Butter chicken tacos, shrimp loaded fries and potstickers. You can finish those off with a sweet ending of salt & pepper caramel corn or a sweet n’ salty ice cream bar.These items and plenty more will satiate hungry fans when the Detroit Lions take to Ford Field on Sept. 13 for the team’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints.
The Detroit Lions and Levy, its food and beverage partner, unveiled in a media preview on Wednesday, Sept. 2, new food options for the season at Ford Field.
And fans are in store for some tasty options.
New this year are interactive food and beverage options and value deals, plus returning value combos and value beer.
Matt Coleman, Levy executive chef, told the Free Press he is most excited by the stadium’s new Food Passport
options at every game.
“We are bringing in a lot of the different cultures and cuisines from the different neighborhoods within and surrounding Detroit and finding ways to bring it into stadium fare,” he said.
Mobile Food Passport and the Drink of the Game Passport are Ford Field's new programs this year.
When fans buy food items at Ford Field that represent Detroit’s diverse culinary culture, they can collect stamps. There are eight Food Passport items paying homage to Detroit neighborhoods from the Corktown corned beef nacho to the Brush Park BBQ chicken wings and the Third and Porter potstickers, an ode to Detroit's onetime Chinatown. There's also items like Michigan Avenue coney fries, chicken shawarma and a beef birria bowl. Food Passport items to try throughout the season are in specific Streats of Detroit stands across Ford Field.
Once you collect stamps, you can enter to win prizes:
• Redeem 3 stamps: Enter to win Lions Loot• Redeem 6 stamps: Enter to win a signed Sam LaPorta football• Complete the passport: Enter to win a signed Aidan Hutchinson jersey
At home games, fans should keep in mind that food items may be available only in specific concession sections throughout Ford Field or at the suite level. Not all specific item prices were available at the media preview.
As in past years, Ford Field partners with local restaurants, bringing their specialties and Detroit's rich culture into the stadium.
A newcomer to Ford Field is Xav’s Jammin Caribbean Fusion restaurant from Xavier Jaramillo. Based in Farmington Hills, Xav’s brings its jerk chicken wings, plus chicken empanadas and oxtail empanadas along with fries loaded with nicely seasoned shrimp or jerk chicken or black beans.
Returning for its second season at Ford Field is Berkley's Bombshell Treat Bar. Introduced late last year was its Salt & Pepper caramel corn. While the caramel corn is sweet, it does has a nice peppery finish. Bombshell's returning favorites include its S’mores snack mix and signature ice cream bars dipped in various toppings and finished with items like crushed potato chips and pretzels and other fun toppings.
Also returning for its second year at Ford Field is Dearborn’s Paradise Street Eats & Biryani with Indian-fusion street food. Its menu includes butter chicken tacos, Paradise loaded fries and refreshing and not-too-sweet pomegranate lemonade.
As in seasons, Ford Field will offer its “Power Hour” before each home game. Power Hour offers discounted options on food and beverages for the first hour after gates open. Also, returning is the Ford Field's ultimate Bloody Mary bar and drink of the game options with Lions themed cocktails paired with cocktails designed with the opposing team in mind.
Food Passport items to try include:
Third & Porter Potstickers (Streats 124)Fried lemongrass chicken potstickers, mild chili crisp, scallion, ginger soy dipping sauce and toasted sesame
Corktown Corned Beef Nacho (Streats 137)Fresh kettle chips, corned beef, white cheese sauce, Thousand Island, coleslaw, tomato and chive brush park BBQ
Chicken Wings (Streats 238)Smoked & fried wings with Detroit dry rub, cherry BBQ glaze, white sauce, blue cheese and chives
Soaring Eagle Sports Bar
Returning this season are the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Power Hour, value combo and value beer.
- Hot link hoagie with a seared hot link, pimento cheese, jalapeño honey mustard
- Glazed burnt ends sandwiches with brisket burnt ends, toasted potato bun, pickled red onions, jalapeño corn topping
Value combos
- F-150 Tailgate combo ($12.99): Italian sausage or bratwurst with a bag of chips. Served in a Ford Field exclusive Ford F-150 box.
- Ford Field Stadium Classics ($24.99): Two hot dogs, bag of chips, and souvenir soda. Served in a replica box of the Ford Field stadium.
- Lions Kids Meal ($12.99): Choice of a turkey and cheddar sandwich or two chicken tenders, served with chips, an M&M cookie, and your choice of bottled water or chocolate milk.
Deals in the Den Marketplaces
New to Sections 227 & 242 are value-priced snacks and beverages, including candy, snacks, water and soda. Value combos and beer at available at all Streats of Detroit and Kickoff Classics. Prices vary and start at $2.99.
New suites menu items
- Maroulosalata: This traditional Greek salad features chopped romaine with fresh mint, dill, green onions, feta cheese, lemon vinaigrette
- Pierogi & Kielbasa: Seared cheese pierogi in chive butter, grilled kielbasa, caramelized onion, sour cream
- Mackinac Cherry Bread Pudding: Cherry vanilla custard, Mackinac fudge, toasted almonds, amaretto crème anglaise
- Tacos & Tostadas: Pork Al Pastor with charred pineapple relish pickled red onions pollo asado chorizo, cotija cheese, salsa verde, Mexican crema, cilantro, pico, lime wedges, flour tortillas, corn tostada.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SusanMariecooks. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New food options ready to kick off the Detroit Lions season
