Howzat for spicing up the sporting menu?
Some might say it’s just not cricket, but these days you’re as likely to find salmon, salad and smoothies as hot dog and chips on offer at New Zealand summer sporting grounds.
The upcoming tours from South Africa and Australia will bring tens of thousands to grounds to watch T20 and one-day internationals and fiveday test matches, and venues are offering more bespoke catering for the different crowds.
Eden Park venue catering manager Paul Marquardt said several smoothies would be introduced at the ground this summer, ‘‘so people can have a nice, healthy option to go alongside their cold Tui’’.
Three new burgers would also be on the menu – chicken cutlet, prime angus beef and pork riblet.
The ground offered a national dish of each of the visiting countries at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, and was likely to bring back the Boerewors sausage when South Africa returns next month.
The Basin Reserve is also dabbling with a few changes.
Cricket Wellington commercial manager Bryan Dickinson said the ground wanted to have some unique food options while keeping traditions.
‘‘A recent addition at Basin has been the Indian B Lounge truck, and we are looking at having a South African stall for the South Africa test.’’
Christchurch’s Hagley Oval has arguably the most eclectic menu, serving up dishes such as raw salmon, pulled pork, chicken teriyaki and fruit salad.
Vbase executive chef Dan Shanks said the venue added a new dish to the menu each year, and always tried to bring in vendors selling food from the respective countries visiting. That included the popular ‘‘braai" barbecue when South Africa was in town.
‘‘It’s not always that easy. It’s not easy to get a Bangladeshi vendor , but we may get an Indian vendor to adjust their menus a bit to achieve something similar.’’
Hamilton’s Seddon Park said despite tinkering with the menu when teams such as Pakistan and Bangladesh were in town, many fans were not so keen on change.
Northern Districts Cricket Association chief executive Peter Roach said: ‘‘The majority of supporters who come to our cricket grounds are New Zealanders who enjoy the usual staples of cricket grounds in New Zealand.’’
Catering at the University of Otago Oval has recently been taken over by Dunedin Venues, and the South African test in March will be its first in charge.
A spokesman said it was yet to discuss catering options.
NZ Cricket events manager Nicky Lock said grounds were responsible for their own catering during events.