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MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Food Contest Submissions Narrowed to Top 10 Finalists

February 22, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps have been soliciting ideas for new food items to be served at Fifth Third Ballpark, and now it's time for the fans to weigh in. More than 150 menu ideas were submitted, and the list of potential ballpark home runs has been whittled down to the top 10 ideas. Starting today, fans are invited to go online at whitecapsbaseball.com and vote for their favorite item.

The winner of the contest (and potentially other items from this list) will be added to the ballpark menu this baseball season, and will share the spotlight with the internationally-famous Fifth Third Burger, which has been featured on national TV networks such as The Food Network and The Travel Channel since its debut in 2009.

Whitecaps Director of Marketing Mickey Graham said the contest gives fans a way to participate in decision-making while having fun and generating discussion.

"Holding a contest, first to generate menu ideas and then to decide which one is the best, is a way for our fans to have some input," Graham said. "When we introduced the Fifth Third Burger a couple of years ago, we had no idea that a giant burger that was meant as a meal for a group of people could take on a life of its own, complete with eating contest and international publicity. Who knows - one of these food items could become as famous as the Fifth Third Burger!"

Below is a complete list of the 10 food finalists.

1. The Big O Sandwich - 3 meats + 2 layers of cheese 5 stars. The Big O sandwich and its 3,670 calorie count is not for those on a low-calorie, low-sodium or low-anything diet, but if it's always been your dream to pack pulled pork, beef and boneless chicken wings plus two layers of Provolone cheese onto a hoagie roll, smother it in jalapenos, potato wedges and barbeque sauce, and top it with an onion ring - consider your prayers answered.

2. Bologna Lollipop - No, that's not a misprint. And it's exactly what you'd imagine. Bologna Check. Stick Check. Put the five-inch diameter, inch-thick slice of fried bologna on the stick and you've got a bologna lollipop.

3. Mac 'n Cheese Burger Burrito - On the outside it may look like any predictable burrito, but take a bite of this to reveal the cheesy, meaty insides of our newest delectable creation. A combo of mac and cheese, ground beef, lettuce, tomato and salsa all wrapped up in a fresh tortilla.

4. Duck Hog Frog Dog - Fun to say, more fun to eat. Assuming you like duck meat and frog legs on top of your hot dog. Hop to it.

5. Meat Man Parfait - As the donkey in Shrek once said, "Everybody loves parfaits." He was talking about meat parfaits, right An old Irishman's dream meal, this meat and potato combo is loaded into a clear parfait cup so you can see the layers upon layers of beef, pork and mashed spuds, all covered by barbeque sauce for the most delicious and unique parfait you've ever eaten.

6. Walking Spaghetti - Love spaghetti but hate the hassle of using a plate The Whitecaps understand your frustration, so we've replaced the archaic concept of a plate with the innovative idea to carry this Italian delight around on garlic bread. We smother the giant 16-inch loaf of Cole's garlic bread with a pound of spaghetti, meatballs, a quart of marinara and a pound of cheese, and now it's Walking Spaghetti. Magnifico! And at a whopping 5,630 calorie count, it dwarfs the relatively slender Fifth Third Burger, which weighs in at 4,889 calories.

7. Meat Salad - Beef brisket, hot dogs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, gyro meat, Johnsonville bratwurst and hamburger: that's seven meats, served to those who believe each meal should have four different animals involved. Vegetarians, this one might not be for you.

8. Chicks with Sticks - Believe it or not, we don't fry every single thing on the menu and then cover it with meat...just most of the time. Chicks with Sticks is one of our exceptions. It offers fresh vegetables, sliced up into thin strips, alongside hummus or ranch dressing to dip it in for a portable, healthy snack with just 297 calories. You'd need to eat 19 servings to match the caloric value of the Walking Spaghetti!

9. Sonoran Dog - A bacon-wrapped all beef Hebrew National hot dog is always a good idea - that is a given. Cover it with guacamole, mayo, onions, tomatoes, hot sauce and mustard, and you have our newest and fantastically inventive Mexican-inspired creation.

10. Honey Bun Burger - More like "Honey Fun Burger." This baby combines dessert and dinner in a flavor explosion so indescribable your taste buds will be confused with delight. Sweet honey buns grilled to perfection with crisp bacon and a juicy hamburger in the middle. Mom was wrong when she said you can't have your sweets until after dinner.

Voting runs through March 4, and the winner will be announced later in March. Voting will take place on the Whitecaps website, whitecapsbaseball.com.

The Whitecaps open the 2011 home season on Sunday, April 10 against the Lansing Lugnuts at 1 pm. Season and group tickets are now on sale; individual tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale later this month. Complete ticket information, including season and group ticket prices and perks, is available at whitecapsbaseball.com.

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