Scoreboard Gourmet

Meat Sandwiches at Mariners Games

Neither TFMJ nor his sister can identify this meat (maybe beef bbq?), but they both remember it was "in alot of sauce." Wonderful endorsement, huh? Let's stick with the chocolate-covered strawberries while at Safeco.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries at Safeco Field

If you see Chocolate Covered Strawberries, even if it's not dark chocolate, and as long as its not winter, grab them. TFMJ tells us they walk around Mariners games with these skewers like passed hors d'eouvres. How cool is that? Very.

Hot Dog at Safeco Field

You know you've spent an inordinate amount of time with Scoreboard Gourmet when you send in a picture as amazing as this one. Thank you, TFMJ. Notice how he got the three Sierra Nevada mustards in there. I love mustard! And look at that perfect hot dog, with tons of kraut. I'm starving. This is exciting. 

This is Seattle, by the way. Reporting from a Mariners game. Regular hot dogs at Safeco Field are $4.50, and TFMJ says they are snappy and good. 

Ivar's Seafood and Chowder, Seattle Mariners

Thank you, TFMJ, for your thorough fieldwork. Yes, folks, we actually honored our separation and he went to a game (and a new city) without me. But he was thinking of me the whole time. I'm funny. He was thinking of Scoreboard Gourmet, as you will see in my upcoming posts.

Here's the first: Ivar's at Safeco Field. Highly popular food concession for Mariners fans. Regular readers will know that neither seafood nor chowder appeal to TFMJ. In fact, his distance from this stand (pictured) is as close as he will ever get (though he does enjoy fish&chips), which means I need You to write in and let me know what's good at Ivar's and how the Safeco fare compares to what you get in the restaurants. 

It can't be too bad considering there are six locations at Safeco, and Ivar's is in other Seattle Sports Venues too. 

Original restaurant location:
Ivar's Acres of Clams
Pier 54, 1001 Alaskan Way
Seattle, WA
206-624-6852

Yankees Food Poll: Hot Dogs Big Winner

Thank you, TFMJ, for alerting me to the Food Poll the YES Network conducted at the 4th of July game. Results:

Cotton Candy – 7%
Cracker Jacks – 9%
Hot Dogs – 56%
Ice Cream – 19%
Peanuts – 9%

trailblazers play here

What in tarnation does this mean:

Like many new places there is plenty to eat and drink here. Unlike any places we've seen, here at the Rose Garden they use monitors to show the menu at most concession stands. Those backlit concession menu panels are old style here in Portland.

Holy cow. I thought I was on the Trailblazers site when I read that. I wasn't. Not that the Trailblazers site is any more informative. Isn't it May? Shouldn't I worry about this in the fall? Yes. But I'll dig around anyway. Just for You all.

Pacific Northwest, by TFMJ

TFMJ has graciously offered to report on food and sports in Oregon and Washington this weekend. I thought that meant he was going to a Mariners game. But it means he's attempting to crash my phone with large lovely pictures of the Pacific Northwest.

Minnesota Carvery at the Metrodome

When I hear "carvery" I think Ireland, but this $7.75 Hand Carved Sandwich Platter was made for me at the Metrodome. As you can see, it comes with Caesar Salad. TFMJ Loves Caesar.

The stand is called Minnesota Carvery. It's always open on the Field Level. On weekends and when there's a big sellout (25,000+ fans) there's a Carvery on the 2nd level too. Choices: Roast Beef (pictured) or Turkey on an egg bun with salad and a pickle. Or, you can skip the bun and get extra salad, also $7.75.

I added horseradish sauce; more creamy than biting. Verdict: enjoyed it (though meat wasn't exactly buttery it was flavorful and easy to chew). Did not need the pickle. This is a great share meal (so you can leave room for, oh, brats, dogs, mini doughnuts, and Walkaway Sundaes, to start).

Brewers to Twins via Cheese Country

Nothing spells (smells?) TrOubLe like me and TFMJ in a cross-state carride with cheese stops, but how can we resist. Sure driving from Milwaukee to Minneapolis takes longer and is considerably more expensive than flying, and sure it's guaranteed nonstop bickering, but The Cheese! Did you know 1 of every 4 pounds of cheese sold in the U.S. was produced in Wisconsin?

In preparation for the trip, and because I was borrowing his car, I gave TFMJ some cheese from Uplands (dairy farm cheese place about an hour west of Madison, WI).
"This tastes like a cross between gruyere and cheddar," said TMFJ of the Pleasant Ridge Reserve.
"Are you just saying that so I'll be nice to you this weekend?" I asked, because he's right, which is incredible. He knows exactly what to say to make me like him. Imagine if he did it all the time.

The larger point is: Road Trip Weekend. Brewers v Royals and Twins v Diamondbacks. That means Miller, Pabst, sausage, tailgating in Milawaukee, exploring the Madison Farmer's Market, cheese!, dinner TBD in Minneapolis, and the Metrodome.

Stay tuned...

the Real Mike Jacobs: met, marlin, royal, rockstar

Once upon a time I was in a bar (have you heard this one?). I believe it was August 2005. Neil Diamond was singing to a crowd at Madison Square Garden. A man named Mike Jacobs was at the concert. I, as I said, was in a bar. I was just returning from the bathroom when I noticed the words "Mike Jacobs" on the TV, on the Mets game.

It's hard for me to believe I knew how to text four years ago, but I am sure I sent a text to the Neil Diamond fan saying: "Some guy named Mike Jacobs is either pitching, or batting for the Mets right now."
To which he responded: "Not possible. Someone would have told me."
To which I responded: "I'm telling you right now."

He continued to disbelieve me, and he's pretty convincing so I started to disbelieve myself (quantities of drink help)...until I saw the words again on the TV.

Text: "Seriously there's a guy on the Mets named Mike Jacobs."
Reply: "No."

It should not be hard for you, dear reader, knowing what you now know, to understand why the Mike Jacobs who has been my baseball partner for four seasons came to be known TFMJ (The Fake Mike Jacobs) and that not so spectacular Met-Marlin-Royal got to be Real.

And now it seems I am not the only one who needs to differentiate between these two Mike Jacobs. Check out Joe Posnanski's article in Sports Illustrated: The Curious Case of Mike Jacobs, My New Favorite Royal.

I love it.

Waste at Yankee Stadium

TFMJ is really into anything "26" (and hopes this is the last year of it) but even he agrees that these heavy "trays" are too much. This is some seriously thick, heavy cardboard in case you want to carry your hot dog and drink from the concession stand at Yankee Stadium to your grandmother's house in Boca, and you're walking, in the rain.

Why so much waste, Yankees?

And, speaking of, I asked a trash guy if anyone was recycling or in any way abiding by the separate trash cans (trash, compost, plastic) and he laughed. Come on! Aren't Yankees fans the elite whatever people? Doesn't that make us the ones who care about the environment? Let's attempt to be green. Earth Day is coming up.