Scoreboard Gourmet

Kosher Playoffs at Yankee Stadium

...and World Series too, thanks to Rabbi Naftali Marrus, who coordinates Restaurants and Catering for the OK Kosher Certification. In case you're wondering, I got this information from a little rag called Kosher Today. Anyhoo, Rabbi Marrus and a team of six mashgichim will busy certifying the four glatt kosher stands at Yankee Stadium.

In an interview in OK Spirit, Rabbi Marrus describes the tedious work that went into arranging for the kosher fare: “To ensure that kosher food and equipment would be completely segregated, a lot of work went into how to best set everything up and how to comply with Yankee protocol – which actually enhanced the kosher program!”

Yankee Stadium's kosher food is prepared by Ouri Nidam of Ouri’s Sports Kosher Catering, which is under OK supervision. In addition to the four stands, kosher food is also supplied to the Legends section.

Free Hot Dogs at Tonight's Mets Game

Oh, Mets. Giving away hot dogs to get people to the game. Why don't you do tennis fans a favor and stay off the 7-train tonight?

Nathan's will be giving away one free hot dog to all fans attending tonight's 7:10 game against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field. Fans will receive a coupon that can be redeemed at any concession stand selling Nathan's "The Original" Beef Frankfurter or Nathan's World Famous Beef Hot Dog.

Mets made a Citi Field Food Concessions Map

Just in time for the end of the season when absolutely no one is going to the Mets games. Save this link to the Citi Field Food Map for next year.

What to Wear to a Baseball Game

Not sure if you've heard about this but there's a baseball team in NYC called the Mets. I'm hilarious when I can't sleep and have a headache. These days people are so interested in Citi Field's Acela Club restaurant that SG has fallen in the search rankings. That's sad. What's sadder is that I discovered this situation while bragging to someone about being both the #2 and #3. I was. Really. Right up until I actually ate there. Now DC's Verizon Center (Wizards, Capitals, Mystics (WNBA), and Hoyas) is on top of me because apparently baseball season is over. All this happened about two minutes before I decided Colorado was part of the Big Ten. And Mizzou too. And, obviously, Nebraska. When I'm on, I'm on. BTW, Levy's running the Verizon Center Acela Club show (it's Aramark in Queens) and I notice the menu includes Oven Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken. Sound Familiar?

Back to the intended point of this post. The other day my friend Caryn, the great MetsGrrl, responded to an allegedly burning question: What to Wear to a Baseball Game?. She rounded up some of us girls with blogs with balls and ran a comprehensive answer. If you haven't already clicked away to read it, do it now (link above). It's a good distraction from things like Mr Met coming in to play First Base. I really am hilarious.

Acela Club Dessert Menu

Since I know people are flocking to Citi Field, I figured you'd want to know about the dessert menu in the Acela Club. Each one is $8:

-Tiramisu
-Eclair with Fresh Berries
-Passion Fruit & Coconut Napoleon
-Raspberry Creme Brulee Tart
-'Almondine' Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Cake (contains nuts, which maybe is why Almondine is in single quotes? or maybe it's from that excellent bakery? have to find out)
-Selection of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream & Sorbet ($6)

Acela Club Chicken, the best item we sampled

Here it is, Citi Field's Acela Club's Best Food: Spit Roasted Lemon & Herb Chicken with chimichurri sauce and arugula. 

I don't know the science here, but bone-in chicken is much harder to mess up (dry out) than boneless. Moisture from bone marrow seeps in? Did I just make that up? Roasting, spit-roasting is slow so you lose less moisture. That I know, but I don't know why. Yet another example of focus on the wrong things in high school science.

Anyway, get the chicken. It's moist and salty (ooh, that would keep moisture in too!) and unquestionably our favorite entree on the Acela Club menu. 

 

Acela Club Pierogi, the worst item we sampled

You asked me...What's the worst thing to eat at Citi Field's Acela Club?
So I'm answering...Potato Pierogie with Onion Sour Cream

"It's everything that a pierogi isn't," said one of my dining companions, returning his to the share plate (icky!).

That said, they were small dough envelopes filled with mashed potato, crimped to seal the edge and then boiled or fried, served with sour cream / onions (thank you, dictionary.com), but they were not good. At all. Good would mean light and tasty. These tasted like heaviness, and starch, and oil, and onion soup mix (the sour cream).

And what's up with the menu spelling? I'm no speller but I believe the "e" comes into play when the word is plural: pie·ro·gi also pi·ro·gi  (pĭ-rō'gē) 

n.   pl. pierogi or pie·ro·gies also pirogi or pi·ro·gies

You also asked me...What's the best thing to eat at Citi Field's Acela Club?
Give me a moment to scribble via keyboard.
My life is so Mets-heavy these days I think I'm going to Amazin' Tuesday tonight. Sheesh.

Another Game at Citi Field

According to some SG field reporters, this mess was created by two gentleman, both of whom chased their meal (and Bud bottles) with Pepto, then ran to the restroom, the events taking place within the first three innings of Mets/Phillies at Citi Field. Delicious.

Who Can Get into Citi Field Acela Club?

Just because you may be able to sneak past (or cajole) the security guards, does not mean you will make it into the Acela Club without proper ticketing. They're checking at the door. In addition to a reservation, You need to have a Club level seat, or better. This is another good reason to check out the options at Stub Hub where tickets are selling cheap. The other day SG saw $90 Delta sky360 seats. Dang. 

Acela Club Prices

A favorite question of readers about to be answered: How much does it cost to eat dinner in the Acela Club at Citi Field? Well, we've already discussed the base $48 ($25 for kids 10 and under). So that's your starting point. 

On the summer menu two entrees have $5 supplements (grilled kobe flat iron steak, rosemary rubbed prime rib). Vegetables and Sides are also $5 (fries, cornbread, pierogie, haricots).

And then there's the drink. Specialty cocktails $11 (le grand orange: grand marnier, tanqueray, tonic, muddled orange, great word for the team, eh?), Beer $6.25-7.50 (Bud, Brooklyn, Hennepin, others), Wine $9-14 by the glass, $34+ bottles.

What does that mean for Scoreboard Gourmet and company? We got out for $100 each including tip (first round of drinks bought at bar). I believe that included a $10 per person Patio fee, but don't have the receipt to confirm.
Note we did not have any of the $8 desserts, and we weren't offered the blue+orange macaroons. Actually, I did get a two-pack before sitting down, after a waiter noticed me taking a picture, but I forgot about them and crushed them in my bag. The point being none were offered to the table post-meal. 

Acela Club: only place in Citi Field to get beer after the 7th inning.

That is (was) a Brooklyn Pennant Ale.