Braves Big Night Out / paragiraffe is a blog by maura

Throughout the season Shaun and I have been seeing advertisements for something the Braves call “Big Night Out.” For $125, you get a ticket to a VIP box, a parking pass, full-service beverages and a three-course meal prepared in the suite by Braves’ executive chef Orazio LaManna. We thought this sounded like a lot of fun, so we got tickets for this past Friday. (I should note that two tickets to Big Night Out were equal in price to one of our season tickets!)

Once we got to the suite on Friday, we were immediately greeted with a choice of soda, beer or wine. Once most of our fellow diners had arrived, Chef Orazio presented our bonus fourth course of three “sliders”: lamb, smoked salmon and a citrus-flavored chicken salad.

Our salad course was served in a pretzel and with some exceptionally prepared duck. Chef Orazio says he likes to try different things (like the pretzel) instead of just serving bread. I think every salad should include meat.

Our main course was the fanciest mac and cheese you could imagine (made with wild mushrooms and Stilton blue cheese), asparagus, gingered pepper jelly, Osso Buco pork and insanely thin slices of pepper-crusted beef — I believe the best beef I’ve ever had. The pork fell right off the bone.

Finally, it was time for dessert, for which we had a trio of bread pudding, berry cobbler and chocolate crème brûlée. (Like Alton Brown, Chef Orazio suggests getting a torch from Home Depot, rather than overpaying at Williams-Sonoma.) I’m not a big bread pudding fan, but I liked this one, and the cobbler was topped with shredded wheat, which I thought was clever. And of course, you can’t go wrong with chocolate.

After dinner, we retired to the seats outside to take in the rest of the game. They also provided peanuts, popcorn and hot dogs, since we hadn’t had enough food yet.

We completely loved this and will be doing it again. Chef Orazio said the program has gone over really well each time they have done it. During dinner, I got the impression that some of our fellow diners don’t love food the way we do (not really sure why you would go to this if you don’t), but with the unlimited alcohol and baseball, I suppose there is something for everyone.

See all of my Braves Big Night Out pictures on Flickr.

Adam Wishneusky / 20 aug 2008 / 9:43 p.m.

oh jesus. how can you show me that food without sharing it!? drooool

Maura / 21 aug 2008 / 5:24 p.m.

That’s great! The food looks terrific!

There is nothing like that at Shea Stadium, maybe at the new Citi Field. The time I sprung for good seats to watch the Mets play the Phillies (and see David Wright’s hiney up close) we went to the Diamond Club and it was such a let down! Totally out of the seventies - I think it even had wood paneling (I’ve blocked it out). The only cool thing was riding the elevator with Ron Darling.

-Maura, too.