For the third year in a row, Citi Field was name Best Stadium Food in America—and Mets Executive Chef Jason Eksterowicz joins Jay Horwitz to explain how it happened.

From deep-fried Oreos to international egg rolls to secret grilled cheese pinwheels, Chef Jason breaks down the dynasty-level work going into every bite at Citi Field. He reveals the research process, the partnerships with Adam Richman and local Queens restaurants, the secrets behind fan-favorite dishes like the Pub Burger, Pig Beach turkey sandwich, and cinnamon bun egg rolls—and why they’re gunning for a FOUR-PEAT.

Whether you're a Mets fan or a foodie, this one’s packed with flavor.

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00:00 – Citi Field Named Best Stadium Food (Again!)
00:19 – “That’s a Dynasty”: How the Food Team Reacted
00:54 – Chef Jason’s 40th Year Lunch Menu: Corn Dogs, Twinkies & Fries
01:59 – Elevating the Dessert Game: Zeppoles, Fried Oreos, Cinnamon Bun Egg Rolls
03:33 – How New Food Items Are Planned Each Season
04:43 – NYC Inspiration: Building a Menu That Reflects the City
06:17 – The Adam Richman Pub Burger & Juicy Lucy
08:13 – A Fan Inspired the Pig Beach Turkey Sandwich
09:25 – How Many Chefs Run Citi Field’s Food Ops?
10:20 – Chef Jason’s Roots: Big Family, Big Meals
11:12 – What Mets Executive Chef Eats at Home (Hint: It’s PB&J)
12:13 – Cooking Thanksgiving for 30+ People
12:39 – Taste of Queens: Helping Local Restaurants Post-COVID
13:43 – The Restaurant Selection Process for Citi Field
14:43 – 2025 Taste of Queens Participants and Rotation
15:20 – Walk and Roll’s Viral Egg Rolls: Rainbow Cookie to Cinnamon Bun
16:10 – “City to City”: Visiting Team-Themed Egg Rolls
17:18 – Upcoming Saint Louis-Inspired Fried Ravioli
17:45 – Daily Briefings & Running a Stadium Like a Resort
18:09 – Verrazano Egg Roll & Deep-Fried Oreo Skewers
18:58 – Building for a Four-Peat: What’s Next in 2026
19:58 – The “From the Stretch” Stand & New Twists on Classics
20:35 – Shoutouts to Loren and Tara for Making It Happen

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Michael Cuddyer joins Jay Horwitz to reflect on the career of David Wright ahead of Wright’s jersey retirement. From a fateful cafeteria moment in Virginia to their bond as Mets teammates, Cuddyer shares how Wright inspired his journey—and helped bring him to New York in 2015. They dive deep into the Home Run Derby at Citi Field, the 2015 postseason run, mentoring Michael Conforto, Daniel Murphy’s October dominance, and the legendary Championship Belt. Plus: why Cuddyer walked away from the game and how he stays involved in baseball today. An emotional, honest, and often hilarious look back at a pivotal friendship in Mets history.

🎧 Presented by the New York Mets. Subscribe and leave a review to support the show!

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Orel Hershiser joins Jay Horwitz for a rare deep dive into the year he spent as a New York Met — and the unforgettable moments that came before it. From earning his 200th career win in Flushing to outdueling the Mets in the legendary 1988 NLCS, Hershiser reflects on a career full of iconic moments and unlikely friendships. He opens up about what it meant to play behind Robin Ventura and Rey Ordoñez, why Bobby Valentine was one of the smartest minds he’s ever worked with, and the hilarious myth about John Olerud's helmet. Plus: tales from the Dodgers’ clubhouse, broadcasting with Vin Scully, and why Ricky Henderson was truly one of one.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Intro: Orel Hershiser’s Mets & Dodgers Legacy
01:00 – Why He Signed with the Mets in ‘99
02:15 – Bobby Valentine, Buck Showalter & a Smart Clubhouse
03:00 – Remembering That 1999 Mets Team
04:00 – Clinching the Wild Card: Brad Clontz’s Wild Pitch
05:00 – Pitching Through Pain, Grit, and Adjustments
06:30 – The Grand Slam Single Game from the Mound
08:00 – Winning Career Game #200 as a Met
09:15 – Flashback to 1988 NLCS: Breaking the Mets’ Hearts
11:00 – Dodging Bulletin Board Material & Lasorda’s Pep Talks
12:30 – Game 7 Heroics & Tommy’s Crazy Contingency Plan
14:00 – Thoughts on Payroll, Competitive Balance & Steve Cohen
15:30 – Shohei Ohtani Is a Fantasy
16:45 – Best Infield Orel Ever Played Behind
18:00 – The Olerud Helmet Story Was Fake?!
19:00 – Ricky Henderson Talked in the 3rd Person
20:00 – The Mercury Mets Game
21:00 – Why That One Mets Year Meant So Much
22:00 – Life Lessons from Vin Scully & Dodgers Legends
23:30 – On Broadcasting with Joe Davis & ESPN
24:30 – Orel’s Plans During the Dodgers-Mets Series
25:00 – A Farewell to Jay from the Bulldog Himself

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In this episode of Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz, former Mets and Yankees ace David Cone joins the show to reflect on his iconic career, from strikeout records with the Mets to World Series glory with the Yankees. Cone reveals the behind-the-scenes story of his shocking trade to Toronto, what made the 1988 Mets special, and why he believes the Juan Soto signing was no surprise.

Jay and Cone talk about their decades-long friendship, Cone’s broadcasting evolution, and the bonds formed with Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, and Rusty Staub. This is a must-listen for any Mets or Yankees fan.

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In this special episode of Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz, we celebrate 20 years of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling in the Mets broadcast booth.

Jay sits down with the iconic GKR trio to talk about their early struggles, Fred Wilpon’s surprising advice, memories of Ralph Kiner, and the creativity of producer Greg Picker that helped turn them into the best booth in baseball. From broadcasting in bullpens to sending snacks via clothesline during COVID to Gary Cohen’s first day front row seat to a Mets team fight.

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In this emotional and wide-ranging conversation, Mets legend Darryl Strawberry sits down with Jay Horwitz to talk about Pete Alonso breaking Mets home run records, his new book "Another Life", visiting death row inmates in Louisiana, and what it really means to find purpose after baseball. Darryl also shares inside stories from the 1986 World Series, Mike Tyson visiting the Mets, and why David Wright’s jersey retirement is so meaningful. Plus: advice for Juan Soto adjusting to New York and why the 1986 Mets are one of the most beloved teams in baseball history.

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Legendary NY Post columnist Mike Vaccaro joins the show to open up about the challenges of returning to work after a lower leg amputation, his deep connection to New York sports history, and the complicated nature of boos and fan expectations in the Big Apple.

From his unforgettable first meeting with Tom Seaver to navigating his career through adversity, Vaccaro discusses the evolving role of the journalist, writing personal stories, and why Citi Field may be transforming into one of baseball’s greatest home field advantages.

Subscribe for more in-depth Mets interviews, stories, and behind-the-scenes insights from the people who shape the game.

#Mets #MikeVaccaro #TomSeaver #CitiField #MLB #Baseball #MeetAtTheApple #NewYorkMets #MetsPodcast

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Andy Martino joins Jay Horwitz for a special episode of Amazin’ Conversations to talk about what it really takes to break news in Major League Baseball. From cultivating authentic human relationships with players like Juan Soto and executives across front offices, to his journey from the Daily News to SNY insider coverage of the Mets and Yankees, Andy shares candid stories, media insights, and reflections on the evolution of baseball journalism.

They dive into behind-the-scenes moments, including his connection to Shannon Forde’s legacy, covering David Wright’s career, and how Carlos Beltrán is helping shape today’s Mets. If you’ve ever wondered how the biggest Mets scoops get reported — this one’s for you.

🧠 Featuring insider takes on:

📍Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment on your favorite Mets moment.

#Mets #AndyMartino #MLBInsider #PeteAlonso #CarlosBeltran #CitiField #Yankees #MLBNews #JayHorwitz #BaseballMedia #MeetAtTheApple

⏱️ YouTube Timestamps (Chapters):

00:00 – Andy Martino on authentic relationships in baseball

01:01 – Why news isn’t always the priority

02:06 – Remembering Shannon Forde and Foley’s memories

03:16 – The human side of journalism

04:02 – Covering both Mets and Yankees: why just two teams

05:01 – Andy’s start at the Daily News & media evolution

06:12 – Leaving print for broadcast: SNY’s vision and Fred Wilpon’s role

07:20 – Breaking the Alonso signing and the job of being first

08:01 – Round-the-clock grind of MLB insider life

09:26 – Why focusing on Mets & Yankees keeps it manageable

10:05 – Martino’s mindset: don’t just be a news extractor

11:12 – Learning baseball from the players themselves

12:16 – Handling criticism & social media toxicity

13:10 – Interacting with Mets fans IRL vs online

13:34 – The collaborative joy of working in TV vs print

14:27 – Why writing is still his true passion

14:55 – How he got Brian Cashman to trust him for his book

16:05 – Unsung Yankees contributors recognized in the book

17:00 – On fair reporting and trust with PR staffs

18:15 – News is just a byproduct of relationships

19:00 – On competitive sourcing & beat reporting

20:15 – Terry Collins and the value of honest communication

20:37 – Carlos Beltrán's underappreciated Mets legacy

21:39 – How Beltrán is mentoring Lindor behind the scenes

22:54 – Watching David Wright evolve through his career

24:06 – A David Wright story that defines his character

25:06 – Why Martino still finds joy in his job

26:05 – Jay Horwitz gets his flowers from Martino

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In this episode of Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz, we revisit one of the greatest hoaxes in sports history: the curious case of Sidd Finch. Jay is joined by Joe Berton — the man who became Sidd Finch — to reflect on the unforgettable 1985 Sports Illustrated April Fools’ story that convinced the baseball world a barefoot, French horn-playing pitcher could throw 168 mph. Joe shares never-before-heard stories from spring training, behind-the-scenes shenanigans, and what it was like to live the legend.

Whether you were there in ’85 or just hearing about Sidd for the first time, this is a Mets moment you won’t want to miss.

📌 Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: 40 years later, Sidd Finch still has legs

00:54 – The origin of the Sidd Finch April Fools’ story

01:50 – Getting cast as Sidd: French horn, Tibetan bowl & spring training

03:26 – Choosing jersey number 21 and keeping the mystery alive

04:14 – Inside the Mets clubhouse with the 1985 team

05:07 – Mel Stottlemyre’s hilarious involvement

06:20 – Posing for photos and improvising wild scenarios

07:55 – Convincing players and locals Sidd was real

09:05 – French horn antics with Kevin Mitchell & Jesse Orosco

10:06 – Trying not to get kicked out by Davey Johnson or Bobby Valentine

10:29 – Photoshoots at Harvard and on the beach

11:21 – George Plimpton’s reaction to the photos

11:55 – Hidden “Happy April Fools’ Day” Easter egg in the article

12:36 – The story hits and fools everyone, including Congress

13:28 – Mets GMs actually call the commissioner

14:03 – Fake retirement & Mets tribute at Shea Stadium

15:10 – How the hoax stayed good-natured and fun

16:09 – Building a friendship with George Plimpton

17:04 – Sidd’s unlikely place in New York Mets history

18:19 – Reflections on being a part of baseball lore

19:45 – From Sportsman of the Year to back to the classroom

20:40 – Closing: Welcome to Mets history forever

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In this heartfelt episode of the New York Mets Official Podcast, Jay Horwitz sits down with Lauren Profeta, Executive Director of Answer the Call — the nonprofit started by Mets legend Rusty Staub that has supported the families of NYC's fallen first responders for over 40 years.

Jay and Lauren share laughs, emotional stories, and the incredible legacy Rusty left behind — from barbecued ribs in the bullpen to his unwavering dedication to others.

They also discuss the upcoming Answer the Call gala on May 28th at Citi Field, continuing Rusty’s mission and keeping his memory alive.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Rusty Staub’s legendary ribs and a bullpen BBQ mishap

00:32 – Jay introduces Lauren Profeta and the legacy of Answer the Call

01:22 – 40 years of helping over 1,000 families and raising $180 million

02:42 – Who Answer the Call supports: Police, Fire, EMT families

04:08 – Rusty's passing, April 1st birthday, and the dinner tradition at Citi Field

05:28 – More classic Rusty rib stories & locker room humor

07:10 – Rusty’s multiple foundations and their lasting impact

07:55 – How the foundation finds families in need

08:11 – A touching story from a family Answer the Call helped

08:38 – Rusty’s role in the Mets’ 9/11 relief efforts

11:37 – Jay and Rusty’s jogging adventures in Montreal

12:19 – Continuing Rusty’s traditions at Citi Field

13:15 – Upcoming picnic and inclusive events

14:08 – Keith Hernandez carrying Rusty’s torch

14:42 – Rusty’s impact off the field and in the Mets offices

15:10 – Final thoughts on Rusty’s kindness and generosity

16:16 – How to get involved and support Answer the Call

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