Corey Seager, meet your popularity foe.
Thousands of fans are flooding the gates of Globe Life Field these days to watch the Rangers play in the ALCS against the Houston Astros, but the baseball game is not the only attraction.
A $19.99 torta has become a box office magnet and a serious popularity competitor for the Rangers’ shortstop.
The Big Tex Torta is a red and blue soft bun, prepared by Arlington’s Marquez Bakery, and topped with in-house smoked Nolan Ryan Brisket, a split Texas Chili All Beef Hot Dog, egg, sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, queso fresco cheese, red sauce and mayo.
“This is crazy,” said Donna Escamilla, a Houston resident and Astros fan who visited the Rangers’ home for the first time Wednesday to watch Game 3 of the ALCS.
“There has never been anything like it in my life,” she said while opening her eyes as big as the succulent Big Tex Torta on display in “Concession 24″ of the stadium.
The idea of trying the Big Tex Torta seduced Jeff Henderson and Brian Miller after they heard the huge snack description on a local radio show.
“We wanted to try one of the news items they put on sale for the playoffs and we decided to try the torta”, Henderson said while holding a basket containing the dripping melted cheese torta.
“After we finish the torta, we plan to continue eating,” said Miller, who didn’t mind paying almost $20 for a torta.
“Of course it’s worth it, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tomorrow, we’ll return to our $8 sandwiches at Subway,” he said.
Open wide
The display case in “Concession 24″ at Globe Life Field draws as many eyes as the Rangers players do on the field.
That’s where the Boomstick — the iconic 2-foot-long hot dog — and the equally large Boomstick Burger are made.
Behind the large glass window, an army of cooks prepares the most giant hot dogs, hamburgers and tortas baseball fans have ever seen.
On a huge aluminum grill, the cooks fry giant sausages, hamburger meat, dozens of pounds of onion, bread and cheese.
A display of already prepared foods is the subject of constant expressions of astonishment from fans attracted by the curiosity of seeing food of such proportions.
“I’ve traveled to different stadiums around the country, it’s my first time in this stadium and this is certainly something different,” said Justin Dragonati, a New York resident who is in Arlington to watch the series between the Rangers and Astros.
As he stared at the enormous hot dogs, hamburgers and tortas, Dragonati said he would pay any price to try the Big Tex Torta.
“If it’s good, it’s worth it”, he said. “You can’t put a price on quality food if it is good”.
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