DESSERT NACHOS!

Houston Texans roll out wild new concessions at NRG Stadium

The Houston Texans invited the media to NRG Park for their annual “State of the Stadium” address and feeding frenzy of new concession goodies.

Darn the luck, I had to graze and nibble an array of over-the-top football fare, from celebrity chef Chris Shepherd’s fried sausage and cheese kolaches on tater tot casserole to barbecue lord Ronnie Killen’s pulled pork tacos to cowboy cookie Grady Spears’ brunchin’ chicken biscuit to dessert nachos topped with fresh berries and Nutella.

That’s just not fair. I’d eat football cleats if they were covered with Nutella. My favorite new item ... anything Killen handed to me.

Before the Texans rolled out the food carts (they’re no dummies), team president Jamey Rootes discussed and unveiled the new features and improvements — the “Game Day Experience” — waiting for fans this season.

NRG Stadium has undergone $30 million in additions and updates to its concession and retail outlets. Killen will have three times as many food locations as last year, Shepherd six times more. The main gift store in Bud Light Plaza has a new name — Houston Texans Team Shop. There will be a new Chevron Kids Zone for pregame romper fun. A new Tailgate Lane has been installed right next to the stadium.

“If you were any closer, you’d have to wear a helmet,” Rootes said.

I asked Killen, with all of his restaurants’ (barbecue, burgers, steaks, etc.) success in the outside world, why work Sundays at NRG Stadium?

“My relationship with the Houston Texans is very important for one main reason — I love football,” he said. “I’m a huge Texans fan. It’s as simple as that. I want to be a part of this.”

For more about the new menu items, watch this video from our news partners at ABC13.

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Originally appeared on CultureMap.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.

Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.

The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.

Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.

Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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