Screen Shot 2013-07-31 at 8.51.15 AMYou got to give the Eagles a lot of credit. After two miserable years in which Occupy NovaCare because less of a punchline and more of an actual thing, they’ve quickly turned fan sentiment around. Sure, most of that has to do with firing Andy Reid and hiring Chip Kelly, but there are other things. Since firing their Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Communications last year, they’ve stepped up their game on several fronts. Among the fan-friendly improvements: their social media and marketing has gotten better, they’re handling the training-camp-in-Philly thing very well, green initiatives at The Linc have been completed (or are mostly completed), and they’ve welcomed back Donovan McNabb.

You can add culinary curation to that list.

One of my favorite things every year is when the Phillies announce their new (overpriced) ballpark eats. Baseball lends itself to eating, watching, drinking, and eating again. Football not so much. But still, the new menu items at Lincoln Financial Field, announced yesterday, sound delicious, if not somewhat out of place at a football game. And they come from amazing chefs:

CHEF MARC VETRI / ALLA SPINA

• Mortadella Hot Dog with spicy pickles and cabbage relish
• North Philly Sausage Cheesesteak on a pretzel roll
• Veggie Burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion and cheddar

CHEF JOSE GARCES / DISTRITO

• Tacos de Pollo – Chicken ropa vieja, queso fresco and crema
• Carnitas Tacos with pineapple jicama salsa, black beans and shaved radishes
• Homemade Guacamole, Salsa & Chips

CHEF PETER MCANDREWS / PAESANO’S

• Paesano’s Brisket Sandwich – Beef brisket, horseradish mayo, roasted tomatoes, pepperoncino, sharp provolone and fried egg
• Chicken Diavlo – Spicy chicken breast with salami, roasted tomatoes, broccoli rabe, herb cheddar spread and sharp provolone
• Tuscan Tony Hot Dog – Sopressata wrapped all-beef dog with Bolognese, sharp provolone and Italian long hots
• Meatloaf Parmesan – Crispy Italian-style meatloaf, red sauce, fresh mozzarella and sharp provolone
• Zawzeech Sweet Italian Sausage Sandwich – Sweet Italian sausage with caramelized peppers & onions, sharp provolone and pepperoncino

Garces is fire right now. I’m pretty sure he could cook and prepare my dog’s shit and it would be spectacular. He’s that good. You won’t find better burgers than the ones at his Village Whiskey. And, for my money, the Carne Kobe Tacos at Distrito are the best menu item in the city. If you haven’t tried them, go get them. I giggle every time I bite into one as there’s no other appropriate reaction when the kobe beef dances with the truffled potato whilst taking a bath in a shallow pool of its own blood. Anyway… they’re not on the menu at The Linc, but I’m sure the carnitas are just lovely.

In addition, there are some new Aramark (…) and local favorite items:

NEW Signature Items

• 2 Minute Warning Brisket Sandwich – Slow braised, on freshly baked Amoroso roll, with homemade bacon mayo and crumbled bleu cheese
• Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with fresh mozzarella and homemade marinara sauce
• The Blitz BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger with house made spicy pickles, crispy onions and homemade BBQ sauce

• Seasons Pizza available in all pizza stands in general concessions
• Melt Down assorted grilled cheese sandwiches, sweet potato fries and tater tots
• Tony Luke’s Roast Pork Italian Sandwich
• Chickie’s & Pete’s Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak
• Bassett’s Original Burgers & Fresh Cut Fries,  The Mac n Cheese Burger & The Picnic Burger – w/ pulled pork, coleslaw, cheese and BBQ sauce

The Eagles put together a video showing off the food. I’d embed it here and give them the gushing promotion if they’d allow me to. They don’t. So just click this link.