Of all the over-the-top ballpark concessions making their 2016 MLB Opening Day debuts, the Burgerizza at Turner Field in Atlanta has generated the most media buzz thus far. It’s not hard to see why, as it contains basic college food groups and is bigger than the average human head. Billed as 20 ounces of grilled beef patty with cheddar cheese and bacon sandwiched between two eight-inch pizzas, the creation’s $26 price tag matches its heft.
Because the Washington Nationals kick off their season in Atlanta today, we figured a recipe test would provide a next-best taste of the action. We seasoned the ground beef with salt and pepper and tried to bake whole Burgerizzas in the oven per the pizza-box directions (we used DiGiorno; the kind used at Turner Field is not specified). But the meat failed to reach a safe internal temperature. So we pan-grilled each burger mound, topped with six slices of cheese (five used on the official Burgerizza, but we went for maximum coverage) and eight slices of crisped bacon, and then inserted it between the finished personal-size pizzas (cheese on the bottom, pepperoni on top – just like the Burgerizza.)
All the volunteer taste testers who lined up and tried our Burgerizzas approved them on all counts: concept, aroma, plate appeal, flavor and sheer goofiness.
Delaware North, the team’s new food and beverage concessionaire based in Buffalo, developed the concept plus others in November of last year. It held tastings for the Braves executive team in February and March, “and they were fun,” says Victoria Hong, the vendor’s director of corporate communications.
As to the official number of servings, a Braves spokesperson said Monday that it’s described as “shareable.” Delware North says the Burgerizza was designed to feed a family of four.
