TOUCHDOWN MEALS
Houston Texans score big with mouthwatering new stadium menu offerings
Aug 16, 2019, 3:55 pm
Photo courtesy of Houston Texans
Killen's Frito Pie.
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
The Houston Texansrecently held their annual whoop-it-up pep rally and food-a-rama for media at NRG Stadium. The defending AFC South champs bragged that stadium suites will be updated with new furniture and wood floors, there will be a new fall collection of Texans gear for women, while local stores and restaurants will offer special deals after each Texans win.
For example, after a Texans' victory, Palais Royal will offer $20 off a $50 purchase, Mattress Firm will slash prices by 40 percent, and all pizzas at Papa John's will be half-priced. Jack in the Box will give away free Jumbo Jacks with drink purchase if the Texans score two touchdowns. Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins should have that covered by halftime.
Now let's get to the good stuff: the new food at NRG Stadium for the 2019 Texans season that (let's hope) could extend into 2020. Here's the starting lineup:
Killen’s Barbecue Frito Pie
Killens's smoked brisket chili served on Fritos topped with Cheddar cheese (Stands 109, 129).
Red Diamond Fresh Brewed Tea Kiosk
Fresh-brewed flavored teas (Section 109).
HTX Brisket Melt
Grilled cheese brisket sandwich served with a house-made peach BBQ sauce and spicy pork rinds (Sections 351, 323, 520, 548).
New restaurant partners include Gringo's Tex-Mex (Sections 118 and 138) and BB's Tex-Orleans Café (Sections 112 and 132). Here are their standouts:
Gringo’s Tex-Mex Gringo’s Sampler
Chicken quesadillas; beef empanadas; chicken taquitos dressed with Mexican crema; and Southwest chicken egg rolls served with Gringo's chili con queso and Amazon sauce, which is a cilantro dipping sauce.
Plus, Gringo's Street Tacos, featuring three tacos with marinated beef ribeye tips stuffed in double-layered yellow corn tortillas with finely diced onions and cilantro, accompanied by Gringo's chili con queso and spicy salsa.
Continue on CultureMap to see more from the delicious new menu.
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Cam Smith brought three dozen Shipley's glazed donuts to his Houston Astros teammates Thursday morning before his major league debut.
Then he really delivered, with an opposite-field single on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues to help Houston to a 3-1 win over the New York Mets.
“They all liked it, so that’s a good thing," Smith said of the donuts, a sentiment that could also apply to his second-inning hit that set up the first run of the game.
The 22-year-old prospect reached the majors after playing just 32 minor league games. Batting seventh and starting in right field, he became the second-youngest Astros position player to make his MLB debut as a starter on opening day and the youngest since Rusty Staub was 19 in 1963.
With one out in the second, Smith grounded a single to right field on a sinker from Clay Holmes to get his first big league hit in his initial plate appearance. Jeremy Peña dashed from first to third on the play and later scored on a groundout.
“I was just looking for a pitch and I wanted to ambush it and I got lucky with that base hit,” Smith said.
The poise he showed in his debut impressed his coaches and teammates.
“He's amazing," Jose Altuve said. “He went the other way on a tough pitch and he set the tone to score the first run. I know he's going to help this team a lot. He's going to be out there getting better and better. He's just so talented.”
Most believed that Smith, the 14th overall pick in last year’s amateur draft, would need more time in the minors when he was acquired in December from the Chicago Cubs along with Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wesneski as part of the Kyle Tucker trade.
Instead, Smith hit .342 with a triple, four homers, 11 RBIs and a 1.130 OPS this spring to earn a spot on the major league roster.
The Astros announced he’d make the big league roster earlier this week, with manager Joe Espada inviting Smith's mother into the clubhouse to deliver the news. Video of the moment shared by the Astros captured the touching exchange.
After the trade, Smith moved from third base, where Paredes is starting, to right field, where he replaced Tucker.
Still wearing his dirt-stained uniform long after the last pitch Thursday, the kid who was playing college ball at Florida State at this time last year said he hadn’t had time to reflect on his whirlwind journey to the big leagues.
“I have not,” Smith said. “I was just out there with my family on the field appreciating this day and ... good thing we got done early so I can go home and get my feet under myself and think about it.”
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