Results tagged ‘ John Steinmiller ’
Spring Madness at Miller Park!
Ok, let’s be honest Milwaukee, it hasn’t been the best Spring around here. It has been slow to warm up and we haven’t seen the sun very much, but before you know it, the roof will be open every game at Miller Park and summer will be in full swing. To get people ready for spring and summer, the Brewers are bringing back the ever-popular “Spring Madness” promotion beginning Monday at Miller Park and continuing through the three-game series with the Dodgers.
Fans can save 50% on all tickets $34 and less, plus small Pepsi products and Klement’s hot dogs are just $1 each. These seats include: Loge Outfield, Terrace Box, Terrace Reserved, Loge Bleachers, Field Bleachers and Bernie’s Terrace. The promotion excludes the Miller Lite Beerpen, All-Inclusive Areas and the $1 Uecker Seats. This is a fantastic deal to see the Brewers play the Dodgers, which will include a start from former Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke on Tuesday at Miller Park.
Those who were out early at Miller Park on Monday to get their Polish Racing Sausage lawn gnomes will enjoy two free tickets to one of the games as an early kick off to Spring Madness.
Last year we captured some Brewers fans who had their $1 hot dog tally in the 40s. Sure they were groups of five, but that still averages out to eight hot dogs per person. Not bad. While Cait and I are concerned about the health of our readers next week, we would welcome any photo submissions from people who are able to beat that eight per person average.
Spring Madness is a great way to kick off an eight-game homestand at Miller Park. After the Dodgers series, the Brewers will welcome the Pirates to Miller Park for a weekend series, May 24 – 26 and then their old American League Central rival, the Minnesota Twins for a two-game set, May 27 – 28. For tickets, call (414) 902-4000, visit Brewers.com/madness or stop by the Miller Park Box Office.
–JOHN
johnandcait@brewers.com
What John and Cait Ate: The Plaza Grill
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
-Yogi Berra
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it…and try these concessions!”
-John & Cait
The Plaza Grill
During each homestand, we will be meeting with John DiMartini, Executive Chef at Delaware North Sportservice/Miller Park to sample some of the latest and greatest Miller Park fare and review it here, for you.
The Plaza Grill is located on the Field Level near section 110 in an outdoor seating area called The Plaza Pavillion. The Grill features a number of great, made-to-order items served hot off the grill. There are plenty of picnic tables to enjoy your meal and even a tented area in case the sun is a little too intense.
Milwaukee’s Best Steak Sandwich $10.50
Milwaukee’s Best Steak Sandwich
Served on a rustic roll, this seared steak is doused with sharp and hoppy beer cheese and served with a sautee of sweet peppers. The famous and delicious house made chips go with the sandwich.
“The Beast” $9.00
“The Beast”
This is truly a unique item that one would find only in Milwaukee. The Beast is a grilled bratwurst sliced in half and stuffed with a grilled hot dog. Those two items are then wrapped in bacon and grilled to perfection. Served with sauerkraut and grilled onions on–of course–a pretzel roll. House made chips and a pickle are also served on the side.
Homestand Special – Zesty Asian Glazed Chicken Chop $9.00
Zesty Asian Glazed Chicken Chop with Asian Slaw
This item was available for the last homestand and will most likely make a return for the upcoming homestand at Miller Park. A bone in chicken chop with a sweet and sour Asian glaze served with Asian Slaw.
Cait: John and I tasted these sandwiches on a beautiful, sunny day out on the Plaza. You could smell the meat cooking on the grill and for a moment, it almost felt like summer (which, I am assured, is eventually coming this year).
We were met with a smorgasbord– these three amazing sandwiches. Of these, my favorite was “The Beast,” almost a novelty but oh, so much more. It’s like the Milwaukee version of Turducken, a dish consisting of a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which is in turn stuffed into a de-boned turkey: a hot dog, stuffed in a brat, wrapped in bacon (on a pretzel bun nonetheless). However, there is NO WAY I could eat an entire one by myself. It’s a lot of food. I suggest splitting it with a friend of three!
The other two sandwiches were also very good, you just can’t go wrong on the Plaza Grill!
John: The Plaza Grill is definitely a hidden gem at Miller Park. It is a great place to socialize and enjoy a fantastic meal before any Brewers game at Miller Park. For night games, you can enjoy the late afternoon sun on the patio picnic tables. As for the food, the “Milwaukee’s Best” steak sandwich was definitely my favorite. t came fresh off the grill (the entire stand is made to order, which is great) and was the perfect amount of food. he chicken chop had a great flavor as well. The sweet and sour glaze was something different and pairs perfectly with the chicken. “The Beast” is definitely a novelty item, but worth a shot. It is unlike anything I have ever tried (or even imagined), but Chef John and his crew always seem to be pushing the envelope with what they can get away with and this is certainly no exception!
Rating:
(out of 5)
Where To Satisfy Your Craving: The Plaza Grill is located down the right field line on the Field Level just beyond Section 110. The area has picnic tables and high top tables for enjoying along with a tented area as well. Keep in mind that parts of the Plaza Pavilion allow smoking.
What about you? Do you have a favorite ballpark snack? A question about concessions? Something you’d like to see featured here? Post your comments below!
Bon Appetit!
-John and Cait
ESPN’s #UNIBATTLE: Vote Brewers!
Remember Brewers fans about a year ago when you voted Miller Park the Best Ballpark in MLB on ESPN.com’s poll? You came out in record numbers and upset the rest of the field as Miller Park was named the best ballpark in MLB thanks to the passionate Brewers fanbase. Some didn’t really like that decision, but it showed how much pride Brewers fans have in their team and ballpark. Well, it looks like the Brewers could use your help again in ESPN.com’s “Battle of the Uniforms.”
This is great because it includes two of my favorite things: uniforms and bracket style tournaments. This topic always sparks interesting discussions and debates.
A bracket-style online vote has been set up to decide what MLB team has the best uniforms in all of Baseball. The Brewers are opening up the underdogs as an 11 seed facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the “tournament.” Although the Brewers have a number of alternate uniforms, the voting is based only on the official home “whites” and road “grays.”
Voting is open now on ESPN.com and the first round ends tomorrow morning. In addition, fans can tweet their thoughts on the bracket using the #UNIBATTLE hashtag.
–JOHN
johnandcait@brewers.com
Brewers 2013 Yearbook Available Today at Miller Park
The 2013 Milwaukee Brewers yearbook arrived at Miller Park today featuring 158 pages of beautiful Brewers photos, fun facts and historical information. Fans can buy a copy for only $10 at the Brewers Team Store by Majestic (an absolute steal) beginning today. The yearbook will be available for purchase at Brewers.com at a later date. I will keep you posted on when the yearbooks will be available online.
Brewers Coordinator – Media Relations, Ken Spindler heads up the yearbook project and again did a great job with the book. A story and photo collage on last year’s Bob Uecker statue ceremony, a recap of the 2012 season, a beefed up Player Development section with photos of every Brewers minor leaguer and family photos of current Brewers players and staff are some of the key features in the 2013 yearbook. The book also includes a historical section that looks back at some favorite Brewers moments throughout the years.
Ryan Braun, Norichika Aoki and Yovani Gallardo are featured on the 2013 Yearbook cover.
–JOHN
johnandcait@brewers.com
What John and Cait Ate: Bernie’s Blends Fruit Smoothies
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
-Yogi Berra
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it…and try these concessions!”
-John & Cait
Bernie’s Blends Fruit Smoothies
During each homestand, we will be meeting with John DiMartini, Executive Chef at Delaware North Sportservice/Miller Park to sample some of the latest and greatest Miller Park fare and review it here, for you.
Fresh Fruit Smoothie -$5.50
It’s been a cool start to the baseball season in Milwaukee, there is no arguing with that fact. Lately, though, spring is in the air, the temperatures are rising, and nothing sounds more refreshing than a fresh fruit smoothie. Brand new to Miller Park this year, the “Bernie’s Blends” cart is located down the right-field line outside section 112. With four different options to choose from, the options will leave something for every one. We know we often push some outrageous food items here on occasion (Remember the ”Giant Slugger!?”), but it is good to know that there really is something for everyone to enjoy at Miller Park.
To start, choose a yogurt base or a frozen orange juice base. The fruit options include either a mixed berry blend that includes frozen strawberries, raspberries and blueberries or a strawberry-banana blend. The smoothie is blended fresh while you wait and is served in a 16 ounce cup.
Cait: I love smoothies, so this is a welcome addition to the selection at Miller Park; undoubtedly, these will be a hit during the hot summer months. I gravitated toward the mixed berry & yogurt combination and it was delicious. Very creamy and smooth and I liked that I felt like I was making a healthy choice. I highly recommend that you check out Bernie’s Blends next time you’re at the ballpark on a warm summer day.
John: Often at home, I throw all sorts of fruit in the blender and see what happens. I find the fresh fruit and yogurt blend to be a delicious and refreshing healthy treat and it is great that you can now get one here at the ballpark. If you are ever in the mood for something a little on the healthy side while at a Brewers game, this will definitely do the trick. Perfect consistency and flavor and just the right amount. I started with the yogurt blend and then mixed berries. I will definitely be back to try all the different combinations.
Rating:
(out of 5)
Where To Satisfy Your Craving: Fans can find the Bernie’s Blends on the Field Level just outside section 112.
What about you? Do you have a favorite ballpark snack? A question about concessions? Something you’d like to see featured here? Post your comments below!
Bon Appetit!
-John and Cait
John and Cait Present…”Social Media in the Media” Night at Miller Park on May 28
It’s John and Cait here and we’re excited to tell you that we’re bringing back Social Media Night for 2013!
On Tuesday, May 28 prior to the Brewers vs. Twins game we’ll be hosting John and Cait present…”Social Media in the Media” Night (#BrewersSMIM) at Miller Park!
For just $59, fans will have the opportunity to purchase individual tickets in the ATI Club and the tickets will include a special pregame panel/roundtable discussion featuring representatives from the local media. We’ll discuss how social media has changed the news cycle and the business of reporting. Tickets are available at brewers.com/socialmedianight.
You’ll hear from:
- Tom Haudricourt ( @Haudricourt ) Brewers beat writer for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Sophia Minnaert ( @SophiaMinnaert ) Milwaukee Brewers & Bucks Sideline Reporter for FSWisconsin
- Vince Vitrano ( @VinceVitrano ) WTMJ “Live at Daybreak” anchor
- …and more!
Plus! Enjoy a special visit from a Brewers player!
We’ll be your hosts for the event and it will take place in our Media Interview Room, so you’ll also get to go behind-the-scenes at Miller Park.
Tickets for the ATI Club are typically only available for group purchase, but through “Social Media in the Media” Night, we’re giving fans this special opportunity to purchase them individually. The tickets also include a pre-game buffet that begins when the Miller Park gates open and ends one hour after the first pitch, plus unlimited soft drinks and two beers per adult.
Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions at the event, but if there are any questions you’d like to submit ahead of time, please e-mail us at johnandcait@brewers.com.
This event is in follow up to last year’s Social Media in Sports Night. That event sold out very quickly and we expect this year’s to do the same, so you’ll want to purchase your tickets early since the event will be limited to approximately 60 fans. Visit brewers.com/socialmedianight for more information and stay tuned to the blog for updates!
We hope to see you there!
-John (@JStein1981) and Cait (@CMoyer)
Milwaukee Middle School Students Treated to Screening of “42,” Visit From Commissioner Selig and Sharon Robinson
Today, I was fortunate enough to join a group of over 150 students from Roosevelt Middle School in Milwaukee at the Marcus North Shore Cinema. We enjoyed to a private screening of the movie “42” hosted by Commissioner Bud Selig, Sharon Robinson, daughter of Jackie Robinson and the Milwaukee Brewers. As if seeing the movie by itself wasn’t enough of a treat, the students also participated in a Q&A session with Selig and Robinson after the movie.
“42″ was screened today for Roosevelt Middle School students at the Marcus North Shore Cinema.
It was the first time I saw the movie and I thought it was great. Cait reviewed the movie last week and I urge you to read her review, see the movie and read what Robinson and Selig had to say today. Seeing the movie and then hearing Selig and Robinson talk about the deeper teachings of the story and the legacy of Jackie Robinson made the experience extremely memorable.
Robinson and Selig touched on a variety of topics including the state of diversity in the game of baseball today, the movie “42” itself, the legacy Jackie Robinson left us and the importance of middle school years as it relates to the rest of education.
“The movie covers years 1946 and 1947 so you really don’t see him (Jackie) growing up, or the role his mother played in his life,” Sharon Robinson said. “My father was very religious and that was a big source of strength for him. He was a praying man. In the trailer, you see Jackie Robinson coming from the back and he takes a step back. Some people interpreted that as a hesitation, that he was taking a step back, that he has this big moment and is stepping back. In the movie, it is shot from the front and you see him praying. He is stepping back and saying his prayer before he goes on the field.”
MPS Superintendent Dr. Gregory Thornton, Sharon Robinson and Commissioner Selig.
There have been other movies made and stories told about the life of Jackie Robinson, but Sharon said “42” captures the story of her father better than any other.
“I saw the film that was made in 1950, “The Jackie Robinson Story,” and I always hated that movie. I liked seeing my
father, but I didn’t like how he was portrayed. I met with the producers of “42,” I wanted to make sure that image of my father was kind of erased.
My favorite (version of Jackie Robinson’s story) is “42” because what you see are relationships. You see the strength of the relationship between Jackie and Rachel, critical to his success. You see the relationship between Jackie and Branch, also critical to his success. You see the relationship between the boy and his father (at the game in Cincinnati). That showed us you can have a loving parent, but unfortunately, they can teach you to hate or you can be around friends of yours who you trust and they can get you in trouble if you follow them at the wrong moment.”
Dr. Floyd Williams, principal of Roosevelt Middle School and Sharon Robinson with staff and students.
Sharon herself is an author and has written a number of books on her father and her family life that expands on the story the movie gave.
“My book, “Jackie Robinson American Hero” allows everyone to get a little more to the story about his childhood and his years after baseball and about his family and about the Jackie Robinson Foundation. You have two hours in a film and I think they did a great job of keeping the film intense, moving quickly and covering a very important period of his life.”
Each student today received a copy of “Jackie Robinson American Hero.”
Sharon Robinson’s powerful words made me appreciate Jackie Robinson even more, I really enjoyed today’s events.
Selig has taken many steps in his tenure as Commissioner to keep the legacy and dreams of Jackie Robinson alive. From having players honor Robinson by wearing his #42 on April 15 each year, to retiring #42 in every MLB stadium, to working on diversifying the game on and off the field to establishing programs like the R.B.I. program—Selig wants to be sure the legacy of Robinson is never forgotten in baseball. When asked what Jackie Robinson would think about diversity in the game today, he said steps have been made in the right direction, but we can do better.
“Jackie said in Cincinnati at the World Series just ten days before he passed away that he wanted to look over to the third base dugout and see an African-American manager and he can do that today. We have done well, but we can do better and that is what I think he would say. Given where we were 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 50 years ago, we are in a better place, but we need to do better. We are working on a lot of things. It’s an ongoing problem, but I’m proud of baseball. I regard baseball as a social institution and just the fact that baseball could produce what this movie produced makes me proud. There is work to be done and we will do it.”
Selig also said how Robinson was not only important to just the history of baseball, he was important to the history of our country.
“I read a quote today from Dr. Martin Luther King that he said in 1962 he couldn’t have done what he did for the Civil Rights movement without Jackie Robinson. That tells you how important in history that Jackie Robinson really is,” said Selig.
Commissioner Selig announced in 1997 that Jackie Robinson’s #42 will be retired by every team.
In the movie, we saw Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey make the difficult decision to sign Jackie Robinson. He knew the decision wouldn’t be popular with everyone, but he knew it was the right decision. As commissioner, Selig has also been in position to make difficult decisions, but likes to use Rickey’s way of thinking as an example.
“Branch Rickey was so heroic in all of this. He did this on his own and because it was right. I happened to be in Chicago when Jackie played his first game at Wrigley Field and I will never forget it, it was a really moving experience. When you are in a position of responsibility, I always feel that I have to do what is in the best interest of baseball. It might be unpopular, it might make others mad, but if you know you are doing the right thing, you do it. That is what Branch Rickey did and he set a great example. That is the example I hope I set for future generations. You have got to do what you think is right and if it isn’t popular, so be it. Just go do it.”
The students listened attentively to the post-movie discussion and Sharon Robinson left the sixth, seventh and eighth graders with a very important piece of advice about the stage of life they are experiencing.
“Take education seriously, especially at this age, Robinson said. “Be prepared, feel good about yourself, do well at school and make a contribution at home. If you do this now, when you get to high school, then you will be ready to be a good student. Be a leader, not a follower. If you have integrity, you know what you believe in and you don’t let someone sway you in another direction. Integrity is an important value to develop now as you will use it the rest of your lives.”
The integrity that Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey had as people was obviously passed down to Sharon Robinson and Bud Selig, hopefully today, that important virtue will be passed on to another generation.
Thank you to the Brewers Community Foundation, City Year, Marcus Cinemas, Major League Baseball, Commissioner Selig, Sharon Robinson and the students of Roosevelt Middle School for making today very special.
–JOHN
johnandcait@brewers.com
What John and Cait Ate…Desserts, Candies and Floats, Oh My!
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
-Yogi Berra
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it…and try these concessions!”-John & Cait
During each homestand, we will be meeting with John DiMartini, Executive Chef at Delaware North Sportservice/Miller Park to sample some of the latest and greatest Miller Park fare.
Pastries at the Park
This season, Miller Park has a new pastry chef, Chef Brett and she’s making herself known with desserts such as Lemon Poppyseed Shortcake, the Miller Park Bar, Vegan and Gluten-Free Carrot Cake, and Triple Decker Chocolate Fudge Cake will be available all season long for just $8.
Take a look at our mouth-watering gallery here:
The Candy Shop-$8.00
Fill up the acrylic cup on the left with as much of your favorite candies as it will hold for just $8 and take home the souvenir cup as well! (The glass mug is for root beer, keep reading!)
Is this talk of candy and desserts making you thirsty?
Root Beer Floats-$15-$25
New for 2013, Chef John, Chef Brett and their team are offering Root Beer Floats made with Sprecher Root Beer. The floats are available starting with a child-size for just $15, or an adult size (served in the souvenir glass mug pictured above) for $20. Adults also have the option of purchasing the float made with Sprecher Hard Root Beer for $25. A root beer float at a baseball game?! Just as American as a hot dog at a baseball game! You can’t go wrong. In addition, it’s great to know that it is made with Milwaukee’s famous Sprecher root beer.
Where To Satisfy Your Craving: The dessert display is located near the Home Plate elevators on the Club Level at Miller Park (see photo below). The dessert and root beer float carts also pay visits to the Suites. Desserts are also available in the Johnson Controls Stadium Club.
Rating (out of 5):
What about you? Do you have a favorite ballpark snack? A question about concessions? Something you’d like to see featured here? Post your comments below!
Bon Appetit!
-John and Cait
What’s cooking at the Double Clutch Stand at Miller Park this homestand?
In case you missed it, new for 2013, the Chef’s Table has transformed into a food truck called the Double Clutch, located outside Section 215 on the Loge Level. Instead of menu items related to our opponent, the Double Clutch aims to feature unique fare that would be something similar to that found on a food truck. The concessions will change frequently and offer a fun variety.
The features for the upcoming homestand (Brewers vs. Giants and Brewers vs. Cubs) are:
Smoked Brisket Grilled Cheese served on Texas Toast, made with Muenster cheese and topped with fried onions.
And, the popular “Spaghetti-n-a-Meatball,” a meatball stuffed with spaghetti, topped with sauce and provolone cheese, is also back for $9.00.
Check back here all season long for What John and Cait Ate reviews, including the updated Double Clutch items!
- Cait
Johnandcain@brewers.com
What John and Cait Ate…Ribbie’s Cafe
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
-Yogi Berra
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it…and try these concessions!”-John & Cait
Hello readers!
We’re really excited to bring back the food review series that we started in 2011: What John and Cait Ate.
During each homestand, we will be meeting with John DiMartini, Executive Chef at Delaware North Sportservice/Miller Park to sample some of the latest and greatest Miller Park fare.
Sportservice provides the food and drink concessions for 25 major league sports clients at 23 venues, including 10 Major League Baseball stadiums. As the exclusive food, beverage and retail provider for Miller Park, Sportservice offers so many concession stands and such a wide variety of food options that fans dashing out of their seats for a quick snack between innings may be missing out on some of the best ballpark bites.
Don’t worry. We’re here to help.
We started the 2012 What John and Cait Ate series with a look at some of the new smoked meat products available at Miller Park. This year, that selection has expanded. The beef brisket and smoked turkey are both back. But we looked at some new items available this year.
Smokin’ Delicious!
Today, at our first meeting with Chef John, we were treated to an array of smoked products. Last year, Sportservice acquired a smoker and refine their classic smoked turkey and brisket plates. This year, they plan on adding specials varying by homestand–it could be anything from Prime Rib, Mahi Mahi Tacos and Leg of Lamb to what we feasted on this time: a 10oz Smoked Pork Chop and the Beer Can Chicken (how appropriate for Miller Park!).
10oz Smoked Pork Chop-$10.00
10 ounce Pork Chops
Add two slices of white bread, some homemade BBQ sauce, a scoop of macaroni and cheese and a pickle and, my friends, you have a meal!
Finished product
John: A sizable portion at 10 ounces, the pork chop is marinated in apple cider brine and a special seasoning, smoked the day of the game. It’s then drizzled with Miller Park’s homemade barbecue sauce. The meat was very tender and full of flavor. Served over two slices of wheat bread, the pork chop could be eaten like a sandwich or cut up. It was a smoked flavor in the meat combined with the tangy sauce that made this meal a good start to the 2013 season. A healthy portion of delicious mac ‘n cheese on the side was also served. It is a bit difficult to eat unless you have a table and it is likely that you will need a fork and knife to eat this.
The Beer Can Chicken-$10.00
Good old fashioned beer can chicken!
A generous portion of macaroni and a pickle round out this ballpark meal!
Quite the feast!
Cait: With the chicken, you also get a generous portion. It’s marinated with Guinness and slow-roasted on a beer can for two days, seasoned with Old Bay. Like the pork chop, the meat was very tender and full of flavor. Delicious mac ‘n cheese and a pickle make this into a meal. As John pointed out, the only drawback to this delicious fare is that it can be difficult to eat unless you have a table as you will need a fork and knife to eat it. However, that’s just one more reason to get to the ballpark early, have your dinner and then get another snack/dessert somewhere around the 4th or 5th inning!
Where To Satisfy Your Craving: Both of these sandwiches are available at the patio outside the right-field corner on the Field Level & Ribbie’s Cafe outside Section 221 on the Loge Level (pictured below).
Rating (out of 5):
Well, that concludes our first food critique of 2013. We hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as we enjoyed tasting these new items. We also hope we’ve inspired you to step outside of your brat and beer routine (not that there’s anything wrong with that) next time you’re at Miller Park to check out the wide variety of concession offerings.
What about you? Do you have a favorite ballpark snack? A question about concessions? Something you’d like to see featured here? Post your comments below!
Bon Appetit!
John and Cait
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