A race to the checkered flag... and also to the waffle tent

Arlington's Entertainment District is currently in one of its rare slow periods. Sure, we all remember the tragic return of the XFL, but February and March are the only parts of the year when there's not a pro sports league in season.

"So we've got baseball, a couple types of football, PBR, soccer and ESports," the mayor said the head of the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau during a conversation that took place in my imagination. "But the Cowboys have wrapped up, the Rangers don't come to town for a few weeks. The police don't have any traffic to direct. Maybe we could get Taylor Swift to come to town again."

"What if--and hear me out--what if we staged an Indy Car race?" the head of the CVB responded in my mind.

"We should totally run an Indy Car race down Randol Mill!" the mayor continued.

Exeunt

The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington is in a couple weeks. Loyal Scaiaholics will recall how seriously I take auto racing. As long as I'm driving someone else's quarter million dollar car, of course.

The track winds 2.7 miles down around the stadiums and through their parking lots. The director of the race says the city, Cowboys and Rangers worked well with Indy Car and showed they "deliver high end hospitality experiences."

"So what you're saying is, even though it's not a stadium, they'll be serving stadium food," I surmised.

The director of the race says Legends makes some of the best stadium gelato he's ever had, so he brought them in to cook.

The team from Legends say they're cooking in the parking lot, so they had to think about how to change their strategy for a race.

Among items they'll be serving is Turn Six Mac n Cheese: Often referred to as the “golden goose” of AT&T Stadium’s premium culinary lineup, this elevated truffle mac ’n cheese has become a signature staple across clubs, suites, private events, and even the press box. Creamy pasta is enveloped in a rich, velvety cheese blend infused with

aromatic truffle, delivering a refined yet indulgent take on a beloved classic.

"Wait a minute, the Dallas Cowboys already serve a delicious mac and cheese," I pointed out. My skill as an investigative reporter shined.

Heather Fuller, the concessions chef, said imagine Cowboys Mac n Cheese... but topped with brisket and jalapenos.

"Interesting," I thought to myself. "I should probably try this stuff, you know, to make sure Turn Six Mac n Cheese is sufficiently different from Cowboys Mac n Cheese."

So the staff started bringing out plates of everything.

"Good, good, that annual physical should go great tomorrow," I said.

Fuller and Marcelo Vasquez, the executive chef at AT&T Stadium say they wanted to introduce visitors from other parts of the country to Texas flavors while also providing a high-end menu. Consider the Checkered Flag Cheesesteak: "This fan favorite features sliced sirloin steak grilled to perfection with onions and secret cheesesteak seasoning, piled high on a soft hoagie bun and topped with hot white queso."

Maybe cheesesteak is considered a northern dish, but it's topped with queso.

You can see a full list of items here, but if you're looking for the higher end menu, they've also got premium selections.

The Grand Prix of Arlington will have a ham carving station.

Maybe you're not in the mood for ham, though. While Indianapolis Motor Speedway has become legendary for its restrooms, Vasquez says the Grand Prix of Arlington will also have a waffle tent.

But they're not just introducing fans to Texas cuisine, Indy fans can learn about the variety of food you can get in Arlington. The owner of Prince Lebanese Grill says they'll have two stands serving his grandmother's hummus. He has a stand at Arlington Eats during Rangers games, but he has to get ready for a big one-day crowd instead of having everyone spread out over 81 games.

They also set out dessert. Those li'l chocolate things on top of the Exotic Dulcey Cremeux Shooter are great for dippin', and I told the server I didn't want to take one of the cocoa popcorn situations because it would mess up the layout of the dish.

"That's what it's there for," she explained, showing me she, in fact, had another of them ready to replace one the moment someone grabbed one.

These folks just wrapped up the Cowboys' season, and it'll stay hectic. Fuller and Vasquez explain they've got the race, then the World Cup... then its Cowboys season again. I, meanwhile, took a nap after trying the new food.