So my friend TI generously gave me a ticket to tonight's Mariners-Royals game. These are teams with records of .420 and .414 respectively, so the game was pretty low stakes. At this point in the season of a losing team, going to the game is all about checking out the kids that have just come up from the minors and enjoying the simple rituals of baseball.
 |
| Safeco Field on a beautiful sunny day, much like today... |
One of my game day rituals has always been to stop at one of the many hot dog vendors along Occidental to nab a brat before going inside Safeco Field. I load that brat up with mustard, ketchup (or catsup, if you prefer), relish and kraut and I chow down on it all the way through security into the park and to my seat. Soon after, I get a beer to wash down all that processed meat product. And perhaps after that, I'll partake in some garlic fries. After nine innings, I can't wait to get the hell out of there and head home to brush my teeth. I also am typically DYING of thirst. It's a bizarre dance of ecstasy and torture that I put myself through pretty much every time I head to Safeco for a ballgame.
 |
| WAH! I'm thirsty and my breath stinks and my team sucks. |
Now it is possible that one of those Occidental vendors carries hot dog products made from locally raised pigs and cows. Not likely, but possible. Upon accepting this ticket, I realized that I'd probably be using one of my freebie non-local meals out, or packing my dinner. So imagine my surprise when I googled "Safeco Field eating local" tonight and saw that the 'Pen got renovated in the off-season and it now features several new concession stands featuring locally grown and locally produced food! Of course, I had to explore.
