On the lighter side: The Best ... concession stand
Like apples from oranges, picking the best concession stand...
All are staffed by proud boosters, parent volunteers and students, like at Neuqua Valley where the kids earn volunteer hours or at Immaculate Conception where they earn prom money.
From Addison Trail to Glenbard East to York they'd say the men and women, boys and girls behind their counter are the best.
To be the best there's got to be something beyond the hamburger-hot dog-pizza trio.
For instance...
There's a rabid Neuqua Valley supporter who at 10 a.m. on game day tows a giant roaster to the field, the better to cook a 250-pound pig. He'll be there for the Wildcats' Oct. 10 game against Bartlett.
Hinsdale Central serves slushes in home- and visiting-team colors. For homecoming an alum in the culinary arts bakes cookies decorated red and white.
Like the veterans behind Montini's bratwurst and burgers, Wheaton Warrenville South's grillmasters have been heralded for years for their pork sandwiches. On special dates steak sandwiches are provided by a local butcher, prepared on a charcoal grill by a seasoned staff. To the Tiger PAWS cooking with gas is sacrilege.
Whether you go (Downers Grove) North or (Glenbard) South, pork chop sandwiches are a must-eat.
Everybody has popcorn. But not quite as good as at Naperville Central's red-and-white "Roost." This year the Redhawks added a freezer cart to peddle a variety of Good Humor, Klondike and Milky Way ice cream bars.
Pizza quality could spark a border war between Addison Trail and Lake Park. Driscoll's nice variety of fantastic entrees is catered by the family business of former Highlanders football coach Mike Burzawa.
Fenton may not carry bison but it does have buffalo - wings, that is, with ranch dressing. The onion rings and corn dogs you also don't see every Friday.
Variety is crucial to people who may visit concession stands more than their own kitchens. Fenton, with its eight different entrees - no, a slice of cheese on a burger does not constitute a separate entry - gets it.
Food alone does not make a concession stand. At West Chicago's "Snack Shop" - "The Better Homes & Gardens of concession stands," according to head concessionaire Barb Zumpano - music plays and volunteers cheer when tipped. That should happen regularly given the assortment of treats either donated or discounted by local businesses.
But for 2008, the best concession stand is located ... at Wheaton North. Not just because of its six flavors of ice cream or the music wafting from inside or the express line for uniformed cheerleaders, band members and athletes. Because in addition to filling stomachs a new building helped fill a long-awaited need.
Not to sound base, but remember the port-o-potties on the south side of the home bleachers at Rexilius Field? Those served as the facilities until this new, two-story building debuted this year to replace the old wooden stand.
Yes, just ordinary men's and women's restrooms in the back of the stand, which uses its second story for equipment storage. But a couple pops and you'd pay good money to use them - with no awkward wait for that tiny green "open" sign.
Wheaton North concessions chief Dave Strauss would be insulted if we hinted restrooms were the high point of the stand. They are not. The food is. In addition to offering pizza, chicken fingers, all-beef hot dogs and hamburgers, Wheaton North provides a theme meal for each home game.
In Week 1 the staff of puffy-hatted grillmasters, their position ("head chef," etc.) embroidered onto their royal blue-and-white aprons, roasted a 240-pound pig for 400 pulled pork sandwiches.
On Week 4 it was Italian beef and sausage, gobbled down to Sinatra tunes from the stereo inside and, for better or worse, festive vocal accompaniment.
Week 5 was German night: bratwurst, chicken breast, pork chop sandwiches, polka.
For Oct. 17 Strauss plans marinated chicken breast; for the Falcons' regular-season finale on Oct. 24 he's thinking steak sandwiches with sauteed mushrooms, and chili.
The man behind the stand has a simple motto: "I want to show value."
- Dave Oberhelman
BEGIN_ATTRIBUTION doberhelman@dailyherald.comEND_ATTRIBUTION