Citi Field culinary pros

Don't call it a photo opp

Danny Meyer has been a Mets season ticket holder since 1986, securing a box as a way of guaranteeing he could see his "beloved Cardinals" play the Mets. Drew Nieportent is a "devoted Mets fan" and calls his involvement with the new Citi Field, destiny. Dave Pasternack was raised on Long Island—if you couldn't tell when talking to him—and grew up bleeding blue and orange. All three agree that the food at the old Shea Stadium pretty much blew. All three are shaping the new park's culinary scene. A ballpark has a culinary scene?

When the park officially opens on Friday, Dave Pasternack will be serving fried flounder and Long Island clam chowder. Nieportent, steaks and porchetta at an exclusive club offering a non-so-exclusive $47 prix-fix. And Danny Meyer, the king of the NYC stand scene, brings Shake Shack burgers and fries to the center field food court. We caught up the three and sampled the goods. And yes, even at a buttoned-up press preview, where we witnessed a guy with an ear piece perfectly alligning cans of Sierra Mist, there was a line for the Shack burgers.