Meat of the matter City of cheesesteak wins PETA’s ballpark award

Associated
Press

Put away
those hot dogs, carnivores.
Wheat-based
cheesesteaks are on the ballpark menu in
Philadelphia,
the No. 1 vegetarian-friendly stadium in

America, according to PETA.

Veggie
hoagies, garden burgers and vegan hot dogs also helped boost

Citizens
Bank

Park to the top of the
annual list compiled by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“It
is a little ironic, especially since our city is known for cheesesteaks,”
said Kevin Tedesco, Aramark’s director of concessions at the stadium.

Aramark
services 13 of the 30 major league ballparks. Tedesco said the faux-meat
cheesesteak, new this year in Philly, has been a popular item.

“People
can still order their Whiz wit” — that’s local lingo for a cheesesteak
with Cheese Whiz and fried onions — “and get it without meat,”
Tedesco said.

“It’s
important that customers get a choice. We sell everything right at the regular
stands. If you want a hot dog with meat, you can get it. If you want without
meat, it’s there,” he said.

The
grilled veggie cheesesteak does well, too. It includes all the ingredients —
mushrooms, peppers, mushrooms and cheese, among them — except the beef.

AT&T

Park in

San Francisco, with its
portobello sandwiches, veggie sushi and garlic fries, was second on the PETA
list.

“The
trend toward healthy and humane meatless options at ballparks is in full
swing,” PETA assistant director Dan Shannon said. “It’s a victory for
both animals and the health of baseball fans.”

The next
three on PETA’s list of big league parks: Safeco Field in
Seattle,

Petco
Park
in
San Diego and Busch Stadium in

St. Louis.

Durham

Bulls

Athletic
Park
was the top vegetarian-friendly
park in the minors. Next up on PETA’s list were
Portland,

Ore.;
Norfolk,
Pawtucket and

Memphis.