, served with charred lemon, garlic aioli and chives. The heirloom carrot cake with Mascarpone cream-cheese frosting is also stellar.
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Shutterstock3Stade de France, Paris
Home to soccer, rugby and big-name concerts, le Stade offers a selection of VIP seats and private boxes, in addition to the sleekly designed restaurant Salon Le{Club}, which offers panoramic view of the stadium. Champagne, wine and spirits complement the food orchestrated by Chef Guy Krenzer. Recent entrées included chicken viennoise confit with a vegetable tart, followed by dessert: black pepper-infused roasted apricots served with a warm madeleine and ice cream.
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Shutterstock4All England Lawn Tennis Club, London
During the summer fortnight of Wimbledon, The Wingfield Restaurant (reservations required) is worth a visit for the view alone. It’s located on the first floor of the Centre Court Building, above the great tennis town’s Tea Lawn. You’ll be turned away if deemed too casual (no jeans). The food is appropriately English, with a main course of grainy mustard- and basil-glazed Shropshire sirloin that’s quite the ticket. A visit would not be right without an ending of Kentish strawberries and blackberries in Cornish-clotted cream.