PHILADELPHIA, June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the award-winning food and hospitality partner for nine Major League Baseball teams, is celebrating National Hot Dog Month (July) with a tasty lineup of gourmet hot dogs.

The ballpark dog has come a long way since Harry M. Stevens first began selling "dachshund sausages" on rolls at New York Giants baseball games in the early 1900's, giving rise to the now famous name "hot dog." Today, Aramark sells five million hot dogs each year, at the nine MLB ballparks where it provides food and beverage services.

"Hot dogs are as synonymous with the ballpark, as the game itself, so we're committed to enriching our guests' game day experience by serving them the perfect hot dog," said Carl Mittleman, president of Aramark's Sports and Entertainment division. "The Aramark culinary team has dreamed up a great roster of delicious dogs, loaded with toppings ranging from pierogies to Philly cheese steak, so there is something for everyone on the menu."

Here are some of the classic fan favorites and "gourmet" hot dogs Aramark offers at ballparks around the country:

Citi Field (New York)

• Nathan's Famous All Beef Hot Dog- Hot dogs are synonymous with baseball and few are better known than Coney Island's own Nathan's, which are available throughout the ballpark.
• Pastrami Dog-Two New York classics in one bite – Nathan's Famous all beef hot dog topped with house-braised pastrami

Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)

• Summer Dog- Philly Frank topped with cucumbers, pickled onion salsa and ancho pepper sauce
• Philly Cheese Steak Dog*- Philly Frank topped with Philadelphia cheese steak, served wit or wit out onions
• Slab Bacon Dog*- Philly Frank served with a strip of slab bacon and melted cheese

Coors Field (Denver)

• Rockie Dog- Ten inch Hebrew National hot dog topped with grilled peppers, sauerkraut and onions
• Blue Cheese Bacon Dog- Hot dog topped with blue cheese crumbles, chopped bacon, chopped red onions and blue cheese dressing

Fenway Park (Boston)

• Fenway Frank - Kayem hot dog, can be topped with brown mustard, relish, and assorted other condiments, in a New England-style bun

Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)

• Blazin' Buffalo Chicken Dog*– All-beef hot dog topped with pulled chicken in buffalo sauce and coleslaw
• All-Star BBQ Dog- All-beef hot dog with pulled pork, coleslaw, pickle slices and barbecue sauce
• Kansas City Dog- All-beef hot dog topped with Swiss cheese, grilled sauerkraut and Boulevard Pale Ale Mustard

Minute Maid Park (Houston)

• Freddy Fender- From Chef Bryan Caswell, chorizo sausage, wrapped in a corn tortilla and deep fried, topped with tequila braised onions, pico de gallo, cotija cheese and a cilantro sour cream
• Texas Dog- Bacon wrapped hot dog topped with jalapeno relish on a Texas Toast bun
• Columbian Dog- Hot dog topped with pineapple sauce, crushed potato chips, garlic mayo and ketchup

PNC Park (Pittsburgh)

• Polish Hill Dog- Hebrew National foot long topped with mini potato pierogies, coleslaw and homemade onion straws
• Smokehouse Dog- Hebrew National foot long topped with house smoked pulled pork, homemade onion straws and Kansas City style barbecue sauce

Rogers Centre (Toronto)

• Garrison Creek Grilled Foot Long Hot Dog- Grilled foot long hot dog with sautéed peppers and grilled onions

Turner Field (Atlanta)

• Georgia Dog- Foot-long all beef hot dog topped with coleslaw and Vidalia onion relish
• Dixie Dog- foot-long, all beef National Deli hot dog with pulled barbeque pork, mustard barbeque sauce, creamy southern slaw and sweet pickle

* Denotes hot dogs that are new to the ballpark this season.

Hot Dog Fun Facts

• An Aramark hot dog "hawker" sells an average of 150 hot dogs per game.
• A fully loaded ballpark hot dog vendor's bin weighs 30 pounds.
• Depending on the game, it typically takes a hot dog vendor less than two innings to sell all the hot dogs in his/her bin.
• On average, Aramark hot dog "hawkers" walk 4-5 miles per game, up and down stairs.
• Hot dog bins are arranged left to right: Rolls - Condiments and wax paper - Hot Dogs
• During "Dollar Dog Night" at Citizens Bank Park, hungry Phillies fans eat about 50,000 hot dogs.
• In Boston, Red Sox fans ate 15,000 Fenway Franks every game of the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park.
• Each year, enough hot dogs are sold at Rogers Centre that, when lined up, would cover the distance of 600 laps around the bases.
• In 2009, Coors Field introduced the first gluten free concession stand, featuring gluten free hot dogs.
• The Aramark team at Citi Field sold 350,000 Nathan's Hot Dogs to hungry Mets fans during the 2013 baseball season.

Recipes and Videos

• Recipes for some of Aramark's signature ballpark hot dogs can be found on Aramark Sports and Entertainment's website, www.aramarkentertainment.com.
• A Citizens Bank Park hot dog vendor shares his secret to dishing out ballpark dogs in this video.

Aramark partners with 12 Major League Baseball teams to provide food and beverage, retail and/or facilities services -- Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Oakland A's, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.

About Aramark
Aramark delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people's lives through innovative services in food, facilities management, and uniforms. United by a passion to serve, our more than 270,000 employees make a meaningful difference each day for millions of people in 22 countries around the world. Aramark is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE and World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: David Freireich
(215) 238-4078
Freireich-david@aramark.com

Erin Noss
(215) 409-7403
Noss-erin@aramark.com

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SOURCE Aramark