The Texas Rangers’ success has helped bring the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex together at a time when many of us seem split by political or ideological differences. Major League Baseball recognized this when their vice president of global events came to Arlington and explained the city had previously stepped up during “The Troubles [which is just an excellent name for COVID]” and then again during for last year’s World Series.

But with great power comes great responsibility. For instance, “How can we deep fry this affair to a golden brown?”

Delaware North, the concessions company for the Rangers, has been tasked with developing a new menu for a World Series then Opening Day 2024 and now, they’ve had to revolutionize the menu again. But does their general manager sit back and whimper? No. He innovates.

The All-Star Game brings fans from around the world, so he was forced to strike a balance between making international visitors feel at home while also introducing them to Texas cuisine.

The Asian Poke Bowl features “steamed rice with ahi tuna, cucumber, mango, edamame, ginger,  avocado, green onions and wonton chips.”

Casey Rapp said some of the items they try out during these special events wind up on the menu full-time, but they may not fight a couple 200-pound tunas to the death for 81 home games a year.

In that clip, he talks about how they hauled in a Santa Maria Grill, which was custom made by M&M Barbecue in Tool, Texas, which brings us to the Texas dishes inspired by Texans.

The Texas Steak Sandwich is “Nolan Ryan Black Angus Ribeye rubbed with serrano pepper and coffee blend, topped with cilantro chimichurri and served on ciabatta.”

Rapp explains fans may look forward to a hot dog and beer [more on how they’re revolutionizing booze in a moment], but they want to give people an option for a special occasion like the All-Star Game.

But that’s not to say deliciousness will get in the way of zany food. The Three Strike Boom Box is the next entry in the giant hot dog series that started with the Boomstick more than a decade ago.

The Three Strike Boom Box includes “a 2-foot bed of waffle fries topped with Texas chili, brisket, pulled pork, pico de gallo, lettuce and jalapenos.”

Other dishes are a marriage of Texas and other regions. The Tejas Cheesesteak is “thinly sliced roast beef smothered in melted white cheese, peppers and onions on a hoagie roll.”

Essentially, what they’ve done is take the Philly Cheesesteak and improve it. Reporters got to try all the new dishes, and while I was eating with a couple TV photographers, one of them said, “The peppers and cheese give some real zest to it.”

“You mean insouciance,” I replied.

But Texas isn’t just about barbecue. When I moved here back in aught-nine, I learned TexMex and Mexican food are two different types of cuisine. Reds fans coming down to see Elly De La Cruz can enjoy South Street Tacos, choosing pork, carne asada or chicken. For my fellow Ohioans, “carne asada” is Spanish for “delicious.”

But the marriage of Texas and Mexican cuisine continues. After the tacos, you can try the Lone Star Frito Pie Dawwg, “a foot-long hot dog topped with Texas chili, Fritos, queso, sour cream and jalapenos.”

But with the theme of innovation, the Rangers and Delaware North are introducing two new ways artificial intelligence can help you get drunk.

Adam the robot will be serving Lemon Drops and Whiskey Sours, but Delaware North says he’ll be working with a team of mammals in Section 111.

Meantime in Section 125, Rotender will you give a menu where you can combine a variety of liquors and mixers.

You’ll notice we’re all taking pictures of the robot getting our drinks ready, and Rotender’s COO says that slows down the line.

Tragically, you can’t ask your robot bartender overlord to give you a stiffer pour because someone just had to try to stretch that single into a double, got thrown out and killed a rally.

I texted a picture to an associate who explained we’ll all need stronger drinks to help us cope with artificial intelligence.

At the end of the event, reporters to to try everything. I decided I’d have the tacos, poke bowl, cheesesteak, a steak sandwich and a steak sandwich.