Fans can expect more than the traditional game-day hot dog or hamburger from Faurot Field’s concession stands this football season.
This will be the second season of MU’s partnership with Levy Restaurants, a Chicago-basedhg chain that caters to major entertainment and sports venues across the country.
Levy Restaurants’ regional chef Jonathan Williams highlighted some of the upcoming menu changes. He said that although about 85 percent of fan favorites remain, Levy’s expanded the menu based on feedback from their first season with MU.
“We always listen to fan feedback, whether it’s through the campus website or the Levy Restaurants staff walking around the stadium during games and having conversations with guests,” Williams said in an email. “We are very excited to hear what fans think of some of the new options.”
The new options pose some serious game-day challenges for any Tiger fan’s appetite.
The gourmet M Dawgs put the simple ketchup-and-mustard-topped hot dog to shame. Options include the Faurotious Field Dawg, with buffalo sauce and blue cheese; The Big Zou Dawg, piled high with potato salad, baked beans, barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese; and the Touchdown Taco Dawg, complete with taco meat, lettuce, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and jalapenos.
Other enticing items include the Mac and Cheese Burnt End Sandwich, which combines traditional mac and cheese smothered in smoked barbecue sauce, and Parmesan garlic fries and loaded crispy potatoes.
“The new Mac and Cheese Burnt End Sandwich was very popular once people found out about it,” MU concessions worker Mary Petty said. “The sandwich is also filled with brisket and barbecue sauce, and it works because college kids love mac and cheese.”
Another option is the new, generously seasoned Parmesan garlic fries.
“You need to drink something with them, because they’ve got a lot of flavor,” freshman Jenna Germer said. “But they taste really good, probably better than they look. You definitely don’t need to add anything to them.”
Williams said he thinks students will really enjoy the Tiger Walking Taco.
“It consists of a personal bag of Doritos smothered with taco meat, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and cheddar cheese,” he said. “It’s a fun item they can share with their friends.”
Due to the popularity of their signature veggie burger, Levy’s expanded their vegetarian options with a veggie chopped salad. Fans looking for another healthier, lighter option can also try the new grilled chicken sandwich.
Williams said Levy’s works not only to improve Faurot Field’s menu, but also to enhance the game day experience as a whole. Levy’s will offer two new promotions to the MU community: the Mizzou passport card lets fans try five specified menu items throughout the season and get a Big Zou Dawg for free, and the “Mizzou Pophorn” consists of popcorn in a Mizzou megaphone that fans can use to cheer on the Tigers.
All new menu items are highlighted in gold on the concession signs.
“I hope students will love the menu,” Williams said. “We added more fan-friendly fare, more toppings for the burgers, more toppings for the fries. We had more fun with it this year and I think we have some winners on our hands.”
