WRIGLEYVILLE — Veggie hot dogs are coming to Wrigley Field.
Cubs fans who want the classic baseball Chicago dog experience without the meat can now order vegetarian hot dogs, the team announced Tuesday with partner Levy Restaurants.
The dogs and a new veggie chopped salad will join the field's other vegetarian offerings, which include a veggie burger and a tempeh-based barbecue sandwich called the "Sloppy Jane."
In a 2012 Gallup poll, about 5 percent of Americans said they are vegetarians, and about 2 percent said they are vegans. Those numbers have been about the same for the last 10 years, Gallup said. Women are more likely to be vegetarian: about 7 percent, compared with 4 percent of men.
Wrigley Field made the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' list of most "vegetarian-friendly" stadiums for the first time in 2009 — tying with Milwaukee's Miller Park for 10th place, but it has since disappeared from the rankings.
For White Sox fans, U.S. Cellular Field offers cheese quesadillas, veggie dogs and garden burgers. The South Side stadium beat Wrigley Field in 2009 in veggie offerings, landing at No. 8 on the PETA list. In 2012, PETA handed it an honorable mention.
Both stadiums have a way to go in veggie offerings compared to Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. PETA named the stadium baseball's most "vegetarian friendly" in 2012 and 2007-2010. In 2011, it was No. 2 on the list.
On the menu there: vegan chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese and eggplant hoagies and crab-free crabcake salads.
Safeco Field in Seattle was cited by PETA for its veggie dog with vegan cream cheese spread, and Detroit won accolades for its veggie riblets. The entire Top 10 List is here.
Beyond the new veggie offerings, Wrigley Field also will be selling Dippin' Dots, ice cream formed into tiny beads through flash freezing, on the terrace along the left field line, offering flavors like Cookies 'n Cream and Rainbow Ice. Chicago's Uncle Dougie's barbecue sauces and bloody mary mixes also will join the stadium.
Existing food vendors such as Vienna Beef, D'Agostina's Pizza and Qdoba Mexican Grill will still be around.
If you're heading to The Friendly Confines next Monday for the home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, a map of all the food vendors can be found here.
