Scoreboard Gourmet

Monaco Grand Prix Dinner Party

Join some 200-500 people (quite a range) at an F1Drivercast Party on Friday, May 23rd. Yes, ScoreboardGourmet is once again going global. And we may even have to add a new category (F1? Cars?).

We're told the late Prince Rainier`s automobile collection and museum is the theme of this year`s party.
Drink champagne and eat canapés (finger foods) while viewing the collection that includes the first "horseless carriage" bought by the Royal Family, a 1903 de Dion Bouton.

SpeedTV commentator, Peter Windsor, hosts the pre-race talk with some of the leading Formula One drivers and team managers. A sumptuous(!) dinner, prepared by one of the top Formula One caterers follows.

Monaco F1Drivercast Party $595 (that's USD)

    * Discover the latest F1 news from interviews with drivers 
    * Interviews conducted by Peter Windsor or James Allen
    * Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres while sipping champagne
    * Dine on world class cuisine & fine wines
    * Cocktails
    * Jazz Trio
    * Live F1 Art Painting
    * View the Museum Cars
    * View the Princes Automobile Collection
    * Opportunity to ask the drivers & interviewers questions
    * On site host to assist your guests throughout the event

Price is per person. Available to groups of 10 or more. Here's the link. Let them know you heard about it here.

Vancouver Canadians BBQ/Picnic in the Park

Groups of 50 or more can BBQ in Nat Bailey Stadium (the Nat)...

Every BBQ/Picnic includes:
An all-you-can-eat barbecue
A Reserved Grandstand ticket for that game ($11.00 value)
2008 Vancouver Canadians Souvenir Program ($5.00 value)
Tables, chairs and umbrellas
COmplimentary subscription to "Between the Lines"—The C's offical e-newsletter
Rain or shine guarantee!
Cash Bar
$34.00 per person, 50 person minimum

All You Can Eat Menu Barbecue food service is open from 11:30am-2:00pm during afternoon games, and 5:00-8:00pm during evening games. AYCE includes: Hot Dogs, Bratwurst, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Veggie Dogs, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Pasta Salad, Green Salad, Brownies, Cookies, Ice Cream, Novelties, Soft Drinks

Call 604-872-5232 or e-mail sales@canadiansbaseball.com to order tickets

Opening Day is June 17th

Texas Rangers Dollar ($1) Hot Dog Nights

The Texas Rangers do Not skimp when it comes to $1 Hot Dogs or $1 Ice Cream. You can get $1 Ice Cream at every Sunday Home Game.

Here are the upcoming $1 Hot Dog Dates:

Wed April 30th
Wed May 14th
Wed June 4th
Wed June 18th
I'm noticing a pattern here
Wed July 9th
Wed July 30th
Wed Aug 20th
Wed Sept 3rd
Wed Sept 17th
Wed Sept 24th

Also: Fri Aug 1st is Cooler Bag Night. and Sun Aug 17th is Dog Day (bring 'em, don't eat 'em).

Tonight is T-shirt Night - that's a Rangers T-shirt with a Dr. Pepper logo on the sleeve for the first 20,000 fans.

Calories in Peanuts

I'm somewhat surprised by the number of people who ask me how many calories are in ballpark peanuts. Should we assume that ballpark peanuts are unlike non-ballpark peanuts? I'd say salt and preparation (dry roasted v boiled) was a bigger differentiation than locale, and I'd be right.

In my home I currently have two bags of ballpark peanuts. One says 170-calories/1-oz and the other says 160-calories/1oz. They both say 110-calories-from-fat/1 oz. A little research tells me that the average calories/1oz peanuts is between 160-170.

Boiled peanuts are fewer calories.

Any other questions?

AT&T Park (SF Giants) New Foods

Have to been to the new San Francisco Giants Food Court? It has a bunch of new concessions like: Orlando’s Caribbean Barbecue, the California Cookout, the Mission Street Carvery and Compadres. 

And, skyline views of downtown SF, Twin Peaks and the Bay Bridge can be more comfortably enjoyed with the addition of a solid, glass structure to mitigate the wind, and a drink rail running along the outer wall of the view concourse. Drink rails should be everywhere. But sometimes I do like a bit of wind.

Also, from McCovey’s Restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek, look for McCovey’s Pulled Pork Sandwich and McCovey’s Catfish Po boy. 

Other new foods in the ballpark: a pork adobado bowl, a chile verde bowl, a grilled Mediterranean vegetable naan sandwich, Irish quesadillas, a portabello mushroom sandwich and, to drink, pomegranate margaritas.

Let's discuss.

Chicago Pizza

Lots of Chicago on the brain these days, though TFMJ and I did Not go to the White Sox v Yankees game for my bday. I think it was Tuesday night when Paul O'Neil and Michael Kay had a mini conversation about Chicago Pizza. The camera went to Nellie's Pivot Pizza (in a super nice looking concessions area) and later we got a close-up of some fat slices in a case, and a box that read "Connie's Pronto"
Are Nellie's and Connie's the same thing?

Paul O'Neil, after saying he loves Chicago, but not Chicago pizza, said,"Pizza in New York has got it beat by far. No doubt about it."
He's not into "the big, thick crust" and neither am I.
Michael Kay responded by saying, "They're two completely different dishes."
I guess that's a nice way to put it.

He also mentioned they heard some guy outside the press box chanting "Our pizza is better than yours."
Clearly he was from New York.

Astros Coca Cola Value Nights

Coca-Cola Value Night Package Includes:
* four (4) Mezzanine level tickets
* four (4) hot dogs
* four (4) 20 oz. bottles of any available Coca-Cola product and
* two (2) Astros branded baseball caps

That's $145 worth of stuff for $75. Tickets may be purchased beginning one week prior to the "Value Night" game date. Offer not valid if event is sold out of designated tickets.

Here are the dates/games:

Friday, May 02 (on sale tomorrow)
Friday, May 23
Friday, June 06
Friday, July 18
Friday, Aug. 01
Friday, Aug. 15
Friday, Aug. 29
Friday, Sept. 12
Friday, Sept. 26

Major League Chinese Website

Major League Baseball Advanced Media has a new teammate in China – MySpace Founder Brad Greenspan. Mr. Greenspan, who owns and operates several popular web properties in China, licensed the online rights to develop a Major League Chinese portal through BroadWeb Asia's Shanghai-based HupoTV. The site launched during the league's Asian road trip, featuring video highlights, photos, features and stats. The site will also stream a "number" of live games during the season.

I'm sorry I cannot credit the source of this info - I cannot remember where I read it - but I do think it's worth knowing about.

Chicago Top Chef Bears Tailgate Challenge

"There are two things Chicagoans are really passionate about," said Tom Colicchio. "One thing is their sports, and the other is their food. And the two came together in a tailgate party at Soldier Field."

There are two things Scoreboard Gourmet is really passionate about. One thing is the hatred of Reality TV, and the other is hatred of UFC. But I've already gone down that road. Let's just talk about TV.

Since there is an exception to every rule, however, I do find myself able to watch Top Chef. I'm pretty sure it's the third season. I've only been a viewer since last season's finale. I enjoy the show as long as it's been pre-recorded so I can ffwd through the contestants talking amongst themselves, and all Padma. I enjoy the challenges. I love imagining what I would make if faced with that particular challenge. I cannot believe that one girl who supposedly has a restaurant in NYC is still on. I do not know how she made it past her initial pizza dough disaster. Her name might be Nicki. She is the worst. I believe they keep her on because she is attractive in a very regular way and possibly some people can relate to her unrelenting stupidity and ineptitude. I think Dale will win, or Stephanie (she's the one who always wins, right?).

Wow. Today Scoreboard Gourmet really is a blog. Yikes.

During the Top Chef Bears Tailgate Challenge I noticed all sorts of fancy paper plates and plastic cups. All with Bears logo and colors, of course. I also saw a Weber Grill Football Toss, and I'm pretty sure Dale won this grill:

 

right?

MLB Earth Day: Astros, Giants, Mariners

Today is Earth Day so I'm starting a new category: green.

The Astros are giving away canvas shopping bags and green caps today (players will wear the same). The SFGiants are not home today but everyone already knows they're the first team with a solar-powered scoreboard, right? Plus, they gave away reusable shopping bags last week.

And the Mariners are going Carbon-Neutral today (which means they will offset the global-warming impact of energy used at Safeco Field during the game).

MLB Global Warming Impacts Include:

*Emissions associated with electricity and natural gas used to operate the ballparks.
* Disposal or recycling of waste generated during the game.
* Air travel emissions for both teams and umpires for the game.
* Hotel-related emissions visiting teams and the umpires.
* Ground travel to and from the ballpark by staff and fans.

Are other teams dropping the ball here or are their plans a secret?

NBA Playoff Schedule (and Game 1 results)

CELTICS V. HAWKS
Game 1: Celtics, 104-81
Tomorrow: at Boston, 8p
Saturday: at Atlanta, 8p
Monday: at Atlanta, 8p
*April 30: at Boston, TBA
*May 2: at Atlanta, TBA
*May 4: at Boston, TBA

PISTONS V. 76ERS
Game 1: 76ers, 90-86
Tomorrow: at Detroit, 7:30p
Friday: at Philadelphia, 7p
Sunday: at Philadelphia, 7p
*April 29: at Detroit, TBA
*May 1: at Philadelphia, TBA
*May 3: at Detroit, TBA

MAGIC V. RAPTORS
Game 1: Magic, 114-100
Today: at Orlando, 7:30p
Thursday: at Toronto, 7:30p
Saturday: at Toronto, 3p
*Monday: at Orlando, 7:30p
*May 1: at Toronto, TBA
*May 3: at Orlando, TBA

CAVALIERS V. WIZARDS
Game 1: Cavs, 93-86
Game 2: Cavs 116-86
Thursday: at Washington, 8p
Sunday: at Washington, 1p
*April 30: at Cleveland, TBA
*May 2: at Washington, TBA
*May 4: at Cleveland, TBA

LAKERS V. NUGGETS
Game 1: Lakers, 128-114
Tomorrow: at L.A., 10:30p
Saturday: at Denver, 5:30p
Monday: at Denver, 10:30p
*April 30: at L.A., TBA
*May 2: at Denver, TBA
*May 4: at Los Angeles, TBA

HORNETS V. MAVERICKS
Game 1: Hornets, 104-92
Today: at New Orleans, 7p
Friday: at Dallas, 8p
Sunday: at Dallas, 9:30p
*April 29: at N.O., TBA
*May 1: at Dallas, TBA
*May 3: at N.O., TBA

SPURS V. SUNS
Game 1: Spurs, 117-115
Today: at S.A., 9:30p
Friday: at Phoenix, 10:30p
Sunday: at Phoenix, 3:30p
*April 29: at S.A., TBA
*May 1: at Phoenix, TBA
*May 3: at S.A., TBA

ROCKETS V. JAZZ
Game 1: Jazz, 93-82
Game 2: Jazz, 90-84
Thursday: at Utah, 10:30p
Saturday: at Utah, 10:30p
*April 29: at Houston, TBA
*May 2: at Utah, TBA
*May 4: at Houston, TBA

*If Necessary