Feature Photo:by Brian Kachejian at MetLife Stadium
Thumann’s began in 1949 when German-born master butcher Henry Thumann opened his first plant in Wallington, New Jersey. Raised on a working farm in Germany, Thumann brought his deep understanding of quality meats and craftsmanship to America, where he built a business dedicated to premium cuts and authentic recipes. From a small team of five employees and two trucks, the company grew into a respected family enterprise that has now lasted through four generations. Even after moving its operations to a state-of-the-art facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey, Thumann’s never lost sight of its founder’s original promise to deliver products made with care, integrity, and the highest standards.
Over the decades, Thumann’s built its reputation as a New Jersey staple, well known in delis, butcher shops, and supermarkets for its hot dogs, cold cuts, and sausages. The company’s long history and deep roots in the Garden State made it a natural fit when MetLife Stadium began looking for regional food vendors to represent New Jersey’s local flavor. Thumann’s quickly became one of the featured brands in the stadium’s concession lineup, its name printed proudly across menus and signage throughout the concourse. Fans attending Jets and Giants games, as well as concerts and special events, could easily spot the familiar logo while ordering what they expected to be a classic hot dog made with the same quality Thumann’s had been known for over seventy years.
However, what works in neighborhood delis does not always translate well to the mass-production environment of a major sports stadium. While the Thumann’s brand has earned decades of respect for its quality meats and family heritage, the hot dogs served at MetLife Stadium tell a very different story.
I really don’t like to do negative reviews. The last thing I want to do is hurt someone’s business, although I realize that my minimal role in this world probably wouldn’t even put a dent in any huge corporation’s business. Still, out of moral respect and my own personal feelings, I just don’t like writing negative reviews. I really don’t. However, as a journalist, integrity is paramount to my success as a writer, as a reviewer, and as someone people can trust. So, I have to be honest. This was hands down the worst hot dog I’ve may have ever tasted. I’m sure I’ve had worse at some point in my life, but I can’t remember one in recent memory that was this bad.
It was cheap, I’ll give you that, especially compared to other food items in the stadium since it only cost five dollars. But still, I took one bite and pretty much spit it out. I didn’t swallow any of it because it scared me. It honestly scared me to think what might happen if I did, knowing that I’d have to share a bathroom with seventy thousand people. That wasn’t something I was willing to negotiate with my stomach or my hunger. Nope. Nope. Nope. Anyone who’s attended a football game completely understands that. So, in the end, I can promise you this — I will never buy another one of those hot dogs again, not at MetLife Stadium, not anywhere, and definitely not under that logo.
Make sure to check out more of my MetLife Stadium Food reviews as I work on trying every food item at the stadium during this long season of the NY Jets losing basically every game. But hey, we are used to that. Come back Rex!
Here’s the video review……
