Bringing the heat: Charlotte Knights unveil spicy food options for 2024 season
Jamerius Sims has seen Carolina-style hot dogs and hamburgers everywhere since moving to Charlotte three months ago.
The Charlotte Knights’ new executive chef quickly learned that establishments in this area make their own “Carolina dogs” — with chili, slaw, onions and yellow mustard — and sought to create even more local staples for fans to enjoy when they go to the ballpark.
The Carolina dog is far from the only new addition to the concession stands at Truist Field, which hosts the Knights’ home opener against the Norfolk Tides at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Fans will be able to purchase “Homer’s chicken sandwich,” named for the Knights’ beloved dragon mascot, which is chicken breaded with Takis, topped with cole slaw and finished with ghost pepper sauce. They’re going for a spicy theme with their new foods — tied to the fiery Homer the Dragon — and “Homer’s smoked chicken wings” will be finished on the grill before being tossed in the ghost pepper sauce as well.
“Smokies,” an in-ballpark establishment that offers a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, is moving from its original spot behind home plate to more of a brick-and-mortar location that will likely be in more fans’ walking routes. The menu will feature more food that is smoked on the grill and finished with cole slaw.
The Knights are also introducing a “classic shrimp Po boy” — with lettuce and a Cajun breading on shrimp, finished with remoulade sauce — and a “catfish basket,” which is breaded and fried in-house and served with a side of fries.
“We’re just trying to showcase something fresh, not necessarily everything coming out of the freezer,” Sims, who moved to Charlotte from Atlanta, told reporters as the team unveiled the new items. “Pretty much everything you see here, we do in-house.
“Some dishes, we’re trying to give a more ‘chef’ influence and do more things in-house, versus ordering and just getting it out of the freezer.”
‘This is the place I want to be’
Danny Mendick grew up attending Rochester Red Wings games in upstate New York, and his dad would always emphasize that the minor league ballplayers weren’t capable of anything that he wasn’t.
Mendick, a 30-year-old infielder, has appeared in Major League Baseball games with the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets for the last five seasons. This is his second time in the Queen City, and he feels suiting up for the Charlotte Knights has provided a one-of-a-kind experience in the minor leagues.
“This city is phenomenal. You just look around — it’s gorgeous,” said Mendick, gazing at the uptown skyline during an interview with The Charlotte Observer near the on-deck circle. “It helped me make a decision. Because it was like, ‘if I am gonna go to a minor league stadium, this is the place I want to be.’
“The goal is to get to the big leagues, no doubt, but this is a perk of being in Triple-A.”
There’s MLB experience all over the second-year manager Justin Jirschele’s roster. Former Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals relief pitcher Chad Kuhl will be in the bullpen, along with previous Atlanta Braves hurler Touki Toussaint.
“We have so many guys in the clubhouse that are just great people,” said Lane Ramsey, a 6-foot-9 pitcher who made his MLB debut with the White Sox last August. “Every season has its own individual excitement to it. But this year, especially, I think we have such a good group here of guys that really gel together.”
This story was originally published March 29, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
