The bat cracks, the crowd roars, and on the soft breeze floats the blissful aroma of hot dogs, peanuts, cotton candy and beer . . . while you sit, ticketless, in your gloomy cubicle. At this point, only divine intervention or a really neat pole vault will land you inside the Friendly Confines for today’s Cubs home opener. But we’re here to offer the next best thing: ballpark food, from basics to gourmet–no ticket necessary.
Nachos! Get ’em while they’re hot!
Graze does small plates like Cubs do heartbreak–fantastically. And on the River North spot’s Take Me Out to the Ballgame platter ($8), fans will find mini-versions of just about everything ballpark-related. A handful of tortilla chips with genuine ballpark “cheese” and a pinch of Cracker Jack (the prize goes to a lucky few) arrive alongside a mini-burger and a mini-Vienna hot dog. Relish, ketchup and mustard (yes, in the little packets) accompany the fine cuisine. 35 W. Ontario St. 312-255-1234.
Who needs a hot dog? Hot dogs!
If you’re a Cubs fan, a Wrigley hot dog is top dog–until you’ve been to Hot Doug’s. With its walls of baseball paraphernalia, you’ll hardly miss the park–and after one look at the menu, you definitely won’t miss the pork. If it’s an encased meat, Hot Doug’s grills it. Regular items include the Paul Kelly bratwurst (“soaked in beer–sort of like Paul”) ($3) and the Jennifer Garner (“mighty hot”) ($2.25). Look for daily celebrity specials like the Sweet Lou Piniella (bacon sausage with creme fraiche, caramelized onions, and Morbier cheese) ($7) or the market-price Game of the Week (anything from elk to antelope). 3324 N. California Ave. 773-279-9550.
Cotton candy! Cotton candy here!
For a Cubs fan, Scoops is dangerously close to U.S. Cellular Field. But this Bridgeport spot scores big with a twist on that childhood ballpark fave, cotton candy. The hand-packed ice creams include a Cotton Candy Swirl that saves you the sticky blue and pink fingers without sacrificing one lick of sugary taste (single cone, $2.50). Not childish enough? Order it in a Pop Rocks-coated waffle cone (single cone, $3.50) and jam to Scoops’ soundtrack, which includes ballpark favorites like Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration.” 608 W. 31st St. 312-842-3300.
Popcorn! Popcorn!
Butter makes everything better, right? Popcorn is no exception, except that Butter doesn’t butter theirs, which makes it better. Instead, this West Loop restaurant pops it in white truffle oil, adding an earthy taste that you won’t find at the ballpark. 130 S. Green St. 312-666-9813.
Get your peanuts! Peanuts!
It’s easy enough to ditch light beer and steel bleachers on a cold April day, but give up access to peanuts and Lemon Chills? No way. Unless, of course, you’re at classy Printers Row spot Custom House, where pastry chef Elissa Narow turns peanuts to hand-pulled peanut brittle ($4) and lemons to a luscious lemon bombe ($10)–a soft lemon-curd core surrounded by lemon ice cream atop a fennel pollen cake, all coated with burnt meringue and served with a cool fennel confit and fresh mint. Would starting a wave be considered improper? 500 S. Dearborn St. 312-523-0200.
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metromix@tribune.com
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COLD BEER HERE!
Of course, Opening Day wouldn’t be complete without a beer or two. Hit these Wrigleyville bars for your first beer of the season and score free food or giveaways.
– The Central. $25 package includes a buffet and brews from 11:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Coors Light giveaways. 3466 N. Clark St. 773-880-2222.
– Cubby Bear. Opening Day T-shirt giveaways. 8 a.m. 1059 W. Addison St.
773-327-1662.
– Hi-Tops. Free breakfast buffet; Cubs ticket giveaways every half-hour until game time. 6 a.m. 3551 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-348-0009.
– The Ivy on Clark. Free appetizer buffet until game time. 9 a.m. 3462 N. Clark St. 773-348-9084.
– Red Ivy. $4 Peroni drafts, giveaways and more. 8 a.m. 3525 N. Clark St. 773-472-0900.
– Redmond’s. $20 package includes a breakfast buffet, screwdrivers, bloody marys and Bud Light drafts from 9 a.m. to noon; ticket and T-shirt giveaways. 3358 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-404-2151.
