Scoreboard Gourmet

Grub at local stadiums is grub-free, says the NY Daily News

Rich Schapiro has alerted me (and now you) to Jessica Liebman's Foul Ballpark story. Actually, a Scoreboard Gourmet reader sent the DN story to me, and now I'm sharing it with you.

Here's Rich's story: Don't be afraid to eat the hot dogs and pretzels at Yankee and Shea stadiums. They're among the cleanest ballparks in the nation, according to an analysis by Portfolio magazine.
As New York fans watch their beloved teams from near-gleaming stadiums, several teams in the south and west play in ballparks mired in filth.

California-based stadiums have the worst health records, according to an analysis of violations in 2007. The Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland A's "had far more food fouls than any other team," the magazine says in its June issue. "While most were minor, some were, well, disgusting." Angels Stadium racked up a whopping 732 violations last year, including a cockroach infestation in the Stadium Club kitchen last August. There was also a major vermin violation in April that forced the shutdown of a food stand.
The A's McAfee Coliseum reported 493 violations, several of which came from food being exposed to "overhead leakage, dirt, insects, rodents and chemical contamination."

Shea Stadium, on the other hand, had only 58 violations in 2007 – though there was evidence of mice, rats and flying insects found in food areas during a June inspection. Yankee Stadium had an even cleaner record last year. It was cited for a mere 45 violations.

The cleanest of the 11 stadiums analyzed was Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies. It was hit with only 16 violations.

Here's a link to Jessica's story. She says, "in some stadiums, the rats and flies have pretty good seats."

Guess those rat traps (pictured) at Yankee Stadium really work. Enjoy your lunch.

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

Opening Day is a Giant Scam

Um, the Red Sox and A's are going back to Spring Training? What? Why? How was that Japan series Opening Day?
This is so dumb. And we didn't even get to see one single fan in the stands eating anything. We hardly got to see any fans at all.
I'm surly.
Stay away from me until the Real Opening Day: Sunday March 30th at 8:05pm when the Nationals take on the Braves in the new Nationals Park. 

A's v Red Sox - Baseball for Breakfast

Well, breakfast on the East Coast, maybe late-night grub in California, where you should be proud of your A's, so far (2-0 in the 5th). I was hoping to catch some ramen-eating or something, but no such luck. They're hardly showing the crowd - I guess they have no fans to please. I can hear some unusual sound effects for foul balls, etc.

Selig was on, talking about Beijing: "There's no doubt in my mind that people will be saying in five years from now or ten years from now that it all started that weekend with the LA Dodgers."

Baseball's going international. That's cool. Selig's going to push the sport to an international economic forum tomorrow. "The interest here is stunning."

I'm interested too. Imagine a World Series with, well, a world's worth of teams? Awesome.

16 Hours to Opening Day of Baseball!

I can't believe I'm about to quote (a) a Red Sock and (b) someone with a goatee, but Kevin Youkilis said something very cool on his MLB blog about sushi in Japan: "You've got to get as much as you can because you can't find this kind of sushi in the States."

Youkilis has also enjoyed Matsuzaka: "It's actually better than Kobe beef. It's the best beef you can have. I guess Matsuzaka is a city or a region in Japan. No, the beef is not named after Dice-K! But it was very tasty."

I wish I was in Japan eating Matsuzaka beef and sushi.
You know TFMJ and I were supposed to be flying to Miami this weekend to watch a Yankees/Marlins Exhibition Game, right? Well, plane tickets are insane and hotels on the beach are all sold out. What is going on in Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm this weekend? End of Spring Break or something. Anyway, we're too cheap to pony up the airfare.

Anyone want our tickets to the game? Have two Club Seats...

Tokyo Dome - Where and What to Eat

I'm doing my best. I was only in Tokyo once and the Giants were not in town. I did buy a mini glass with the Giants logo that my mom currently uses as a vase for a mini bamboo, but that's about as close as I got to the Tokyo Dome.

Here's something I learned from babibubebo.com: One thing that makes Tokyo Dome worth checking out is food. Especially in the building called LaQua which has a wonderful yakiniku place called Jojoen. It is expensive, but trust me, it is worth it to go one time.

Yakiniku is Japanese BBQ. It literally means "grilled meat." Like Korean BBQ (a fav in my house), raw meat is brought to your table and it's cooked on a little grill, generally built into the table.
Jojoen appears to be a high-end chain.

Other food I believe can be had at the Tokyo Dome: Ramen, Fried Squid and Octopus, Grilled Vegetables, Bento Boxes, Yakitori (my childhood fav Japanese food: grilled chicken on a stick with a sticky brown sauce), Yakiniku (see above), and even Hot Dogs.
Feel free to confirm or deny my assumptions. Arigato.

Red Sox and A's in Japan

The Red Sox and A's landed in Japan today. They both play two exhibition games against Japanese teams on March 22nd and 23rd. Then, on March 25th, they face each other in the regular season opener.
That's the earliest the earliest start in MLB history. That scares me a little. No one wants year-round seasons of any sport, not even this one. The teams also play March 26th, which should give me enough time to find out if their going to ramen shops or tempura bars or what. Anyone know anything about it?

Raley Field Food Rules and Info

Here's some food information for Raley Field, home of the 2007 Pacific Coast League and Triple-A Champion Sacramento RiverCats (triple-A A's):

Pacific Coast League Rules state that guests are not allowed to bring any outside food items into Raley Field. Fans will be allowed to bring in peanuts and/or sunflower seeds only. No Exceptions.

The Sacramento River Cats Food Service Partner, Centerplate Corporation, manages several fixed and portable concession stands at Raley Field. These stands feature traditional ballpark favorites such as hot dogs, peanuts, soda and popcorn. In addition to these favorites, there are specialty items such as grilled vegetarian sandwiches, a variety of Mexican food, pizza, and barbeque specialties. Raley Field also features a varied selection of local micro-brew, import and domestic beer and other alcohol beverages, which may be purchased until the first pitch of the 8th inning. Non-alcohol beverages include a variety of Coca-Cola products, Dasani water, fresh-squeezed lemonade and other refreshing drinks.

In-seat food and beverage service is offered to all Founders Club and Solon Club ticket holders at all River Cats home games. Our servers will take and deliver orders so you will not miss any action on the field. Servers cannot provide service to anyone other than Club seat ticket holders.

Eating away the innings in baseball's cheap seats, by USAToday

USAToday, a newspaper I generally only read when I stay in a hotel, did a piece on all-you-can-eat seats in MLB parks. You know what I think - people need to exercise self-control; need to be responsible for themselves. If AYCE disgusts you, sit somewhere else.

here's the intro. story by Michael McCarthy...

Baseball and gluttony, two of America's favorite pastimes, are merging in a controversial trend taking hold at Major League Baseball stadiums across the nation: all-you-can-eat seats.

Fans in these diet-busting sections, for a fixed price usually ranging from $30 to $55, are able to gorge on as many hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and soft drinks as they can stomach. Some teams charge extra for beer, desserts and candy.

here's a little more...

"What's the old saying? A hot dog at the ballpark is better than a steak at the Ritz," says Dodgers chief marketing officer Charles Steinberg, who won't discuss the precise impact the all-you-can-eat seats have had on team revenue.

Among the clubs with all-you-can-eat seats for the first time this year: the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks. Besides the Dodgers, Rangers and Royals, those offering them for at least part of last season were the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles.

And here's the link to the full story.

Tastiest Ballpark Eats, says Wine X, Part 2

(here's Part 1, if You missed it)

Kansas City Royals
Even if the Royals are cellar-dwellers, you can chow down on some authentic KC barbecue.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Chow down on chicken sausages, grilled chicken sandwiches and veggie sandwiches.

Milwaukee Brewers
Snack on shrimp quesadillas, grilled chicken sandwiches, hand-carved turkey breast hoagies, grilled chicken Caesar salads, BBQ chicken/pork sandwiches, grilled portobello mushroom sandwiches, grilled chicken wraps and bison burgers.

New York Mets
Savor succulent sushi, grilled chicken sandwiches and chicken Caesar salads, then wash it all down with Glen Ellen wines and Red Hook beer.

New York Yankees
The pin-stripers are pretty traditional, but potato knishes are a nice nosh.

Oakland A’s
Get ready for roasted chicken, international sausages, fresh fruit smoothies, herbal teas and 15 different premium beers, including brands like Pyramid, Red Hook and Sierra Nevada.

Philadelphia Phillies
Forgo the cheese steaks and go for grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled zucchini, Cajun fried turkey breast, Rita’s Italian Water Ices and fruit juices.

San Diego Padres
Legend says this was the first Major League ballpark to serve sushi. If you prefer your seafood cooked, go for the tasty fish tacos.

Seattle Mariners
Go fishing for gourmet grub like sushi, salmon burgers, panini sandwiches and Caesar salads.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Florida fans favor sushi, fresh shrimp and lobster rolls. Wash that good grub down with Monterey Vineyard and Sutter Home wines, or microbrews like Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam.

Texas Rangers
Whoop it up with Southwestern chicken Caesar salads, turkey wraps, chicken and beef fajitas, and frozen daiquiris.

Toronto Blue Jays
The sky’s the limit with grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken Caesar salads and pasta salads.

and here's the full article on winexmagazine.com. Thank you, Tina Caputo.