Donut chicken sandwich? YOU can choose food for the '26 ASG
The All-Star Game will take place in Philadelphia this summer -- a fitting location for the nation's 250th birthday. It's the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed, where the Liberty Bell rang, where the Constitution was first drafted and, maybe most importantly, a town where Americans have feasted on delicious food for decades.
There's the giant roast pork sandwich, the doughy, soft pretzels, the water -- sorry, wooder ice -- and, of course, the Philly cheesesteak. A dish so synonymous with the city you can't hear one of those two words and not think about the other.
So, in celebration of this year's Midsummer Classic, Aramark has put together four unique, mouth-watering meals. The catch? You can choose which one is ultimately served during this year's game. Vote in bracket style here to see who gets to the final vote on Monday.
MLB was also lucky enough to be in town to see chef Rich Grab, director of culinary innovation at Aramark Sports and Entertainment, put together the four meals in person. He toured us through Reading Market Terminal, saying his inspiration for these dishes (and for many others) comes from Dinic's Roast Pork and Beef, Beiler's Doughnuts and many of the other shops in the iconic Philly food plaza.
"Our fans are coming in with a different level of expectation with all the great chefs in Philadelphia and all around the country," Grab said. "It's an experience, it's not just a game you come and watch. It's an all-day event you bring your friends and family to. No knock to the hot dog, but not everything's about hot dogs and nachos. We want to bring a bit of elevation to these dishes."
Here are descriptions of the four ASG dishes below, with notes from Grab as he was making them.
The Declaration Dog
A smoked Wagyu beef frank laid out on a toasted pretzel roll topped with a candied bacon crumble, apple cider gastrique and crispy shallot and micro mustard greens.
"Yeah, we made a candied bacon," Grab said. "Thick-cut bacon that's cooked down with a little bit of bourbon, brown sugar and some seasonings. Then it's chopped up and crumbled."
The Liberty Stack
A buttermilk-brined hot chicken thigh placed on a brown butter-maple-glazed donut with charred peach bourbon compote, aged cheddar and pickled Fresnos.
"Best thing about this, it's a little bit of sweet, savory, dessert and main meal all in one handheld bite," Grab said.
The Revolutionary Rib Melt
Smoked short rib, aged provolone, charred onion jam, fried peppers and pickle butter on a pressed brioche roll with a side bowl of beef consume (for dripping).
"Right now, birria is having a moment," Grab said. "We thought it'd be kind of fun to braise the short rib in the same kind of flavor profile, pulling it just slightly."
Betsy’s Banana Ice Cream Sundae
Banana pudding with vanilla soft serve, topped with crushed vanilla wafers, peanut brittle, hot fudge, strawberry sauce and toasted marshmallow cloud. Red, white and blue sprinkles scattered throughout and, of course, served in an All-Star souvenir cap.
"We did a little nod to a banana pudding and a classic hot fudge sundae," Grab said. "Two American icons slapped together for a great dessert item at the park."