The Hartford Yard Goats invited reporters and food bloggers for a sneak peek highlighting food that will be served at Dunkin Park this season.

The Yard Goats unveiled some new and unique food items that will be offered at Dunkin’ Park this year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

The Hartford Yard Goats home opener is Tuesday, April 9, 2024, with the first pitch against the Bowie Baysox scheduled for 7:10 p.m., but all who partake in the experience at Dunkin’ Park know that watching the game is just one element of the overall experience.

Many West Hartford residents are ready to welcome the minor league season, to join others from throughout the area to watch the Yard Goats in action, but a night at the Dunk also includes a chance to sample some unique and perhaps not-all-that-healthy food items. Each year, Yard Goats President Tim Restall, who has a food and beverage background, is always eager to unveil the must-try items created by chef Joe Bartlett and his team.

Chef Joe Bartlett speaks about the food offerings this year at Yard Goats games. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“It’s that time of year, baseball’s back and our food is back,” Bartlett said Tuesday. Traditional foods – popcorn, ice cream, fried dough, cotton candy – are always fixtures at Dunkin’ Park, but some of the unique offerings introduced last year will return as well, along with a few new items.

Chicken Fries have returned this year to Dunkin’ Park. Photo credit; Ronni Newton

“Our chicken fries we premiered last year. They’re just fun so we decided to bring them back again,” Bartlett said. The taco pizza –  essentially a folded pizza cheese pizza filled with taco-seasoned ground beef and pico, cheddar jack, sour cream, and lettuce – is an easy-to-carry merger of crowd-favorites. The bacon-wrapped Munchkins are also a crowd favorite that is returning, he said.

Bacon-wrapped Munchkins are a staple at Dunkin’ Park, and will return for 2024, Photo credit: Ronni Newton

“This year we have a two-foot-long hot dog,” Bartlett said. It can be shared – perhaps Lady & the Tramp-style – or tackled alone as a challenge, and various toppings are available.

The 2-foot-long hot dog is one of the new food items for 2024 at Dunkin’ Park. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The 2-foot-long hot dog is one of the new food items for 2024 at Dunkin’ Park.

The Cheez-It Pulled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich – smoked chicken breast is shredded, with lettuce and tomato “for some healthy aspect,” said Bartlett, plus “Cheez-Its for the crunch.”

The Cheez-It Pulled Chicken Sandwich includes Cheez-Its for added crunch. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The donut hot chicken, served with coleslaw and sriracha honey sauce is an award-winner, Bartlett said. There’s a spicy pickle fried cheeseburger – the evolution of last year’s fried pickle offering, an apple empanada, and the Cuban dog that includes everything that you’d find on a Cuban sandwich – pickles, ham, Swiss cheese, and mustard.

Hot chicken sandwiched between two honey glazed Dunkin’ Donuts with a Munchkin garnish, will return to the stadium this year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Bears has been a great partner to the Yard Goats, Restall said, and is excited to be back as well – in the center field location they moved to last year – and with a few new items on the menu.

Loaded Tots will likely be popular, and feature a base of tater tots, topped with Bears Mac & Cheese, a choice of Bears smoked meat, sour cream, and a generous sprinkling of bacon. Bears will also debut cheesy tots, cheesy bacon tots, and plain tots – and will return the the popular Bear Balls.

Loaded Tots are one of the items being offered by by Bears BBQ at Dunkin’ Park during the 2024 Yard Goats season. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Bear Balls – cornbread, Mac & Cheese, and pulled pork shaped into a ball and deep fried, dipped in cheese sauce and topped with bacon  – have been a top seller for Bears, with more than 5,000 sold last year, said a representative from Bears. They’re just a bit bigger than a golf ball, easy to pick up, and likely it will be hard to eat just one. Bears will have their standard offerings as well, and this year will include Impossible meatloaf as a vegan option.

Bear Balls are one of the offerings being provided by Bears BBQ at Dunkin’ Park during the 2024 Yard Goats season. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The Yard Goats open their season at Portland on Friday, April 5, and a six-game home stand against Bowie begins with opening day ceremonies on Tuesday, April 9.

To view the Yard Goats 2024 schedule and information about promotions and purchasing tickets, click here.

Yard Goats President Tim Restall speaks to reporters at the unveiling of this year’s food offerings at Dunkin’ Park. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Loaded Tots (left) and Bear Balls are some of the offerings that will be available at the Bears BBQ stall at Dunkin Park during the 2024 Yard Goats season. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Chivos Lager is a special brew made for the Yard Goats by Thomas Hooker Brewery. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Taco Pizza is one of the offerings at Dunkin’ Park during the 2024 Yard Goats season. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Spicy Fried Cheeseburger. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

For those with a sweet tooth, there’s an Apple Empanada (top). The foot-long Cuban Hot Dog (bottom) includes the toppings you would find on a Cuban sandwich. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Chicken Fries (top), Taco Pizza (center), and Bacon-Wrapped Munchkins. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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