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.

New Food at MLB Cardinals Games, Busch Stadium

The Cardinals Home Opener is Monday April 12th, two days after Busch Stadium turns four. Happy Birthday in advance you 46,000 seat ballpark. So what's new for 2010? 

Mama Toscano’s Toasted Ravioli (a St. Louis original since 1910) - bite-size, stuffed with beef, cheese and veg, tossed with garlic olive oil, served in a brown paper bag, with parmesan and marinara.
Available at Dizzy’s Diner locations (within sections 139, 161 and 446) and section 271.

St Louis BBQ Bacon Dog - bacon-wrapped jalapeño dog served with baked beans, pickles, tobacco onions and sweet St. Louis-style barbecue sauce.
Available as part of the Redbird Club’s Sandwich Showdown - Local Food v. sandwich inspired by the opposing team. If popular, the St Louis BBQ Bacon Dog may be expanded throughout the ballpark.

King Cotton Encased Meat in Memphis Triple-A

This spring, King Cotton (75is year old Memphis-based meat producer) was named the official hot dog of the Memphis Redbirds.

In addition to its signature hot dog, King Cotton serves other meat products, including corn dogs and smoked sausage, at the game.

"Based on every indication so far, it looks like this will be a long-time relationship," said Pete Rizzo, Redbirds executive vice president of corporate sales, not to me.

The company expects to serve more than 30,000 pounds of King Cotton meat products during the 2009 season.

Thoughts on calling a hot dog a "ripper"?

All Star Game, and Memphis Redbirds

You know why I'm talking about the Redbirds and the All Star Game (and the Home Run Derby, etc) in the same headline, don't you? Hint: this picture was taken in Memphis.

Circle B Smoked Sausage in Memphis

"Circle B smoked sausage is a hometown favorite in Memphis. Just like our BBQ, it’s destined to become famous around the country."

Does this mean anything to you? If so, please write in so we can discuss.

Bud Light T-shirt Night in St Louis (at a Cardinals game)

Tomorrow (Monday 5/18) is Bud Light T-Shirt Night at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals are playing the Brewers. I like to think there's a connection to the promotion - Bud v Miller. I think I'm right. The T-shirt is for fans 21 and older, and there's only 25,000 of 'em, and I am sure they fit perfectly.

How am I going to get to St. Louis this year? Their 'new' ballpark is three years old (older than Scoreboard Gourmet, but, still). I need to get out there. Help me.

El Birdos Gourmet Nachos at St Louis Cardinals Games

Can you believe the football Cardinals come up higher than the baseball Cardinals in search engines. Wowzah. That is not how my brain works.
I am dying to get some El Birdos Nachos because I still think it's a great name. Are they good? Hello people of St Louis, you know I know who some of you are, talk to me about the nachos.

Cardinals Home Opener April 6th v Pirates at 315p.

Food Discounts / Value Meals at Tigers, Reds, Padres, Indians, Cardinals, Brewers Games

Too Long Headlines are the best. Value Meals will be available this season in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium, the Cleveland Indians’ Progressive Field, the San Diego Padres’ PETCO Park and the Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park. Thank you, Sportservice. Each ballpark / team has their own combination of three or four food items. At Rangers Ballpark, for example, the Value Meal consists of a hotdog, soda and either potato chips or fries. In one package at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, you get a hot dog, bag of peanuts, a soft pretzel with cheese and a cookie. And nothing goes better with a hot dog than a soft pretzel with cheese. gag.

Carraba's for Spring Training and Regular Season too

I had no idea Carraba's was so big. TFMJ and I have seen Carraba's signs all over Florida. Once, a few years ago, we attempted to go to one but ended up at something like Bennigan's. I believe that happened because everything else was closed. It made me think Carraba's was Bennigan's. But it's not.

While sitting at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, we noticed a Carraba's sign and discussed eating there. Overhearing, a woman in front of us turned around to let us know how much she likes the restaurant. We were intrigued, but went to the Crab Houseinstead, hoping to rekindle an old memory of mine about a Jupiter fish house. That didn't happen. What did happen is we had a waiter who'd been in a fight with a pit bull (literally) and I got mushrooms stuffed with crab. They might have been good. I'll never know because there was a blanket of tasteless white cheese over the top. Why? What a waste. And who buys/eats cheese like that? It's disgusting. I'm off track. TFMJ and I shared fish+chips (good if you like your fish in frozen stick form) and talked about Carraba's.

The next night TFMJ's cousin, with no prompting from us, picked-up take out. If you can't guess from where, we will likely never be friends. My pizza was pretty great, even a few hours later unheated. Chicken Parm and pasta also good, but it was in incredible lentil soup (a side) that captured our hearts. Very brothy (for lentil) with sausage crumbled in. DEElicious. I ate half of TFMJ's and half of his cousin's. Thank you guys for sharing.

Carraba's, we will return. You are everywhere. 32 locations in Florida, including the Tampa Airport. 7 locations in Arizona. They're even in New York's triple-A towns: Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse. Wow.

Who else likes this chain? Anyone dislike? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Roger Dean Stadium Concessions Map

Everyone knows I am a big fan of Delaware North / Sportservice. It's immediately apparent when they run a a stadium, and Roger Dean in Jupiter (that's Cardinals and Marlins) is no exception.

What's unique about Roger Dean is the splitting of affiliations. Left Field is completely devoted to the Marlins:

and Right Field is all about the Cardinals:   Same food in each of these 'grill' locations, and on each side of the ballpark. More about that later. Spring Training tickets still on sale; when the team play each other they take turns being 'home' but don't switch dugouts.

Smoked Corn in Jupiter (Cardinals / Marlins Spring Training)

We saw the sign for Smoked Corn. We were curious. We bought an ear. $4. We took it to our seats. We peeled back the husk. The kernels were half burnt in the sort of way that deflates and dehydrates the meat. We bit at the other side. It wasn't bad. Smoky. Probably would have been better if the corn was fat. Let's discuss.

Marlins and Cardinals Spring Training Tickets still on sale. Roger Dean is a nice stadium. Have more pictures. You?