Scoreboard Gourmet

Scoreboard Gourmet I Still Love You

It's a new year. The Giants stopped caring about their season in the fall and the Jets are two games away from the SuperBowl (no, I'm not actually that confident). Tony G's risky Minneapolis airplane ticket purchase has high reward. I went to my first hockey game in years and my second is a few weeks away. UConn had a devastating loss to Georgetown. Wes Welker watched the last game of his season. Jayson Williams is going to prison. Spring Training postcards, pamphlets and calendars arrive in my mailbox daily (Twins Postgame Grapefruit Giveaway 3/5; single game tickets on sale 1/16). The Knicks are "suddenly competitive."
What I'm trying to say here is, I have a runny nose. I'm not exactly sick but I need tissues all day long. Scoreboard Gourmet, I still love you. We're nearing the Super Bowl, the most important snack-purchasing day of the entire year, (the second most important snack-purchasing day is the Saturday before the game, which you'd think was the most important but, apparently, many party-hosts seriously procrastinate.)

Speaking of SuperBowl Sunday, the Supervalu inaugural Snack Down Survey found nearly 40 percent of fans associating a special food or snack tradition preference with their favorite NFL or college football team, including:

—In Philadelphia, football fans named Philly cheese steaks as their top game-day snack tradition
—Chicago gridiron fans cited Chicago-style hot dogs and Chicago deep-dish pizza among their special traditions
—In Boston, New England clam chowder and Boston baked beans made area fans’ list of snack traditions
—Cincinnati fans’ quintessential game-day snack food is Skyline or Cincinnati-style chili
—In Baltimore and Washington, D.C. chicken wings tied with chips or other salty snacks as the No. 1 game-day snack. Baltimore fans also unsurprisingly listed crab among their special snack traditions
—In Boise, Idaho potatoes — baked and loaded — naturally made fans’ lineup of special football game-day snack traditions
—In Boston, about 38% of male football fans plan to watch one or more of the NFL playoff games or the Super Bowl at a bar or restaurant this year, vs. only 14% of women. Male gridiron fans in Boston believe they consume more calories at a Super Bowl party (24%) than at a Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa celebration (17%).

In other news, it's quite likely that Scoreboard Gourmet is going to return to its starting point and focus solely on sports-travel-eating. We shall see. And now, my nose. 

Playoffs at the Metrodome

This Sunday (tomorrow) the Twins are hosting the Yankees in game 3 of the ALDS. Will this be the last Twins game at the Metrodome? Possibly. Check out ScoreboardGourmet's Twins/Metrodome coverage so you know what you're getting into for this moment. Think this series will return to NYC? Maybe when pigs fly. Ha. That's a sign from Jimmy John's, Minneapolis sandwich shop. I'm clever this morning, in between being irate (hate hate hate Verizon).

Yankees and Twins sunflower seeds Playoff snacks

What I'm taking to the game, not in a backpack of course

Dome Dog (Twins/Vikings) Tattoo

Thanks to Metsgrrl for telling me about this photo:

Only 8 Twins games left at the Metrodome!

Twins Like 'Em Fat: All You Can Eat

I like how I'm copying the clip-art-like AYCE logo. I really need to take some art/design classes. Until that happens, let's talk about the Twins. For three more games this season (8/25 Orioles, 9/1 White Sox, 9/15 Indians), $34 gets you a Metrodome Upper Club seat (sections 232 & 233) and all the "Field Fare" you can eat (that's hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, soft pretzels, fountain soda, and water; you can get two at a time). Bring 24+ friends and that price goes down to $30. AYCE does Not include beer, ice cream or candy, but those items are sold nearby. AYCE ends at 9pm. When You buy tickets, use this code: AYCE.

p.s. speaking of the Metrodome, Farve is a Viking.

Joe Mauer Scott van Pelt lunch-commercial

This old sportscenter commercial has been running frequently but I still can't figure out what Mauer is eating. Tuna on white with lettuce?

More About Murrays Silver Butter Knife Steak

Yes I'm still stuck in Minneapolis. Cuddyer did just hit for the cycle; it's not like that town is short on interesting news. Anyway, I'm reinstating the Guest Post portion of the site, thanks to my friend, a writer, Tony G, who lo+ves him a nonchewy steak...

It was a few years ago and I was visiting the Twin Cities to witness the Vikings lose to the Green Bay Packers, an event that was something like getting shot with a nail gun. On my way into downtown Minneapolis, in a December snowstorm, I had asked the cab driver, an old codger, which restaurant served the best steak in town. He seemed like he had eaten a few, back when his teeth were in working order. Or even lived in his mouth full-time.
He didn’t pause before saying, “Murrays on Fifth” and proceeded to tell me about the time he drove a limo and deposited the Rat Pack (Frank, Dino, Sammy and Joey) there some thirty years earlier. Apparently, Murrays, a local institution for over fifty years, was the go-to place for hipsters back in the day, and remains the secret spot for local athletes. And Prince. Seriously.
“But what about the steak?” I enquired. I hate hipsters, after all. He then told me about steak so tender you could actually cut it with a butter knife. It was called the “Silver Butter Knife Steak.” Oh dear. I can barely remember saying, “Take me there,” through the haze of expectation mixed with a little drool.

My first visit, and every one since, has been an orgiastic event of ordering and eating. Some highlights: the spaetzle mac-and-cheese, fried walleye cheeks and shrimp wrapped in bacon, sautéed in barbecue sauce. The bread they provide on the table appears to have been dipped in butter, seasoned and baked.
Murrays offers the requisite pork chops and other steakhouse fare like tuna and swordfish. But, listen; if you aren’t going for the steak, you are a fool. Carved tableside, the steak sits atop a platter of sizzling butter and is perfectly seasoned. And true to its Midwestern roots, the portions are somewhere just beyond enormous.
One quibble I did have with Murrays is that the name ‘Silver Butter Knife Steak’ is misleading.
You can actually cut it with a fork.

-Tony G.

Metrodome Walkaway Sundaes

Lipgloss & Baseball Jen told me about the sundaes at the Metrodome even before I got on the plane. Ice Cream, Brats, and the Twins, some of the things she loves (that's not a quote; it's an observation). But she didn't tell me that They Make the Cones On-Premise (Jen, did you know that? isn't that cool?).

Here's the breakdown of the Walkaway Sunday: Vanilla, Hot Fudge, Whipped Cream, Cherry, in homemade Cone; $5.

Maybe we should rename it the Walkoff Two-Run Single Sundae, just for this weekend (Or the Inside the Park Homerun Sundae). Hee hee. Twins at Yankees 1:05pm, not considering possible rain.

Vitamin Water Sync at the Metrodome

You know I'm a pretty big fan of Rescue Vitamin Water (that's the green tea one and it's surprisingly hard to find). And I'm an even bigger fan of non-soda, non-alcohol options at sports events (also surprisingly hard to find). The Metrodome has an answer: 4 types of Vitamin Water (Centerplate told me these 4 are NCAA approved, but I'm not sure about that).

Anyway, can you believe I had to go all the way to Minneapolis to get my first taste of Sync? It's fruit-punchy. Dear Vitamin Water, I would be your biggest fan ever if you weren't lying to us about Youknowwhat.

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).

Murray's in Minneapolis

You know how I sometimes make new friends who are Mets fans and writers? It's happening alot this year.

My newest Metsfanwriter friend is named Tony. He's also a Vikings fan, and Minneapolis fan. Tony says the Best Restaurant In The Country is Murray's. And when I think who best to identify great restaurants, I think Vikings fans. I'm funny today.

Seriously, though, I'm asking Tony to write a little review for us. Two reviews, actually. One Before football starts, and One After a game he attends this season. He's going to two.

Tony, you in?

Murray's
26 S 6th St
Minneapolis, MN

Apparently I am Never going to stop talking about this town.