The Detroit Lions‘ home opener at Ford Field is less than two weeks away with a matchup up against the Chicago Bears.
When Lions fans head to Ford Field on Sept. 14, they will not only be hungry for a win, but also hungry for food.
The Detroit Lions and Levy, its food and beverage partner, will be ready with a playbook of offerings.
On Wednesday, the chefs at Levy unveiled to the media a selection of the new food and beverages they’ve come up with for fans this season.
Levy executive chef Matthew Coleman said this year, they partnered with running back Jahmyr Gibbs to put together a combination of his favorite foods.
The Jahmyr Gibbs’ Dash Combo, available in Sections 100 and 120, combines Gibbs’ favorites: burgers and pizza. It’s a smashburger topped with pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and pizza seasoning. It’s served with a side of golden ring tater tots and Honolulu Blue Sour Patch Kids
Coleman also said that fans expect more local offerings, as well as vegan and vegetarian and “clean eating” options.
Driving those options, Coleman said, is their clientele.
“Whether it’s youth, who knows, but we know that the ask is out there to provide more than just fried fanfare,” Coleman said. “And so, we are doing our part to try and work with the members of the community and different restaurant groups in the company and within ourselves to find that product, explore those options and bring that to the table.”
There is a slew of new offerings, from a coney flight to a pho brisket sandwich to butter chicken samosas.
Local restaurants this year for the first time at Ford Field include Bombshell Treat Bar, Breadless, Paradise Street Eats and Wing Snob. Returning this year is Cooking with Que. Offerings include a pita sandwich with shredded chicken or vegan chicken. They also serve loaded mac n cheese, with chicken or vegan chicken.
Paradise Street Eats has a fun offering of butter chicken samosas served with a shot of its signature butter sauce.
The restaurant partners this year, Coleman said, are ones from local neighborhoods that you’ll find within a short radius of the stadium.
“We keep it local, and minority owned, that’s a big thing for us and has been for years,” Coleman said.
Berkley’s Bombshell Treat Bar will offer three varieties of ice cream bars, including Honolulu Blue raspberry dip with marshmallow cream drizzle, Lion’s sprinkle mix and edible glitter. Just for Ford Field, they’ve created the “We want S’More Snack Mix,” with toasted mini marshmallows, flake salt and edible glitter.
Matthew Kasle, co-owner with his wife, Jill, is excited to bring their offerings to Ford Field.
“It’s ridiculously exciting,” Kasle said. “It’s an amazing environment, and we are ready for this. “We were made for this.”
Breadless, the Detroit-born fast-casual brand whose signature items are a variety of health-conscious sandwiches wrapped in leafy greens plus power bowls, is a newcomer this year for Lions games, as well as various concerts and entertainment events at Ford Field.
“It’s our first season here at Ford Field and we are super grateful,” Marc Howland, co-founder of Breadless, said. “Levy gave us the opportunity to serve up Lions fans. I played football throughout college, so just to be able to be in this stadium, serving these fans, giving them food that fuels them, just means the world.”
Throughout Ford Field, there will be vegetarian offerings, rotating menu items and grab-and-go options. Returning this season are the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Power Hour, value combo and value beer.
Fans attending home games should know that some items are offered at specific concession sections throughout Ford Field or only at the suite level.
New food offerings include:Coney flight: Four mini classic coneys, including pickled onion and spicy honey mustard; crispy shallot with brown spicy mustard; green onion with Dijon mustardLoaded waffle fries: Mesquite chicken, Carolina gold BBQ, chopped cabbage slaw, diced tomato, green onionPho brisket sandwich: Slow-smoked brisket, pickled onion, fresh herbs and garlic aioli on rye served with Pho dipping broth and a bag of chipsChopped pork sammy: Aleppo-spiced, slow-smoked pork butt, creamy dill pickle slaw, hot and spicy pickles served with kettle ChipsParadise Street EatsMango lassi: Famous traditional mango smoothie with real mango and fresh yogurtParadise loaded fries: Seasoned chaat masala fries with crispy butter chicken, melted cheese, diced red onion, cilantro, black sesame and signature sauceButter chicken samosa: Traditional savory pastries stuffed with pulled tandoori chicken, melted cheese and served with signature butter sauce shotCooking with Que:Chicken pita (vegan): Choice of shredded chicken or vegan chicken with fresh greens, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mayonnaise with ranch or BBQ sauce. Served with a side house saladLoaded vegan mac (Vegan): Choice of chicken or vegan chickenWing SnobChicken Tenders: Crispy all-white-meat chicken tenders served with Buffalo or garlic Parmesan dipping sauceTraditional wings: Fresh, never frozen, deep-fried bone-in wings. Includes a mix of flats and drums tossed in Cajun Dry Rub or Honey BBQ SauceCauli-wings (vegetarian): Battered cauliflower florets tossed in Buffalo sauce or honey BBQBreadlessJerk chicken and mango: Jerk chicken, peach mango salsa, sugar-free BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mango slices, onions, wrapped in Swiss chardAvocado turkey: Fresh sliced turkey, avocado spread, champagne vinaigrette, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, sweet pickles, onions, chopped romaine, wrapped in romaineSpicy falafel: Smashed falafel, spicy vegan aioli, pickled turnips, arabic pickles, tomatoes, onions, chopped romaine, wrapped in Swiss chardBombshell Treat Bar
• Ice cream bars: Roar Berry-Madagascar vanilla ice cream, “Honolulu Blue” raspberry dip, marshmallow cream drizzle, Lions sprinkle mix, edible glitter; Sweet & Salty-Madagascar vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate dip, caramel drizzle, crumbled pretzels, crushed potato chips, flake salt.
• We Want S’More Snack Mix: Golden Grahams Cereal, Mini Marshmallows, Brown Butter, Milk Chocolate, Chocolate Crisp Pearls, Toasted Mini Marshmallows, Flake Salt, Edible Glitter (Contains gluten, dairy and soy)
Available in the Ford Field suites
• Olive & whipped feta platter: Whipped feta honey yogurt spread, marinated kalamata & castelvetrano olives, toasted pine nuts, parsley, garlic herb focaccia crostini, grilled naan, seasonal root vegetable
• Birria beef Texas toast grilled queso sliders: diced onion, lime, cilantro, consommé
• Market deli sammy: Genoa salami, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, baby arugula, sun-dried tomato basil pesto, butter herb focaccia
Kids meals offered include:Chicken tenders, chips, cookie and choice of bottled water or chocolate milkTurkey sandwich with carrots, cookie and choice of bottled water or chocolate milk
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.