Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Marlins 'Fit Cart': Good thing or bad?

I made my first visit to Marlins Park in Miami yesterday, and I'm not sure if I feel good or bad about the gluten-free experience there.

On the one hand, they have a dedicated cart serving nothing but gluten-free fare, including hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, nachos and two varieties of beer. That's great.

On the other hand, they call this thing the "Fit Cart." Seriously, the Fit Cart, like this food is for people looking to stay fit!!!!

Have these people never tried a gluten-free hot dog bun? They're awful (including the buns at Marlins Park), and when you finish it sits in the bottom of your stomach like you just swallowed a pillow.

Of course, I still eat them anyway because I'm determined to have a hot dog when I go to the ballpark. But that's not the point. The point is, after all the progress I thought we were making during Celiac Awareness Month, the Marlins still think the gluten-free diet is a fitness regimen. Sigh.

Oh well, I'll focus on the bright side. At least they have a dedicated cart, where you know everything you get is gluten free, even if they don't know why they are doing it. I wish the Jaguars would learn this already.

Of course, it is expensive, but what do you expect? My $7.50 hot dog was $1.50 higher than the price of a hot dog with a regular bun at the regular stand, and my $9 bottle of Redbridge was $1 more than a Budweiser. Ballpark prices are always bad, gluten-free or not.

The grilled chicken sandwich or wrap might sound appealing, but not at $14.

Oh, and then there was my adventure finding the cart. I asked at the Guest Services desk where they had gluten-free food (I was aware that they had it somewhere), and I was told I'd find the booth at Section 2. So I go to Section 2 and the only food venue there was a dedicated Kosher stand.

Geez, I hope the guest services people don't think that all specialty food is alike.

Fortunately, a flashing sign at the Kosher booth suddenly told me there was a gluten-free cart at Section 26. Sure enough, that's where I did find the Fit Cart.

Despite the annoyances, I have to count this is a positive gluten-free experience.

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