“I’ve got some ideas I’d like to try out before the next home match,” the new executive chef for FC Dallas said. “Doesn’t Scaia test all the new food at stadiums? Let’s get him in here.”

Erika Dabney just became executive chef at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. She had previously worked for the New Jersey Devils, a cruise line around Manhattan and most recently the practice facility for the New Orleans Pelicans and Saints.

“But isn’t coming to Texas in the middle of a season tough?” a reporter asks.

Ironically, after saying no one lays out her job on a silver platter, I was then presented with platter after platter of food [the platters were not silver, though].

The descriptions were provided by Legends Hospitality:

Smoked Turkey Baked Potato warm baked potato stuffed with Casa M Spice Co Pecking Order seasoned turkey, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sweet and smokey BBQ sauce topped with chopped green onion.

Jerk Spiced Chips with Pineapple Salsa: Casa M Spice Co Jerk Chain dusted tortilla chips with a side of cool house-made pineapple salsa

Dabney explains these have a kick, but it’s a sweet kick.

Baked Bean and Brisket Dog: all-beef hot dog topped with sweet baked beans, house smoked BBQ brisket, and crunchy potato chips.

The brisket and the baked beans are both softer items, but they have different textures. When I tried one, I was also struck by the insouciance of the potato chips. Dabney says that insouciance is by design.

Chorizo Nachos: spicy chorizo , pickled radishes, jalapeño queso, sour cream, fresh cilantro, onions, and tomatoes on top of crispy corn tortilla chips.

“Isn’t it tough to source pickled radishes and then cut them in such a way to present them fashionably?”

Of course not. Legends Hospitality has the best radish guys in the biz.

This was personal for her. I learned the reason I haven’t been able to make a relationship work is I haven’t been properly using chorizo to woo a lady.

Even though it’s topped with chorizo and cheese, by stadium standards, it’s considered a lighter dish. Also a lighter dish:

Greek Chicken Bowl: fresh diced cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, black olives, feta cheese sauce on top of a bed of fresh lettuce, served with a side of crispy house made pita chips , tzatziki sauce , and lemon vinaigrette

Even though the nachos are now pita chips and even bigger, covered with cheese sauce and also sour cream, these are also a lighter version of nachos.

She was really speaking my language when she talked about the difficulty adjusting to Texas heat.

Monster Burger: fresh beef patty topped with crispy chicken tenders, cheesy mozzarella sticks, drenched in honey mustard on a brioche roll.

It’s possible this is not a lighter dish. Every time I come to one of these, I think, “Man, they’ll never think of something else to put on a cheeseburger.” Every time I’m wrong.

“You know what would go great with a cheeseburger? A chicken tender! And also some fried cheese sticks!”

From previous discussions of stadium food, loyal Scaiaholics will recall the importance of “walkability.” Dabney says that applies here: Not everyone will take down a Monster Burger on their own, but if you like, you can maybe take the burger apart and maybe woo your lady by offering some fried chicken lovingly drizzled with honey mustard.

She had ordered the staff to fix me a plate, but we spent so much time discussing the intricacies of each dish, she found the plate had been sitting too long, had them [I swear I’m not making this up] take it away and fix another one.

It’s possible I deconstructed the Monster Burger myself and ate the chicken, mozzarella sticks and burger individually, but I’m still a good person.

You’ll notice a second Monster Burger in the background. Her staff kept bringing out plate after plate of food.

“I’m worried he’s not getting enough chorizo.”

But Dabney and I talked about the goal of making dishes specific to each club that comes to Frisco. Now that Cincinnati is sportin’ an MLS franchise, her mind is already crankin’ out ideas to make Cincinnati-style chili acceptable to people from Texas. Spoilers: Put some brisket under there instead of spaghetti. That’ll give it, much like myself, both Cincinnati flair and Texas flair.