Twins new concessions announced

• Mill City Grill, which will feature a previously announced Murray's Steak Sandwich and walleye fingers

• Hennepin Grill, which will offer burgers, hot dogs, fries and chicken tenders

• Frankie V's Italian, a stand named for former Twins pitcher Frank Viola, will feature pizza, calzones and an Italian chopped salad

• North Shore Creamery, which will feature soft-serve sundaes and Twins helmet sundaes

• Halsey's Sausage Haus, a stand named for former Twins announcer Halsey Hall, will feature Italian and Polish sausages and jumbo hot dogs

• Señor Smoke's, a stand named for former Twins pitch Juan Berenguer, which will feature empanadas and other fare from Berenguer's native Panama, as well as other regional items such as nachos, tacos and burritos

• Taste of Twins Territory, which will feature beer-steamed brats, jumbo hot dogs and pretzels

• State Fair Classics, which will feature walleye on a stick, pork chops on a stick and cheese curds; and

• Twins Brews, which will feature craft and premium beers from Minnesota breweries

The final menus for those concession stands have not yet been finalized.

The Twins and Delaware North Sportservice also are developing concepts for portable concessions carts that will supplement the permanent stands. In addition to the concession stands, Target Field also will have two full-service restaurants: Hrbek's and Town Ball Tavern.

Hrbek's, named for former Twins first baseman and Bloomington native Kent Hrbek, will offer pub fare, including burgers and onion rings. The Twins first unveiled plans for the restaurant last September.

Town Ball Tavern, meanwhile, will feature a Juicy Lucy burger, a walleye sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich. The restaurant's theme will pay homage to Minnesota's amateur baseball tradition.

The Twins plans to launch a new Web site, www.TasteOfTwinsTerritory.com, in the coming weeks to highlight the various concession and dining options at Target Field.

The Twins entered an eight-year deal with Delaware North in April 2008. The Buffalo, N.Y.-based firm will operate all of the food concessions, premium dining and merchandise at the club's new ballpark, as well as the team's three Twins Pro Shop locations in the Twin Cities suburbs.

My initial response to this rather tepid--it's a step in the right direction--yay for the Ju(i)cy Lucy, MN craft brews, and the cheese curds--but a baby step. Most of the burgers and soft pretzels and jumbo dogs don't sound super exciting. I think they could have worked more local operators, a broader variety of foods, and more fruit and vegetable items into the mix, following the lead of last spring's new NYC stadiums. Then again, I might be in the minority as one who's more interested in the food at a Twins game than the baseball...