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New food, beer and giveaways coming to Nationals Park this season

Ahead of Opening Day on April 7, the Nationals offered a media tour to show off the new additions to the park, including an expanded menu. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
(1/22)

WASHINGTON — Fans headed to Nationals Park will find a slew of new food and drink options on Opening Day — falafels, gyros, and handmade dumplings. A partnership with Anheuser-Busch means there are new beers on tap.  

And hot dogs? They’re being made over with all local ingredients — stuff you don’t find at regular ballparks.

“We’re moving the hot dog up the culinary totem pole,” says Lionel Holmes, owner of Haute Dogs and Fries, pitching its grub on the stadium’s gallery level.

More local vendors are getting spots at the Southeast Washington stadium: Haute, and Pinch Dumplings. The restaurants won the team’s culinary contest to offer their food at the park. Chef Mike Isabella will have two spots there — Kapnos at the Park, which serves Greek food; and Catchfly, which features Southern cuisine.

The team is giving away items, including Bryce Harper Chia Pets, a Garfield-influenced Running Presidents Teddy window cling and a two-piece Max Scherzer no-hitter bobblehead.

“We’re doing a Jayson Werth figurine with his pet, his dog Magnus. And the image we’re using, it’ll be the first bobblehead/figurine in Nationals history where the player has a man bun,” says Valerie Camillo, the team’s chief revenue and marketing officer.

When taking suggestions for theme nights, Camillo says, Bryce Harper pitched the franchise do a Rat Pack night. There will also be an ‘80s theme night, Star Wars, Oktoberfest and Election Night.

“All fans through the gates will have their choice of a Democratic donkey or a Republican elephant, so they can put those on their desks and show their politics with pride,” Camillo says.

Megan Cloherty

WTOP Investigative Reporter Megan Cloherty primarily covers breaking news, crime and courts.

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