http://www.newsobserver.com/104/story/423075.html
So much for the peanuts and Cracker Jack.
The Gateway Grizzlies, a minor league baseball team near St. Louis, think they're going to hit a home run with something more daring: a sandwich that puts bacon, sharp cheddar cheese and a hamburger between two halves of a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut.
But even though the "Baseball's Best Burger" derives its cachet from the Winston-Salem-born doughnuts, it has at least one North Carolina baseball official wrinkling his nose.
"That's disgusting," said Alan York, media relations director for the Winston-Salem Warthogs. "It's a heart attack waiting to happen."
The sandwiches, which will sell for $4.50 each, could weigh in at 600 calories and 40 grams of fat, according to Durham nutritionist Mary Gross.
Still, Matt DeMargel, promotions director for the Durham Bulls, hasn't ruled out trying one when he goes home to St. Louis. He compares the idea to McDonald's McGriddles sandwich, which serves eggs, bacon, sausage and cheese between pancakes injected with syrup. "The biggest obstacle is convincing people it tastes good," he said. "Intuitively, it doesn't seem like it would taste good."
So far, the sandwich has won praise from all the media and Grizzlies fans who have tried it, spokesman Jeff O'Neill said. The company held its first taste test in December during the kickoff for its season ticket sales campaign. Since announcing the burger March 8, team officials have made the morning talk show circuit, visiting "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" in Chicago and "Cold Pizza" on ESPN.
"I haven't gotten off the phone for the past two and a half weeks," O'Neill said.
While it may be tasty, the doughnut burger might not fly in Winston-Salem, where fans munch on basic fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken tenders.
"It would definitely cause a stir, but it would be a waste of our time to sell it," York said. "Our fans are not really extravagant when it comes to their food."
The Durham Bulls are branching out this year, although with nothing as far out in left field as the doughnut burger. The ballpark will introduce half-pound burgers with world influences: American, French, Italian and Southwestern. It's also adding fajitas, fish and chips, a French dip sandwich, and fried bologna sandwiches.
"When you ask people about what they enjoy about coming to a Bulls game, more times than not, they say the food," DeMargel said. He wants to "continue to have new and exciting things."
Unusual offerings also are nothing new for the Grizzlies, who last year introduced bratwurst with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut and in 2004 added "Baseball's Best Hot Dog," a dog with bacon, sauteed onions, sauerkraut and cheddar cheese sauce.
But O'Neill acknowledges that this year's sandwich, which has its origins at a restaurant near Atlanta called Mulligan's, is in another league. "We went off the charts on that one," he said.
And if the sandwich turns out to be a hit, it just might land at a baseball game near you next year.
"Minor league baseball is full of copycats," DeMargel said.
