New offerings from the Phils

By PATRICIA TALORICO

The News Journal

PHILADELPHIA - New cheesesteaks, more vegetarian options, a 50-foot rooftop bar, a talking "robot" trash can and Charlie Manuel bobble figurines are just some of things that Phillies fans can expect to see when the 2008 World Series champs begin playing ball this season at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phils will begin defending their title - against the Atlanta Braves at the April 5 sold-out home opener - wearing spiffy new jerseys decorated with gold twill on the front and back. Throughout the season, players also will wear World Series champion patches on their home jerseys.

But some of this season's biggest changes are taking place off the field. In the Ashburn Alley concession area, Campo's Cheesesteaks will take over the spot that had been occupied by Rick's Steaks. In October 2008, Rick's Steaks owner Rick Olivieri lost his lease and had to close his main stand in the city's Reading Terminal Market after a 25 year run.

Campo's Deli at Second and Market streets in Old City - a quick three-block stroll from the Liberty Bell - has been a Philadelphia institution since 1947. On Thursday morning at Citizens Bank Park, owner Mike Campo, who runs the family business with his son Michael and daughter Mia Campo, showed off several varieties of his cheesesteaks that will be sold at the ballpark.

The warm, meaty sandwiches, made with rib-eye steak and packed on sturdy, fresh rolls from New Jersey-based Liscio's Bakery, will be flavored with everything from grilled onions and mushrooms to jalapeno cheese and hot sauce.

"We're really excited," said Mike Campo, as he served up what is considered Philadelphia's most beloved sandwich. "We don't know what to expect."

Fans will likely consume 15,000 hot dogs, 6,000 soft pretzels and 5,000 cheesesteaks on opening day, according to ARAMARK officials, who run the stadium concessions.

David Lippman, ARAMARK concessions director, said in addition to traditional ballpark fare, more vegetarian offerings will be part of the culinary line-up.

This year, the Alley Grill, in the left field plaza, will have southwestern-style vegetable burgers and the Nacho Portable Stand behind section 122 will be selling vegetarian quesadillas. The South Philly Market at section 128 also will offer vegan hot dogs and vegan garden burgers.

Citizens Bank now sells more than 40 different brands of beer - including Milton's own Dogfish Head - and Lippman said the price for a 16-ounce draft beer will start at $6.75. (Heinken and Dos Equis are new draft suds this year.) Other local brews include Yards and Troegs.

"We got some real beer lovers," he said.

Lippman said a concession goal was to keep prices reasonable with most foods costing between $3 to $13. Tickets for games start at $16.

"We want to make sure there is something for everyone," he said. Concession specials also are offered for the first 30 minutes that Ashburn Alley is open, usually 2 1/2 hours prior to game time.

Greg Luzinski, the former Phils slugger who runs Bull's BBQ, an outdoor picnic area with pit beef, barbecued ribs and pulled barbecue pork sandwiches, has added a children's platter this year that includes a turkey sandwich, apple sauce and macaroni and cheese.

"People go through the lines and they don't want to have to go somewhere else for the kids," Luzinski said. "In addition to it being good, it's also a convenience."

Luzinski will again be selling his bottled barbecue sauce, which is also available at Willey Farms in Townsend. "That's a great place," he said of the Delaware store on U.S. 13. "You can get everything there."

Tarek Bahgat, who runs the Seasons Pizza stand behind sections 205 and 322, said he will be focusing on offering more gourmet pizzas this season. Each homestand will feature a new pie from the Delaware based pizza chain and some of the combinations will include bacon, chicken and ranch dressing and pies topped penne pasta and ricotta cheese.

About 3,000 slices of pizza are expected to be sold on April 5. "It's a little crazy," Bahgat joked about his pasta pizza. "You can get all your carbs."

Fans looking to stretch their legs can visit the new rooftop bar, a 50-foot space above Ashburn Alley, that will have plasma screen TVs and sell Buffalo chicken sliders, nachos and hot dogs. McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon, the sports-themed restaurant at the Third Base Gate, also has added a new "open air" bar area with flat screen TVs.

Brenda Linton of Newark, who runs Citizens Bank's "Build-A-Bear" store, said little fans can create a World Series bear or stuffed Phillie Phanatic doll - with a movable red tongue - for about $25.

Stadium giveways this year range from a fleece blanket decorated with a photo of Jayson Werth (May 10) to Jimmy Rollins wristbands (July 12).

But Scott Brandreth, director of merchandise, predicts that the Charlie Manuel bobble head figurine given away on April 28 will be one of the most popular items. "The players are going nuts," he said about the doll made to look like the Phils scrappy manager.

The organization also is encouraging more recycling at the stadium. A "Red Goes Green" Team, made up of volunteers, will collect recyclable plastic and aluminum bottles from the seating area through the seventh inning. And a 4-foot-tall interactive robot shaped like a trashcan known as Phil the "spokescan" will roll through the ballpark and encourage fans to recycle.

Contact Patricia Talorico at 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Read her culinary blog Second Helpings at www.delawareonline.com/secondhelpings.