Cheap Eats At Boston Calling 2018

BOSTON, MA — With some 40,000 estimated to show up over the course of three days of Boston Calling, folks are bound to need some food to keep them going. And festival organizers say they've got it covered, an have upped the festival food game this year.

The 2018 food and drink lineup is the festival’s largest to date, according to festival organizers. There are more than 35 vendors to choose from this year, and the festival is rolling out a lineup of new restaurants, chefs and food vendors alongside several returning.

Eating at a festival isn't exactly the cheapest option, but it can be the most delicious. A quick tour of the outskirts of the soccer field where the food vendors were all lined up under the same blue signage, showed that most prices for food hovered around $10. A slice of cheese pizza on your way to the Green Stage right hand side cost $5.

There's plenty of vegetarian options from the Whole Heart bowls of grain goodness to the IKEA Veggie hot dog. IKEA makes a hot dog? That's vegetarian?

So it does, apparently and this is its debut in Boston. It's not made of soy but appears to be 100 percent vegetables. Look for that at the special IKEA tent near the Blue Stage tucked away in its own huge tent. The hot dog? $4 or $6 with lays potato chips on the side.

For a hearty meat sausage dog head to the sausage stand for a $5.

Among the 11 new additions, look for Area Four, Commonwealth, Union Square Donuts, The Chubby Chickpea, and Jaju Pierogi.

In the oldies-but-goodies section: General Admission ticket holders have access to The Smoke Shop, Moyzilla, Stone and Skillet, and Zinneken’s Belgian Waffles.

The festival also welcomes back El Pelon Taqueria, FoMu, Tasty Burger, which is expanding its setup this year to include stations for Tasty Dogs and Tasty Tots, and Whole Heart Provisions.

For Boston Calling VIP and Platinum ticketholders; look for a fancy menu from acclaimed Boston restaurants and chefs. VIP’s new “Boardwalk Lounge” will feature menus by Will Gilson, Chef and owner of Puritan & Company, as well as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Love Art Sushi and some Clear Flour chocolate chip cookies.

Each night of the festival, Platinum VIP ticketholders get eats from some of the city’s biggest culinary stars. Friday evening will feature Island Creek Oyster and a main menu by Chef Colin Lynch of Bar Mezzana. Saturday night’s menu in Platinum VIP will be prepared by James Beard nominated Chef Tiffani Faison of Tiger Mama and Sweet Cheeks. Chef Chris Coombs of Boston Chops will deliver a Sunday afternoon menu.

And there will be drinks:

This year an assortment of beers and wines in both General Admission and VIP, including Samuel Adams, Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Mikkeller Craft Beer Bar, and a selection of Barefoot Wines. VIP and Platinum ticketholders will be treated to specially curated bars in which they’ll be able to order from several different top shelf spirits, during limited serving hours, including Hendricks Gin, Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, Brugal Rum, and Partida Tequila.

A variety of sodas, and bottled water will be available for purchase throughout the entire festival. Look for the free water stations for anyone who bring a factory sealed water bottle or empty beverage container.

Check out the menu for General Admission wristband holders:

Arancini Bros

• Classic Ragu – Saffron Risotto with tomato meat sauce, peas and mozzarella
• Bianco Verde – Basil pesto with mozzarella
• Bucatini Fritti – Italian style mac and cheese
• Chicken Parm Bites – Ground chicken stuffed with tomato, basil & mozzarella
• Pizza Ball – Margherita tomato, basil, mozzarella

*Area Four

• Supreme Garlic Knots
• Supreme BBQ Pork Knots
• Supreme Greek Lamb Knots

Bon Me

• Signature Vietnamese Sandwiches and Soba Noodle Salads
• with choice of filling: Spiced Rubbed Chicken;
• Chinese BBQ Pork; Roasted Soy; Paprika Tofu
• Chocolate Chip Sesame Cookies

*Caked Boston

• Traditional Cupcakes
• Specialty Cupcake of the Day
• Truffle Balls

*Chicken & Rice Guys

• Rice Plates (choice of protein)
• Salad Plates (choice of protein)
• Cumato Salad
• Pita
• Baklava

*The Chubby Chickpea

• Yemenite Fried Chicken Sandwich
• Falafel Pita Pocket
• Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves

*Commonwealth

• Smoked Turkey & Bacon – Avocado Mayo, Pepper Jack, Arugula
• Italian Stallion – Salami, Capicola, Mortadella, Provolone, Hots, Lettuce, Tomato, Oil & Vinegar
• Nookie’s Pastrami – House-made Spicy Mustard
• Crispy Eggplant – Harissa Goat Cheese, Slow Cooked Green Beans, Arugula
• Duck Fat Fries
• CW Cookies

*Cookie DŌ

• One Scoop DŌ
• Two Scoop DŌ
• Cookie DŌ Sandwich
• Cookies

CopperDome Crust

• Artisan Wood Fired Pizza with choice of the following toppings:
• Cheese, Pepperoni, and Spinach & Feta

*Deans Concessions

• Chicken Fingers & Fries

El Pelon Taqueria

• Taco Plate – 2 Tacos (Steak or Chicken) with Fire Roasted Salsa with
• Mexican Rice and Black Beans
• Burrito Bowl (Steak or Chicken), Flour Tortilla, Fire Roasted Salsa with
• Mexican Rice and Black Beans
• Rice and Bean Plate – Mexican Rice, Black Beans
• Chips & Salsa Fresca
• Chips, Salsa and Guacamole

Firefly’s BBQ

• Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken with Coleslaw
• Chopped Beef Brisket Sandwich with Coleslaw
• BBQ Bowl with Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Beans and Coleslaw
• BBQ Brisket Bowl with Brisket, Mac & Cheese, Beans and Coleslaw
• Porked Mac & Cheese

FoMu Ice Cream

• Ice Cream Scoops
• Ice Cream Sandwiches

IKEA Food

• The Veggie Dog:
• Made from nothing but veggies.
• Served in a fresh bun with fried onion, pickled red cabbage and heaps of love for the planet.

*Jaju Pierogi

• Mix & Match Flavors:
• Potato & Cheese Pierogi
• Kielbasa & Red Pepper Pierogi
• Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion Pierogi
• Jalapeño Cheddar Pierogi

Joe’s American Bar & Grill

• New England Clam Chowder
• American Mac & Cheese
• Gluten Free Mac & Cheese

Moyzilla

• Katsu Hand-folded Classic Dumplings: pork & napa cabbage, soy ginger dipping sauce Scallion Pie Quesadilla: Korean BBQ Chicken, cheddar, sriracha aioli
• Korean BBQ Chicken Noodle Bowl: rice noodle, edamame, pickled veg, lettuce, scallion, fried shallot, sweet chili sauce

Riceburg

• Rice burgers and rice bowls with the choice of filling:
• Spicy Sweet and Sour Crispy Chicken
• Bulgogi Steak
• Shiitake Mushroom
• Matcha Green Tea Lemonade

Roxy’s Grilled Cheese (2 booths)

• Big Fig – sweet mission figs + balsamic drizzle on our three cheese blend
• Green Muenster – house made guacamole and bacon on our three cheese blend
• Classic Three Cheese – vermont cheddar, muenster, fontina cheese on locally baked tuscan bread
• Hot Honey Bacon – crispy bacon + Mike’s hot honey on our three cheese blend

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

• Steak Sandwich or Salad
• Lobster Roll or Salad
• Chicken Salad Wrap
• Prime Beef Sliders
• Cape Cod Potato Chips

Saté Grill

• Build your own: Rice, Noodle, or Salad Veggie bowl with Chicken or Tofu + side of veg Dumpling or Crispy Roll
• Banh Mi sandwich

The Sausage Guy

• Sausage Guy Sweet Hot Bourbon Italian Sausage
• Sausage Guy IPA Beer Brat
• Sausage Guy All Beef Hot Dog
• Giant Soft Pretzel
• Shoestring French Fries

Shuck Food Truck

• Oysters each/dozen
• New England Lobster Roll
• Lobster Slider
• Fish + Chips
• Fries

The Smoke Shop(2 booths)

• The BBQ BOMB – GIANT Waffle Cone filled with: Pit Beans, Mac & Cheese,Cole Slaw, Choice of Brisket, Pulled Pork or Smoked Chicken Topped with Pickled Hots & BBQ Spices
• The Pit Boss – All Three BBQ Meats: Pulled Pork, Brisket & Smoked Chicken. Plus Pit Beans, Coleslaw and Mac & Cheese
• The BBQ Sandwiches: Choice of Brisket, Pulled Pork or Smoked Chicken
• The Cornbread – with Honey Sea Salt Butter
• The Sides – Coleslaw, Pit Beans or Mac & Cheese

Stone and Skillet

• English Muffin Cheese Pizzas
• English Muffin Pepperoni Pizzas

Tasty Burger(2 booths)

• Hamburger
• Cheeseburger
• Bacon Cheeseburger

• Veggie Burger
• Deep River Potato Chips
• *Tasty All Beef Dogs
• Plain Hot Dogs
• Chili Hot Dogs
• *Tasty Tots
• Plain Tots
• Tots with Cheese Sauce
• Tots with Chili
• Tots with the Works (chili and cheese)

*Union Square Donuts-

• Assorted Donuts (duh)

Whole Heart Provisions

• Veggie bowls with a choice of a base of greens or grains in the following styles:Tazon Style Bowl – Pineapple, Corn Salsa, Korean Black Beans, Smashed Cucumber and Tomato, Red Cabbage Slaw and Lime Vinaigrette with Corn Nuts
• Miso Style Bowl – Roasted Broccoli, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Smashed Cucumber, Pickled Carrots, Red Cabbage Slaw with Orange Miso Sauce and Toasted Sesame Seeds
• Viet Style Bowl – Roasted Broccoli, Smashed Cucumber, Tomato, Pickled Carrots, Savory Green Beans Spicy Peanut Sauce and Peanut Crumble
• Seared Avocado with tahini, za’atar & crispy lentils
• Food Should Taste Good Chips

Yume Wo Katare

• Yume Rame
• Chashu Stick

Zinneken’s Belgian Waffles

• Liege Waffle
• The Sin – Nutella, Banana,
• The Gourmand – Caramel, Bananas, Whipped Cream
• Fruit Delight – Belgian Chocolate, Bananas, Strawberries

And check out the IKEA world?

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