The Fascinating World of MLB Ballpark Food

Fully loaded hot dogs, massive milkshakes, messy burgers, and all the culinary experiments that are trying to get us to spend a day at the ballpark this summer

In 2008, the Travel Channel released a show that I found incredibly fascinating and somewhat disgusting at the same time. The show was called “Man vs Food” and it was hosted by actor Adam Richman. The premise of the show was to tour around America in pursuit of challenges from restaurants that served some of the most ludicrous looking dishes known to man. These were meals that would likely make any doctor fear for Richman’s well-being. The challenges posed by these restaurants could be withstanding a dish that was incredibly spicy or one that featured pounds of food to be consumed in one sitting. It sounds somewhat grotesque, but I found myself unable to look away from these concoctions that Richman would attempt to eat; it was captivating television.

What made Man vs. Food so successful is the shock value. The visual of a burger that had seemingly endless patties, or a platter of wings without an end in sight is jarring visually when you think about what it would take to finish it. On some level, we as Americans have an affinity for stretching the limits of what is possible with food. We will combine different food items just to see if it will still taste good, adverse health…