YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Ballpark Food That Outshines the Game

    By | Shine Food – Fri, Jul 22, 2011 1:45 AM EDT

    Photo: ThinkstockPhoto: ThinkstockBy Lynn Andriani

    Maybe you follow baseball. Or maybe you find yourself following someone you love--who happens to love baseball--to the nearest stadium. If so, you might have noticed that Major League ballpark food has left the traditional peanuts and Cracker Jacks in the dust.

    RELATED: New Twists on Classic Sports Bar Favorites

    I kept hearing that the gourmet offerings at many of the country's newer stadiums threaten to steal the show, so I asked around and found six foods baseball fans can't get enough of. Even if your interest in America's pastime is limited to the endearing if ragtag group of dogs named for the Yankee shortstop, you'll want to try these recipes and make a playoff-worthy version of them at home.

    RELATED: Stay Healthy in the Bleachers

    Ballpark: AT&T Park
    Team: San Francisco Giants
    Must-try concession: Crazy Crab'z, center field
    What to order: Dungeness crab sandwich with mayonnaise and tomato, served in a grilled garlic butter sourdough baguette.
    Make it at home: Curtis Stone's Surf Sandwich

    Ballpark: Citi Field
    Team: New York Mets
    Must-try concession: Danny Meyer's El Verano Taqueria, outfield concourse
    What to order: Chile-Marinated Skirt Steak, served inside two soft corn tortillas.
    Make it at home: Grilled Skirt Steak with Two Chimichurris

    RELATED: Comfort Food Gets a Makeover!

    Ballpark: Safeco Field
    Team: Seattle Mariners
    Must-try concession: Ivar's Seafood and Chowder, sections 117 and 337
    What to order: Ivar Dog, deep-fried cod topped with coleslaw and tartar sauce on a bun.
    Make it at home: Fish and Chips

    Ballpark: Citizens Bank Park
    Team: Philadelphia Phillies
    Must-try concession: The Schmitter, section 140
    What to order: Schmitter sandwich, a cheesesteak served on a Kaiser roll with fried salami.
    Make it at home: Cheesesteaks with Peppers and Onions

    RELATED: 30 Recipes for Great Summer Grilling

    Ballpark: Target Field
    Team: Minnesota Twins
    Must-try concession: Hrbek's, gate 14
    What to order: Onion rings that come stacked up on a pole with an array of dipping sauces.
    Make it at home: Cliff's Homegrown Vidalia Onion Rings

    Ballpark: Yankee Stadium
    Team: New York Yankees
    Must-try concession: Lobel's of New York, section 134
    What to order: Prime Beef Sandwich, carved to order and served with fresh horseradish and olive tapenade.
    Make it at home: Spiced Beef Sandwich

    RELATED: No Fuss, No-Cook Summer Recipes

    More from O, The Oprah Magazine:

    Like O, The Oprah Magazine on Facebook

    SUPPER CLUB PICK

    • Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club
      View Photos
      Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club
      Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club

      My after-school snack was a sacred ritual. I sat on the carpet in my parents' bedroom at a low table, the television turned to "I Dream of Jeannie," and ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich cut into neat squares. I wasn't fussy about crusts. I just loved the sticky pairing of creamy peanut butter with syrupy golden sweetness drizzled from a honey bear in diagonals across the soft white bread. Nothing else--save for maybe apples and peanut butter in a pinch--could have made for as sweet an