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I’ve been a Jets season ticket holder at MetLife Stadium since they opened the stadium in 2010, going on fifteen years now. Yeah, the football hasn’t been great (no need to feel sorry for me), but I still enjoy the games because I go with my son..
Over the years, I’ve tried pretty much everything they serve at least once. Some items are good enough that I go back for them repeatedly, while others weren’t worth a second try. If you’re visiting MetLife for the first time and want my honest recommendation on the best food item there, it’s absolutely the Premio sausage and pepper hero.
I get this sandwich several times each season, not every game since I like variety and there’s only so much you can eat. I am also in the process of reviewing every item at the stadium for this site. But that first preseason game in August? I head straight for this stand because I’ve been missing it since the previous December. What makes it so good starts with the quality of the sausage itself. Premio makes excellent sausage. Sure, you can find amazing artisanal sausage at specialty pork stores around New York, but for a national brand, Premio really delivers.
However, it’s not just the sausages; the peppers and onions also hit the mark. The combination of sausage, peppers, and onions, along with the freshness of the vegetables and meat, makes for a pretty good sandwich. The bread is okay, it’s not spectacular, and it’s probably a little bit too big for the sandwich, but hey, it’s Stadium food and it’s about as good as it gets. Is it overpriced? Of course it is, but not for a stadium. You are getting a pretty big sandwich for the money. You have your choice between sweet and hot. If you want a little more flavor, I would recommend the hot; it’s not really that spicy. It goes great with a beer, and if you want to keep the price down, they have cheap $5 beers in various locations. Or you can spend $13 for a higher-end beer. Of course, if you’re underage or you’re not a drinker, there’s soda and water everywhere.
The Premio Sausage and Pepper sandwich is located at its own small stands throughout the stadium. The lines for these stands are usually much shorter than the lines for the bigger stand that sell various Foods so it’s a win-win in every aspect. Unless, of course, you’re talking about the New York Jets.
Premio Sausage: A Company History
Founded in 1949 by Italian immigrants in New Jersey, Premio Foods began as a small sausage manufacturing business. The company was originally known as “Garden State Sausage Co.” before adopting its current name. According to corporate records, Premio was established in Hawthorne, New Jersey, where its operations were initially centered.
The company experienced a significant transition in 1991 when Angelo Falasca, who had joined as a production manager in 1972, acquired the business. This acquisition marked the beginning of the current family ownership structure that continues today, with leadership later passing to Marc Cinque as President.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Premio invested in manufacturing capabilities and expanded its production facilities across New Jersey. The company’s growth strategy included several key acquisitions, notably the purchase of Appetito Sausage Company in Union City and later LaBella Sausage in Florida in 2013, which gave the firm manufacturing capacity in the southeastern United States.
By 2024, Premio operated production facilities in multiple locations: Hawthorne, Englewood, and Union City in New Jersey, plus Brooksville, Florida. The company’s distribution network expanded from its original Northeast base to include nationwide retail presence through major grocery chains. Premio products became fixtures at several New Jersey sports venues, including MetLife Stadium, reflecting the brand’s regional significance.
