ATLANTA -- The Braves' farm system is one of the top rated in Major League Baseball. In 2017, the Braves are planning to show fans coming to brand new SunTrust Park just what kind of first-rate quality Atlanta's actual farms and farmers can produce.
They can taste it for themselves.
The food at the team's new home, SunTrust Park, created with partner Delaware North, will not only take on the personality of Braves Country, but, thanks to an initiative called "Farm To Fan," will literally come from it.
"I think that's a really important part," said Braves president of business Derek Schiller. "It achieves the goal of supporting the local farm community and making sure that we're doing business with those closest to us, i.e., those that are in 'Braves Country.' It also means that you're getting the freshest possible products. So the end result is that when you're eating whatever food item that you might have at SunTrust Park, you know that it is going to be something fresh and hopefully something that you really enjoy."
On Thursday afternoon, the Braves opened the doors to local media for a taste of what's to come.
"The countdown has begun to Opening Day," said Braves chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk, fresh off of finishing a sample of the Tennessee Hot Chicken Sandwich slider in the expanded Chop House. "Today, we're going through all of the different concessions. This is my first stop, and if this is indicative of what we've got the rest of the afternoon, I've got to start pacing myself."
The multitude of new smells and tastes coming to SunTrust via Delaware North impressed Braves president John Schuerholz.
"They're so innovative and so creative," Schuerholz said. "Food has come a long way. That's what the world expects. It's a more sophisticated environment. It's a more high-expectation environment in everything we do in our world. If you're going to have a classy development like this and project like this, you better develop the goods at that level."
Just choosing which area of Braves Country you want to try may be challenging enough.
Through "The Taste of Braves Country," menus will highlight favorites from Georgia (Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q; Hugh Acheson First & Third Hot Dog and Sausage Shack); South Carolina (Pimento Cheese Patty Melt, served with caramelized onions and smoked paprika on rye); North Carolina (smoked whole hog BBQ sandwich, served on white bread with chopped southern slaw and vinegar BBQ sauce); Tennessee (Nashville Hot Chicken, served with bread and butter pickles); Mississippi (Blackened Catfish Po' Boy Taco, served with slaw and Comeback Sauce); and Alabama (Fried Tomahawk Pork Chop, served on an extra-large potato roll with collard green slaw and white BBQ sauce).
There will, of course, be other options on the concourse. Among them:
• Taco Factory: Featuring a vast array of tacos and other Tex-Mex offerings
• The Slice: Serving Italian favorites like pizza, breadsticks brushed in a special garlic-butter and sprinkled with parmesan, cannolis, and last year's favorite, the Burgerizza
• Centerfield Market: Including an array of items from gluten-free products, to fruit, to various beverages, as well as sweets like King of Pops
• Intentional Wok: Includes Chef Gu's award-winning dumplings
• Potato Cutter: Offering a vast array of French fry seasonings -- including the custom-crafted Bravos (pronounced "Brave-os")
• Tomahawk Ice Cream Bar: Everyone loves ice cream, especially this custom-designed artisanal ice cream from local producer High Road Craft Creamery
• Sandlot Snacks: Offering kids' favorites, including healthy options like fresh fruit, as well as the kids meal, served in souvenir helmet
• Terrapin Tap Room: Amazing things brewing courtesy of the Athens, Ga.-based Terrapin Beer Co. They'll offer their award-winning craft beers and actually brew on-site.