History

Joe Bertman started selling Bertman Ball Park Mustard to League Park concessions in 1925. David Dwoskin formed Davis Food Company in 1969 to bring the brown mustard served at Cleveland Municipal Stadium to retail shelves, registering the rival Stadium Mustard trademark in 1971. Cleveland has argued ever since about which spicy-brown wins.

Common allergens: Mustard

Make it at home

Yield Makes 250mlHands-on 10 minTotal PT24H (overnight rest)Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 60g brown mustard seeds
  • 60g yellow mustard seeds
  • 180ml cider vinegar
  • 120ml water
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric

Method

  1. Combine all ingredients in a jar, stir, and rest covered at room temperature for 24 hours.
  2. Blend on high in a small blender for 30 seconds; the mustard will be coarse and grainy.
  3. Taste; add more sugar or salt to balance.
  4. Decant into a clean jar and refrigerate; the heat softens over a week and improves.
  5. Use on every Polish Boy, corned beef sandwich, kielbasa and grilled bratwurst you make.

Tip from the editors. For a smoother Bertman-style finish, blend longer and pass through a fine sieve.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat stadium mustard

Stadium Mustard in Cleveland

Slyman's Restaurant ★ 4.7

st-clair-superiorMon-Fri 07:00-14:30; closed Sat-Sun

Slyman's Restaurant on St Clair Avenue, the Slyman family corned beef counter since 1964, anchors the city's defining hidden-in-plain-sight diner alongside a busy weekday breakfast and lunch trade.

Why locals love it: A 1964 sit-down deli on a non-touristy stretch of St Clair Avenue, hidden in plain sight by suburban diners not in the know

Tip: Order the corned beef on rye and ask for extra mustard; cash and card both work but the line moves faster at the counter

3106 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, OH 44114

Mabel's BBQ ★ 4.4

Cleveland-style BBQ$$$downtownTue-Thu 11:30-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:30-22:00; Sun 11:30-20:00; closed Mon

Mabel's BBQ on East 4th Street in downtown Cleveland, Michael Symon's smokehouse since April 2016, builds Cleveland-style BBQ on fruitwood smoke and Bertman Ball Park mustard.

Signature: Smoked brisket, Cleveland-style ribs

Order: The four-meat tray with smoked kielbasa, plus an order of the spicy pickled vegetables.

Tip: Walk-ins seated at the bar; reserve the dining room on OpenTable two weeks ahead.

2050 E 4th St, Cleveland, OH 44115

West Side Market ★ 4.8

ohio-cityMon, Wed, Fri-Sat 08:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-16:00, closed Tue Thu

The West Side Market on West 25th Street since 1912, the Hubbel and Benes-designed yellow-brick public market dedicated by Mayor Newton Baker, anchors Cleveland's last historic indoor market hall.

1979 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

More cities are in research. Want stadium mustard covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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