FOODIE FOOTBALL

THE CURRENT

HARD ROCK STADIUM A Foodie’s Guide to Fins Football

EATING YOUR WAY THROUGH A FOOTBALL GAME NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD

BY KRISTEN DESMOND LEFEVRE

Hard Rock Stadium (HRS) is all about the sports. But food—and really good food at that—is at the heart of many of the venue’s concessions. Sure, you can grab a Shula burger or a Dolphins dog in between quarters. But if you’re looking for something more chef-driven, local (about 70 percent of food offered at HRS hails from South Florida-based vendors), health-conscious, or just downright delicious, then we’ve got you covered for the 2022-2023 season. (hardrockstadium.com)

What: Café Versailles

Where to find It: Section 347 Order up: Grab a classic Cuban sandwich (with a side of plantain chips) or an order of empanadas or croquetas at the HRS outpost of Café Versailles—the Little Havana staple that’s been feeding hungry Miamians with its traditional (and delicious) Cuban cuisine since 1971. (versaillesrestaurant.com)

What: Sushi Maki

Where to find it: Section 244 Order up: Stadium sushi is a thing. Serving up fresh rolls and poke bowls among other Asian-inspired dishes, this favorite kiosk (complete with long lines) avoids preservatives and responsibly sources their ingredients for a healthconscious game-day choice. (sushimaki.com)

What: Chef Creole

Where to find it: Section 117 Order up: If comfort food is what you crave, don’t miss the chance to nosh on jambalaya, stewed chicken, oxtail, and conch from this concession stand run by Wilkinson Sejour, who owns seven locations (including the HRS outpost) of this Little Haiti favorite. (chefcreole.com)

What: O-B House pancakes

Where to find it: Section 146 Order up: Sometimes you just need an order of Fins flapjacks—these sweet offerings from the pancake savants at Fort Lauderdale-favorite O-B House are a must-have on early game days (or any day). The restaurant’s signature buttermilk pancakes come with a selection of toppings, but we’re partial to the blueberry variety. Grab an order during an early matchup, pair it with a Bloody Mary, and score a sweet victory in the stadium concession game. (o-bhouse.com)

What: Mojo Donuts

Where to find it: Section 217 Order up: Whether you need a breakfast of champions or a sweet dessert to celebrate a Fins win, find your way through the crowds to Mojo Donuts for their Abuelita donut—filled with arroz con leche (from a 100-year-old recipe) and topped powdered sugar and dulce de leche. Or try the Deco Delight: a donut stuffed with banana puree and topped with blueberries and strawberries. The stand offers a dozen different flavors and creates limited editions for special events. (mojodonuts.com)

DRINKING GAME

TOAST YOUR TEAM

You can always find a Bud Light or a Heineken to toast the team, but if you’re more of a local beer fan, try these two tasty options from among the more than 15 South Florida–based brews offered in the Tap Room on the 100 level:

• Born & Raised, a 4.9 percent ABV blood orange kölsch that is a collab between Veza Sur and the Dolphins (vezasur.com) • El Jefe, a coconut-based Hefeweizen offered by

Wynwood’s own J. Wakefield Brewing (jwakefieldbrewing.com)

What: Fuku

Where to find it: Sections 116 and 319 Order up: Celeb chef David Chang’s fried chicken sandwiches have been a fan-favorite since his HRS joint opened in 2017. Options include the classic fried chicken sando and the spicy version (don’t skip the ssäm sauce), but unique to the HRS outpost is the CBR, which takes Chang’s original spicy fried chicken sandwich up a notch with the addition of bacon and ranch. (eatfuku.com)

FOOD FRIENDLY

AVOIDING ALLERGENS

Have a food allergy or intolerance? In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Miami Dolphins have been named a FARECheck partner by FARE, a leading food-allergy advocacy organization.

This season, HRS will become the first NFL venue to create a special kitchen designed to produce allergy-friendly concession offerings. “We spent a great deal of time evaluating the in-stadium experience for the 2021 season,” says Jeremy Walls, senior vice president and chief revenue officer of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. “Working with FARE will help service our fans and raise awareness on food allergies. The new kitchen will limit the use of gluten, nuts, milk, and shellfish allergens at all [HRS] events, including Miami Dolphins home games, giving every fan…access to allergy-friendly options—with four grab-andgo sites and four concession stands on the 100, 200, and 300 levels.”

“Going out with your family and friends to take in a game is fun and relaxing, especially when you are confident that you will have access to allergy-friendly food options when you need them,” says Lisa Gable, CEO of FARE. “FARE’s partnership with the Dolphins in providing a FARECheck-certified kitchen will help millions of people make food choices that work for them.” (foodallergy.org)