Batting Practice, Special Food Creations Await For Taps On Diamond Event

If there’s one element Blue Wahoos executive chef Travis Wilson has learned in a year without a baseball season, it’s unconventional ways to showcase skills.

Friday night offers another example.

The Blue Wahoos will present their second “Taps On The Diamond” event, giving guests the chance to taking swings in the batting cage prior to sitting down for a five course meal and sampling five craft beers.

“We have free range when it comes to creativity and what we have to offer,” said Wilson, who returned to the Blue Wahoos in 2019 after working with the team in its first six years beginning in 2012. “And this is another showcase of what we can do at the stadium.”

This time, the dining experience will be on the concourse level. It will feature Cigar City Brewing, a Tampa craft beer company founded in 2009, and connected with local beverage distributor Goldring Gulf Distributing.

The event is $90 per person, ages 21-up, with batting practice available from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on the field, followed by the meal and presentation of each craft beer.

All ticket holders will be provided a keepsake, Blue Wahoos personal cooler, to take the beer home. Wilson and Eric Kroll, the Blue Wahoos general manager for food and beverage, produced the first Taps On The Diamond event on Aug. 21.

“I think this one will have more of a personal feel,” Wilson said. “It is going to be on the concourse. It will be less spread out, so I should be able to explain the dishes more in depth.

“For this one. I think the addition of batting practice will be fun. They can take batting practice and sit down and have a quality dinner.

“Cigar City makes some really quality craft beers and I’m excited to use some of them in my cooking and showcasing them in the right way.”

Of the four dishes he’s preparing, along with a desert medley, Wilson said only one item is something he’s previously prepared. One of the menu courses will be “Deep South Eggs” which Wilson and his staff will prepare with a soft poached egg, wrapped with alligator sausage.

“The menu is going to be a brand new experience for myself and our sushi chef,” Wilson said. “The fact people can see the menu (on the Blue Wahoos website) and get excited about some things they haven’t seen anywhere else is the fun part.

“It’s given me a light bulb moment to say, ‘Hey let’s think of some unique ways to showcase this.’ That is one of the great things about these kind of events.”

Guests will also be able to sit on the concourse at Bubba’s Sand Trap beginning at 5 p.m.

“We will have Bubba’s open for happy hour then, so people that are not on the field for batting practice can socialize and hang out before the dinner,” Wilson said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Taps On The Diamond Event

WHEN: Friday night (Nov. 13) beginning at 5 p.m. for batting practice/social hour, then dinner at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.

FORMAT: Five craft beers presented, five course meal prepared by chef Travis Wilson.

COST: $90 per-person, ages 21-older.

TICKETS: Available through Friday at stadium or online at www.bluewahoos.com.