All-day brunch? Waffle tenderloin sandwich? Take your Bengals game-day food to a whole new level

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Football food has come a long way from your standard burgers, hot dogs and pizza.

“It’s a drawn-out process,” said Dan Schiferl, the Aramark Executive Chef at Paul Brown Stadium when discussing how his staff decides what food to offer Cincinnati Bengals fans. “Basically, we sit down with the general manager, the executive sous-chef, among others, and throw out ideas. We look at the prior year and see what was successful, what wasn’t. We look at trends, what was popular in other stadiums, and then we do tastings, delete some ideas, and keep others.”

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After studying this “crafting” of stadium fare, the chefs of Paul Brown Stadium have unfurled a new line of concessions for the 2017 season.

Here are the six must-try items if you plan on coming to watch the Bengals this year.

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The Sonoran Foot Long Dog available at Paul Brown Stadium is topped with bacon crumbles as well, but also pinto beans, mustard, mayo, salsa verde, queso fresco, and diced onions, tomatoes and jalapenos. AARON EPPLE/CONTRIBUTED

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TRIPLE D DOG AND THE SONORAN FOOT LONG DOG

Both of these offerings feature all beef dogs by Eisenberg, a Chicago-based sausage company that specializes in diverse styles and ingredients, from Chicago-style to Black Angus sirloin.

For toppings, the Triple D Dog carries baked beans, bacon crumbles and BBQ chips. The Sonoran Foot Long Dog is topped with bacon crumbles as well, but also pinto beans, mustard, mayo, salsa verde, queso fresco, and diced onions, tomatoes and jalapenos.

Schiferl said that both hot dogs will always be served fresh.

“People don’t want a hot dog that was pre-bagged three hours ago,” he said. “We don’t do that. We take it right off the grill, put it on the bun, and hand it to the customer.”

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The Brunchin Pork Tenderloin Waffle is one of several new food offerings during Cincinnati Bengals games this season at Paul Brown Stadium. AARON EPPLE/CONTRIBUTED

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BRUNCHIN’ PORK TENDERLOIN WAFFLE

It’s exactly what it sounds like. A pork tenderloin sandwiched between two Belgian waffles. Smoky bacon, baby kale, and maple and yogurt sauce provide additional flavor.

“Breakfast is a big thing to have when you have a 1 p.m. Sunday game,” Schiferl said. “That’s why we have an all-day brunch.”

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The Spicy Bavarian Burger available this season at Paul Brown Stadium pays homage to Cincinnati s German roots, this standard one-third pound burger is topped with sliced ham, American cheese and sriracha mustard (sriracha is a hot sauce that originated in Thailand). The burger is placed on a pretzel bun to give it that German twist. AARON EPPLE/CONTRIBUTED

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SPICY BAVARIAN BURGER

A true hybrid that pays homage to Cincinnati’s German roots, this standard one-third pound burger is topped with sliced ham, American cheese, and sriracha mustard (sriracha is a hot sauce that originated in Thailand). The burger is placed on a pretzel bun to give it that German twist.

“People still want ballpark fare, they just want it to have a little better quality,” Schiferl said. “That means taking something that has been served in stadiums for years and years, like burgers, and putting different kinds of toppings on it.”

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The Taco Tot available this season at Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, is loaded with pico de gallo, chorizo crumbles, jalapenos and queso blanco. CONTRIBUTED

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TACO TOT AND LOADED TATOR TOT

Don’t let the name fool you. The Taco Tot is loaded, too. While loaded fries is a signature appetizer at many American comfort food restaurants, “the trend is tater tots over French Fries,” Schiferl pointed out.

The Taco Tot is loaded with pico de gallo, chorizo crumbles, jalapenos and queso blanco. The Loaded Tator Tot is more American in style, loaded with nacho cheese, bacon crumbles, sour cream and green onions.

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The Loaded Tator Tot with nacho cheese, bacon crumbles, sour cream and green onions is a new addition to the menu at Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, this season. AARON EPPLE/CONTRIBUTED

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