Scoreboard Gourmet

MLB Ballparks Opening Dates

In honor of the Twins new ballpark - Target Field (pictured above and in a lovely album in the middle column) - officially opening tomrrow, Monday April 12th, 2010 when the team takes on the Red Sox at 3:10pm, here's a list of all 30 MLB Ballparks and the year they opened.

MLB Home Openers and New Food

Who is Home today and what can You eat at the game? Game start times are local.

Phillies at NATIONALS - look for the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich (fried chicken breast on a waffle with cayenne maple syrup; photo coming; it's open-faced). 1:05pm

Indians at WHITE SOX - Sarah Willis from Niman Ranch will be in the Stadium Club to talk meat and meet fans. 1:05pm

Blue Jays at RANGERS - take it from a guy who really knows his food+sports, DelawareNorthSportservice's Rick Abramson says Go for the Brisket in Arlington. 1:05pm

Marlins at METS - we've covered that. 1:10pm

America’s Most Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks

For the third consecutive year, Citizens Bank Park (Aramark / Phillies) has been named America’s most vegetarian-friendly ballpark by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Among PETA’s annual list of the best baseball venues for vegetarians, four of the top five, and five of the top 10 spots, as well as two honorable mentions are servied by Aramark (they're in 13 major league ballparks).

Coors Field (Rockies), Turner Field (Braves) and the Minute Maid Park (Astros) ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Oriole Park at Camden Yards earned PETA’s No. 9 ranking. PNC Park in Pittsburgh and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum were honorable mentions.

All You Can Eat at Turner Field

AllYouCanEat, my favorite. At Turner Field the AYCE seats are available in the Golden Moon Casino Pavilion and the Outfield Pavilion near the Chop House Restaurant.
If you're in the Golden Moon Casino Pavilion you get an all-inclusive menu of smoked chicken barbeque sandwich, buffalo chicken wings, all beef franks, baked potato salad, dry roasted salted ballpark peanuts, popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, Coca-Cola soda products, Dasani water and draft beer. Prices for the Golden Moon Casino Pavilion AYCE area range between $65 -$80 depending on the opponent and day of the week.
In the Outfield Pavilion we're talking unlimited hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, French fries, nachos, frozen treats, Coca-Cola soda products (thank you, Atlanta HQ), and water. Prices for the Outfield Pavilion AYCE area range between $45 -$60 depending on the opponent and day of the week.

Chick-fil-A - an Atlanta original circa 1946 - Calorie Count

my best Atlanta friend (who hasn't lived in the southern city for 25 years) just took me to the Atlantic classic Chick-fil-A for a quickie lunch. Clearly it's perfect game food, unless you let it steam itself soft and wet by leaving it in the bag for too long. Don't do that. also, don't go on a Sunday (see below).

I didn't know Chick fil A started in Atlanta, I said, mid Original (breaded, with pickle only) Sandwich.
Yeah, she said, that's why we're all addicted.

We got Side Salads too. They give you "condiments" with the salads and we're pretty sure their calories are not counted in the displayed numbers. Sunflower Kernels come in 1/2 oz packages, have High Fructose Corn Syrup, and are 80 calories. Butter Garlic Croutons are also in 1/2 oz, also have delicious nutritious High Fructose Corn Syrup, and are 60 calories. Add some Berry Balsamic Vinegrette, Reduced Fat, and you're looking at an additional 70 calories if you only use half the package. Buttermilk Ranch is 160 calories, also for half the package so beware.

Last Summer the chicken sandwich chain opened two outlets at Turner Field. One in the club level near section 329 and one in the field level near section 139. Like all other Chick-fil-A locations, the two at Braves games are closed on Sundays.

Atlanta's West Egg restaurant

breakfast all day. garlic grits, biscuit sandwiches, fried green tomato blt with pimento cheese, deviled egg salad, sweet tea, various coffee drinks...all delicious, all available for take out (check your bag), which SG highly recommends if you're on Howell Mill before a game, or this weekend's marathon

1971 Braves Bat Dat and Pimento Cheese in Atlanta

My friend's birthday bat made by hillerich & bradsby co. it says louisville but made in canada. saving it for her boy, and the family pimento cheese recipe too

Burgers before Braves games in Atlanta

Burgers before Braves Flip on howell mill. for best results get the Butcher Cut and tempura asparagus

Florida Spring Training Parking Rates

Braves: Free
Mets: $5
Nats: $5
Orioles: $5
Tigers: $5
Twins: $5
Astros: $7
Cardinals/Marlins: $7
Phillies: $7

Pirates: $7, but no official lot (handwritten signs that clearly could change)
Red Sox: parking lots in front of churches and crackhouses; avg price $7

Reds: $10, or $5 if car has 4+ people in it
Yankees: $10
Blue Jays: Free for season ticket holders; varies for other because no official lot

Rays: ?; surely twice as much for Yankees fans

Saw some Tailgating at Twins. Spring Training Tickets are still on sale. Get down here, and let me know what You ate at the game

state of Florida Spring Training Guide

I forgot to tell you about the great little guide put out by the state of Florida. It has all sorts of important details (not related to food) listed for each team: address, directions, stadium details.

Link.

It's been a year and I still haven't changed the DevilRays to Rays. Ha ha ha. Three Hours to Spring Training!

Turner Field Things to See and Do

The Braves have a list of 101 Things You Need to See and Do at Turner Field. Presumably they mean In Addition to Watching the Game. Here are some of SG's favorites:

5. Watch the game while enjoying a beverage at the Chophouse.
9. Grab a bite to eat in the 755 Club
23. Try the pasta bar on the Golden Moon Casino Level.
36. Sit in the "am/pm All You Can Eat" seats during a game. 
14. Have a pizza delivered to your seat.
52. Eat a Georgia dog.
53. Eat some Dippin' Dots.
54. Tailgate before a Braves game.
61. Eat a funnel cake.
96. Make a picnic and eat in Monument Grove.
99. Try the standing room only high counter tops on the Terrace Level behind home plate.
100. Be a designated driver and get a free soda. 

April 10th is the Braves Home Opener v the Nats. They have two games v the Tigers at Turner Field April 3rd and 4th. Wow am I ahead of myself. Spring Training starts February 26th in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Am I really ignoring the NBA and the NFL? Holy cow I must want winter to end