Enjoy a kosher nosh at the ballpark
July 23, 2005 by Howard Blas
NEW
HAVEN-When Jonathan Fleisig was a boy, all the kids in the neighborhood knew his house was kosher. Now, when kids and adults eat in his ballpark, they can also enjoy kosher food.
New York resident Fleisig, 39, is the majority owner of the New Haven County Cutters.
“The idea of serving food to Orthodox Jews, who if they didn’t have food would have a tough time coming to games, was a no-brainer,” says Fleisig.
Stacy Spivack, ticket sales representative for the Cutters reports, “Last year, during our inaugural season, we had a Kosher Day, and it was a big hit.” Fleisig, who describes himself as “relatively religious,” attended Kosher Day, and liked what he
saw-and ate.
“Once I tasted his [Stan Hochman of Chai Caterer’s] food, I knew he could be in my ballpark.”
This season, the Cutters’ second season at the Yale Stadium, all fans-kosher-keepers and those who just love a kosher hot dog or knish, can visit The Kosher Food Stand, located along the first base side of the stadium. The stand, run by Stan Hochman of Chai Caterers, is open Sundays through Thursdays all season long. Kashrut supervision is provided by the Vaad Hakashrus of Fairfield County. Regular selections include hot dogs, sausage and peppers (kosher, of course!), barbecue hero, knishes, cookies, chips, Israeli chips. Rotating specials include such entrees as meatballs, chicken cutlets and grilled vegetables in a pita.
Connecticut sports fans will enjoy getting to know Fleisig. Fleisig, a member of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) specializing in trading energy derivatives (he trades natural gas futures), knows a thing or two about sports teams. He is the principal owner and the CEO of the Bakersfield (California) Condors hockey team, the Bakersfield Blitz arena football team, and he is the
co-owner of the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team.
And Fleisig cares about his the fans and about the community.
“If there was another population (i.e. with special dietary needs) I could serve, that would be awesome.” Fleisig is involved with such charities as the American Red Cross, the National Bone Marrow Foundation, United Way, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jonathan and his wife, Wendy, also support research on Split Hand/ Split Foot Malformations (SHFM). Fleisig is particularly proud of his teams for the numerous community service awards they have received.
Fleisig and fans can also be proud of the Cutters for their hard work and dedication on the field. Thus far, however, the Cutters are off to a slow start in the won/loss
column-five wins and 17 losses as of the June 17 game. But the 1,128 people in attendance enjoyed the game and fireworks display (the kosher stand is closed on Shabbat). While the Cutters had a tough year financially last year, Fleisig is optimistic.
Fleisig believes strongly that minor league sports are an important asset to a city and that teams must be involved in the community through its work in schools and other civic organizations.
In an interview with Fleisig on the Cutters website, he notes, “I want to hear from the business people. It is more important for me to be successful by learning and hearing what they have to say. They can
e-mail me at the Web site (www.cuttersbaseball.com).
There is no way I’m going to know enough about New Haven County in the next ten years than someone who has lived here for their whole life or does their business there every single day.”
For ticket information, call (203)
777-5636 or visit www.cuttersbaseball.com
The menu:
Hot Dogs
Sausage & Pepper
BBQ Brisket Hero
Knishes
LG Cookies
Chips
Israeli Snack Chips
Soda and Bottled Water
Specials: Changes daily but has included Meatballs, Grilled veggies ‘n’ pita, Chicken Cutlets.