STARKVILLE — Mississippi State fans sitting in the suites and premium club areas will not go hungry at Davis Wade Stadium this season.
Since 2020, MSU athletics has partnered with the Atlanta-based catering company Proof of the Pudding to provide concessions at all on-campus sports facilities. But while most stands offer standard fare such as burgers, hot dogs and chicken tenders, the options in the suites and clubs — which Proof of the Pudding has been in charge of since 2022 — extend far beyond typical stadium food.
New items this year include a Caesar salad with steak, boiled peanuts, more upscale desserts such as key lime pie, donut bread pudding and cast iron s’mores, and a “snacks on snacks on snacks” table featuring sour candy, popcorn and more.
“It’s been a phenomenal relationship. We love working here at MSU,” said Jillian Wendler, a general manager at Proof of the Pudding who works on-site at MSU. “We’ve improved our tailgate section, which has our burgers and our hot dogs and sausages. We added more toppings to that menu. We added some more dips that (fans) can choose from.”
Athletic department staff and media members were invited to participate in a food tasting on Monday in the Scoreboard Club, behind the north end zone at Davis Wade Stadium, with a spread featuring everything from sandwiches and wraps, to a nacho and fajita bar and a full dessert table.
The fajitas were on the menu in years past but were taken away last season before Proof of the Pudding reintroduced them for 2024 in response to fan feedback. Fans also clamored for the vegetable spring rolls to be brought back, and they will be offered again this year as well.
“Any time you’re in a hospitality role, it can be really tough, but we have the right key players in place (and) their goal is to make the game day experience the best it can be,” said Amy Blount, director of donor engagement and experience for MSU athletics. “(It’s about) having the right people who have that service-first mindset and being able to fix problems when they come along.”
Proof of the Pudding serves a number of other athletic departments in the South, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Duke and Wake Forest. Blount said her favorite offering was the grilled beef tenderloin sandwich, which was served on the same table as the steak Caesar salad and the buffalo chicken wraps. Wendler said the queso dip, which is now accompanied by more toppings for the nacho bar, is among the most popular options.
The carving stations from last year are being replaced by what Wendler called “action stations,” where the chefs are preparing items such as chicken wings and handing them directly to the fans on small plates. A full-service salad bar will also be new this season.
“We’ve had some ups and downs, just like any food provider,” Blount said. “Anybody we would have brought on board, we would have had some learning moments, but they’ve been wonderful to work with. The thing about (Proof of the Pudding) is that they’re coachable. Like in sports, just to have a player that’s coachable is huge.”
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