Yes, BBQ & pizza. But also, veggies & salad: Guide to food at new KC Current stadium
Less than two weeks out from the Kansas City Current’s debut at CPKC Stadium, we’ve been learning a lot about what to expect come match time: jersey designs, the parking situation, the tailgating policy.
Sure — but what about the food?
On Wednesday, local media got an early peek at what the Current has planned for concessions at the stadium.
Colby and Megan Garrelts, co-owners of Rye, served as chef consultants to the Current, handpicking local restaurant partners to provide food during games.
“We’ve tried to offer something you don’t see every day at stadiums,” Colby Garrelts said Wednesday, describing the options as “creative, not super heavy, and quality driven.”
In other words: You’ll be able to eat relatively healthily at these games, should you so choose.
Read on to sample some of the dishes that will be available to chow on while cheering on the Current — kickoff is at noon on Saturday, March 16.
Waldo Thai
Owners Pam and Ted Liberda will be serving three dishes at CPKC: Kow Tod Nam Sod (tossed crispy rice, cured pork sausage, peanuts and Thai chile wrapped in lettuce); Lemongrass Pork (braised pork over jasmine rice, pickled vegetables and garlic chile sauce), and a rice noodle bowl with meat options as well as tofu and jackfruit.
Ruby Jean’s Juicery
Best known for its juices and smoothies, Ruby Jean’s will be serving a Pitch Açaí Bowl: blueberries, strawberries and banana atop house-made granola, with a coconut dusting on top. “It’s gluten free and dairy free,” said chief operating officer Katie Jones.
Joe’s KC
The mighty Z-Man sandwich — sliced brisket, provolone cheese, a couple of onion rings and barbecue sauce on a kaiser roll — will be on offer. Joe’s will also be serving a smoked chicken Z-Man, which is what it sounds like.
Room 39
Last year, Room 39 owner Ted Habiger opened a restaurant in Merida, Mexico, called Anima. He’s splitting time between Kansas City and the Yucatan, and a few of the dishes he’s chosen reflect some of his experiences cooking in Mexico.
One option is a bowl of coal-roasted root vegetables topped with Green Goddess yogurt dressing and dusted with dukkah. “Cooking in coals, you get this really good moisture with the vegetables, plus a little bit of smoky flavor that comes through,” Habiger said.
They’ll also be serving two other dishes to start the season: braised pork with hominy, and arancini with lemon aioli.
Billie’s Grocery
The brunch-lunch joint in midtown and Leawood will be serving something owner Robin Krause is calling a “KC Curveball.”
“It’ll be something different every other week,” Krause said. “Usually light bites.”
To start things off, Billie’s will offer an Asian-inspired salad with sautéed chicken and peanut lime dressing, gluten-free fried chicken with sesame salad, and a Reuben wrap.
Local Pig
In addition to making the hot dogs served elsewhere in the stadium, Local Pig will have its own stand with a couple of different sausages: smoked barbecue links and jalapeno cheddar, served with house-made chips.
Martin City Pizza and Taproom
The brewery and restaurant will be handling pizza duty at CPKC: cheese, pepperoni, and spanakopita (spinach, artichoke, garlic and chicken). Gluten-free crusts will also be available, as will two of its beers — Hard Way IPA and Operation: Yoga Pants, a gluten-free golden ale — said owner Matt Moore.
High Hopes Ice Cream
The Troost ice cream shop has made a new flavor for the stadium called KC Current Obsession, a strawberry cheesecake in the color palette of the team’s teal and red. (It comes with a graham cracker topping, but is otherwise gluten-free.) Also available: cookies and cream, and bourbon butter pecan.
Elsewhere at the stadium …
Boulevard Brewing Co. will be supplying beer, and Amigoni Urban Winery is making custom canned wine.
Yoli Tortilleria will have a stand at CPKC, but its menu wasn’t available Wednesday.
The hospitality brand Riverfront Collective, overseen by executive chef John Woychick, will serve food throughout the stadium. In addition to Local Pig hot dogs, its menu features a smash burger, a kung pao chicken wrap, a vegan crunch wrap and Cuban nachos (smoked ham, smoked pork, house-made queso, topped with pickles).
