Fan voting will bring new concession to Citi Field

NEW YORK -- Citi and the Mets are going to bring up one of a few hot prospects to Citi Field shortly, and for the first time, you are going to help decide which one.

Here's the best part: Your choice will be a consistent performer with local ties who has guaranteed success and popularity among satisfied fans throughout the season.

Voting is underway through Friday at Mets.com/CitiCallUps to help decide which of three independently owned New York restaurants -- Ceetay, Corfu Grill or Lady M Confections -- will get to showcase its cuisine during the second half of this season at Citi Field.

Citi recently announced the launch of the Citi Small Business Call-Ups program, which includes this new voting opportunity. It is an effort to bring more favorite local flavors to an award-winning ballpark menu, and each of these three prospects is a Citi client eager to satisfy a ballpark crowd, starting with Fourth of July weekend.

The winning restaurant will be revealed before the Mets' July 5 Interleague night game against Texas -- a game that already features the Mets Floppy Hat promotion presented by Citi for the first 20,000 fans in attendance. If you attend that night, you will get your first look at a unique concession stand takeover, and the winning restaurant will occupy that highly visible space and be exposed to hundreds of thousands of fans through the final regular-season home game.

"Citi serves more than 260,000 small and medium businesses across the country, and we are always looking for new opportunities to help advance our clients' business objectives," said Robert Kleiber, head of small business at Citi. "Citi Small Business Call-Ups is a unique opportunity to leverage our valued relationship with the New York Mets, create a one-of-a-kind platform for one of our small business clients to market their business, and bring the rich flavors and culture of New York into Citi Field."

The Mets' award-winning menu will include one of these restaurants, nominated by Citi:
• Ceetay: a Thai and Asian fusion restaurant in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx
• Corfu Grill: a Greek restaurant in the heart of Forest Hills, near the ballpark
• Lady M Confections: a Manhattan-based specialty purveyor of cakes and confectionary delights

Mets legend Rusty Staub helped introduce the program before a recent home game in an on-field presentation with key reps from each restaurant. Those also in attendance included Georgios Aspiotis, owner of the Corfu Grill; Willa Smith and Bo Kim, representing Ceetay Citi Small Business Bankers; Ken Romaniszyn, owner of Lady M Confections; Scott Phillips and Bob Silver, representatives of the Citi Small Business Team; Jennifer McCrary, Aramark general manager; Paul Schwartz, Mets' executive director of venue services; and Catherine Marquette, Mets' senior director of corporate partnerships.

Recognized for its top selection of cuisine, Citi Field is a food oasis for New York sports and food fans alike. Filled with everything from El Verano Taqueria's Taco to Pat LaFrieda's Original Filet Mignon Steak Sandwich to New York's legendary Shake Shack high behind the outfield wall, the ballpark features some of New York's culinary stars.

Citi cardholders will be eligible for a 10 percent dine-in discount at each of the nominated restaurants for the duration of the voting period.