Things are heating up at TQL Stadium.
Thursday, FC Cincinnati debuted a special new menu for the upcoming ‘Hell is Real’ rivalry matchup against the Columbus Crew. (For those unaware, the rivalry is named for the famous sign on I-71 that sits directly between Columbus and Cincinnati.) Plenty of new menu items were on hand, alongside exclusive merchandise commemorating the match that takes place on Sunday, October 18 at 5 p.m.
“As everyone in this room knows, this rivalry is about more than soccer,” said FC Cincinnati’s Chief Youth and Community Officer Kate Solomon at the event. “It’s about pride, passion, of course, bragging rights and — of course — the energy that exists between Cincinnati and Columbus every time these two clubs meet. That intensity is really what drives this rivalry and what makes these matches so special … and this menu has creative, bold flavors. They’re designed to match the personality of this rivalry.”
TQL Stadium’s Executive Chef Sheldon Morgan and his team handed out samples from the spice-heavy menu at the event, including everything from habanero poppers to bulgogi fries.
“We’re really cranking up the heat on this one. You know, they’re turning up the heat on the pitch, so we got to bring it in the clubs and on the concourse,” Morgan said.
My favorite item of the event was the “Orange and Blue” sandwich from Alveo. I might be a bit biased; seeing the Mariemont sandwich shop’s name on the list immediately had me thinking Well, that’ll probably be the best thing I’ll have today.
It didn’t disappoint; while I wouldn’t say it was up to the shop’s usual standard of excellence (this is stadium food, after all), I think sitting at a sports game with a beer in hand and eating a sandwich with roasted turkey, Calabrian chilies, prosciutto, gorgonzola crema, red onion and arugula sounds like heaven on earth to me.
Another highlight was the habanero poppers. And boy, did they pop. The pepper itself sported the perfect amount of heat, and the cheese was just the right consistency; gooey enough to be satisfying, but not so runny that it’d be too messy to eat in the stands.
Two other major highlights were the bulgogi fries from Bibigo and the stadium’s own pretzel smashburger. The loaded fries — emphasis on loaded — were covered in bulgogi, kimchi, chili crisp and a spicy aioli.
Thankfully, the fries were rather crispy and held up well against the plethora of ingredients lathered on top, even after sitting for 20 minutes.
I probably would’ve gone back for a second plate if I had the time. The burger, meanwhile, was nothing unusual but well-executed: two smash patties, jalapeno beer cheese and bacon. The bun was also shaped like a soccer ball, so bonus points for aesthetics, I suppose.
Other options on the menu included a hot Italian pizza from LaRosa’s that tasted exactly how you’d expect — at this point, you know what you’re getting from the beloved local pizza chain — alongside a short rib with horseradish sauce, which was decent, and a red velvet chocolate lava cake, which was strangely devoid of the ‘lava’ that gives the dish its name.
There was also a specialty cocktail that’ll be served around the stadium titled the “Orchard’s Revenge,” which features Angry Orchard mixed with Fireball cinnamon whisky and habanero-soaked oranges. Full disclosure: I knew I wouldn’t like the drink going in since I’m not a fan of cider in general, but I did sample it for curiosity’s sake and found that the flavor combination worked a lot better for me than I thought it would. Hard cider and Fireball are a well-known combo, but the orange added a nice touch to an otherwise standard cocktail.
On the merch side of things, there was a hat, a t-shirt, a hoodie, a pin, and — of course — a scarf to commemorate the matchup. There were also new offerings in the team’s “Orange Out” line of clothing, like a corduroy jacket, crewneck sweatshirt and a knit beanie.
If you wanna experience any of the above for yourself, make sure you head to TQL Stadium on October 18 for what will likely be FC Cincinnati’s biggest match of the year. For more information, visit the team’s official website.
