ballpark food

San Francisco couldn't be more excited for the Giants to enter the World Series. The whole city is lit up in orange, and the streets are peppered with proud fans donned in Giants paraphernalia. The lucky few spent a precious sum to attend the actual games, but for those of us at home, you can still get a taste of the AT&T Ballpark with these San Francisco ballpark favorites.

Anchor Steam Beer

Brewed in San Francisco since 1896 and beloved by natives of the area, Anchor Steam beers are a foggy city trademark. Thick and hardy, this beer keeps San Franciscans warm when huddled in the AT&T Ballpark on cold, foggy nights.

Garlic Fries

Gilroy garlic fries are a must purchase when entering AT&T Ballpark. The skin-on fries are tossed in minced garlic and parsley. Wash 'em down with a beer, large soda, or even hot chocolate. To make at home, toss hot french fries in a metal bowl with about a tablespoon of minced garlic and half a tablespoon of parsley until the fries are evenly coated.

See the rest of the World Series menu.

Could a new invention mean the death of the stadium beer queue as we know it? Meet the Bottoms Up Draft Beer Dispensing System, a hands-free invention that shells out draft beer nine times faster than traditional draft methods and is also designed to reduce spillage and too much foam.

Josh Springer, founder of Montesano, WA-based GrinOn Industries, came up with the idea to fill a beer pitcher through the bottom rather than from the top. The dispensing machine uses a cup with a hole in the bottom that's covered by a circular magnet.

The magnet, when secured onto the system, is lifted up by the flow of high-pressure beer, and the cup fills up until the weight of the liquid presses the magnet back down over the hole. See how it works for yourself when you read more.

On Major League Baseball's Opening Day, there'll still be plenty of ballpark favorites like hot dogs and pretzels, but this year, the stadium pickings won't be quite so slim. A number of food service companies are following in the Yankees' footsteps and serving up nontraditional fare. Delaware North, which caters to the likes of the White Sox and Padres, has teamed up with Food Network to develop new menus and signature dishes for suite menus at all of the company's stadiums. Aramark, which services the Red Sox, Rockies, and Mets, is expanding its gluten-free and vegetarian fare. And Centerplate, which works with the Giants and the Rays, will be rolling out vegan soups, veggie dogs, a charcuterie and cheese offering, and a fresh seafood stand. I always appreciate a little variety, although I still don't believe canapés will ever really compete with chili dogs at the ball game. Not to mention if a beer costs $9 at the stadium, I can't imagine how much a charcuterie platter would set me back.

How do you feel about the enhanced offerings?

Source: Flickr User Dan Bock