New ballpark food coming to GABP in 2023

When it comes to baseball and sports in general, the debates among fans are endless. But there is no debate when it comes to fans’ love for ballpark food.

Eating at a baseball game is an essential part of the gameday experience. And at Great American Ball Park, that experience is always first class, especially with some exciting new offerings being introduced for the 2023 season.

On Thursday, local media were invited to bring their cameras and appetites to Great American Ball Park for the annual food preview. The Handlebar served as the ballpark’s “Flavortown” for a couple of hours while Delaware North executive chef Gary Davis, his staff and local partners set up stations full of food samples.

Some of the highlights that will be featured at the ballpark this season include Skyline Chili nachos, a Cheeseburger Frybox, Redlegs soft serve and a variety of burgers and sandwiches. Plus, Delaware North has some local favorites that fans in the Greater Cincinnati area will recognize with Fifty West, E&O, Glier’s Goetta, and Wings and Rings.

Another addition that is sure to draw a crowd is Chick-fil-A. The popular fast-food chicken restaurant will be ready to serve guests with a limited menu on Opening Day and have an expanded menu and permanent stand by May.

With all this and so much more, there will be something to satisfy every fan’s taste buds at the home of the Reds this season.

“I really think the Skyline nachos are going to take off; they are really good,” Davis said. “And I’m proud of our red ice cream. I think it will be really fun for the kids. It’s a vibrant red, and we also added a little flavor, so it’s not just vanilla. It’s got this fruit punch and cherry flavor going on in the background, so it’s going to be an awesome addition.”

Entering his sixth year leading the Delaware North team, Davis is still coming up with fun ballpark fare to bring to fans on game day. But these unique menu items aren’t thought up overnight. It’s a year-long process that involves a lot of help.

“I’ll write things down as we go through the season, and then start putting ideas together as soon as the season is over,” Davis said. “I do a lot of traveling to different ballparks and see concepts, ideas and things that work that I think we need here for the next season.

“But it’s a group effort with our concession managers and all the chefs. A lot of it is talking to my managers, because not only are they the ones that facilitate and help us get the food, but they also have a lot of great ideas that just need the chef's perspective on it. My job is to hone those in and say, 'Here are the things we can do while making them come out as a consistently great product.'”

Here are some of the featured items you can find at Great American Ball Park this season:

• Cheeseburger Frybox -- Hamburger topped with nacho cheese, iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles and Thousand Island dressing. Served on French fries. Available at Frybox locations at Terrace Level Section 139 and View Level Section 534.

• Redlegs soft serve -- Vanilla ice cream with fruit punch Kool-Aid flavoring and a choice of toppings, served in a miniature Cincinnati Reds helmet. Available in Scouts Alley.

• The Big Cheese -- All-beef burger topped with pimento cheese, bacon, crispy onions and pickles. Served on a pretzel bun. Available in Scouts Alley and Grill & Fry Stand at Section 415.

• The Split Finger -- Grilled split Glier’s bratwurst topped with sauerkraut, bistro sauce and mustard. Served on a toasted Italian roll. Available in Scouts Alley, Grill & Fry Stand at Section 415 and Food Bar locations.

• GABP burger -- Glier’s Goetta (a German sausage) topped with American cheese, cage-free over-hard egg and bistro sauce. Served on a pretzel bun. Sold at Food Bar locations.

• The Curve Ball -- Veggie burger topped with iceberg lettuce, grilled onions, pickles and Thousand Island dressing. Served on a brioche bun. Sold in Scouts Alley and the Porkopolis Stand at Section 117.

• Skyline Chili nachos -- Tortilla chips topped with Skyline Chili, nacho cheese sauce and shredded cheddar cheese. Available at the Skyline locations at Sections 115 and 418.

• Goetta pretzel bites -- Glier’s Goetta bites and mini pretzel bites topped with JTM Queso. Available in Scouts Alley.

• Smoked pork loin sandwich -- Smoked pork loin topped with pickled jalapeños, onions, cucumbers and barbecue sauce. Served on a brioche bun. Available at the Montgomery Inn Smokehouse.