Spring food training

Mariners, Centerplate, and Ethan Stowell partnership continues

When baseball season arrives, foodies everywhere rejoice-they probably love baseball, but it's really about what's new food-wise at Safeco Field. Each year something new arrives, some favorites stay on, and they're obligated to try everything. Obligated!

New restaurant concepts coming on this year are Ballard Pizza Company, Bramling Cross, Great State Burger, and Uptown China, and all are offering some delicious options. The following four concepts will be in The 'Pen, the spot for signature concessions and socializing.

Ballard Pizza Company. Pizza by the slice: cheese, pepperoni, funghi-seasonal fresh mushrooms and thyme, ham and pineapple, salsiccia-Italian sausage, fennel, fennel pollen, on New York thin crust.

Dynamite Chicken. This comes from Bramling Cross; the chicken is buttermilk-marinated and fried. Hot wings with honey-chili sauce, Taylor Shellfish oysters with Frank's RedHot sauce, pickle fries (we're saying now DON'T TRY THESE-you'll never eat anything else-photo), spicy tater tots.

Great State Burger. It's the classic American burger only better: organically-raised beef, single or double patty, with or without cheese. They will also offer their organic grains and seasonal vegetables veggie burger (photo), crinkle cut fries, and organic chocolate, strawberry, or chocolate milkshakes. Josh Henderson's favorite shake is the strawberry-it's worth checking out!

Poquitos. Street tacos take over at Edgar's Cantina and Edgar's Tacos (chicken, beef, pork) on hand-made corn tortillas. There will also be seasonal margaritas and Oaxacan chapulines (toasted grasshoppers with chile-lime salt seasoning (you have to cover them with something, right?). Both locations will still be known as Edgar's.

The Intentional Wok on the main level will be taken over by Uptown China. Look for classic Asian combos like beef and broccoli, General Tso's chicken, Kung Pao chicken, Mongolian beef, sweet and sour pork, fried rice, hot and sour soup, bubble tea, and giant Mariners fortune cookies (combo photo)

Safeco's Third Base Terrace Club Lounge will now be known as Heritage Distilling Co. BSB Lounge. This Gig Harbor distillery will offer their award-winning spirits, including their signature BSB (brown sugar bourbon).

Rita's Italian Ice is new this year and will offer made-fresh daily frozen ices, gelati (Italian ice layered with frozen custard), Misto shakes (Italian ice blended with frozen custard), frozen custard cups, cones (regular and waffle) and sundaes, as well as frozen custard cookie sandwiches. Find them at five locations throughout the ballpark on the Main and View Levels.

A new concept for the Main Level is Frozen Rope Sandwich Company that will offer made-to-order ice cream sandwiches. Hope's gourmet cookies, house-made brownies, hand-scooped Snoqualmie Valley or Lopez Island Creamery ice cream, rolled in toppings (mini M&Ms, Fruity Pebbles, nuts, chocolate sprinkles). Root beer floats for the kids and hard root beer floats for the adults.

Fletcher's will be serving the all-beef frank recipe that was served from 1990-1999 at the Kingdome.

CB's Nuts is back roasting peanuts in the shell on site in a 100-year-old roaster (photo).

Hop Valley Brewing of Springfield, Oregon, will bring its IPAs, ales, and lagers to Safeco Field at a new location down the left field line on the Main Level.

Columbia Winery is the new "house" wine; red and white available at concession stands, clubs, and restaurants. Beringer Founders' Estate Wines will offer fine wines at 1^st Base Vine. A selection of varietals by the glass and full-bottle carafe.

As Ethan reminds us, they are offering popular and engaging items in a 45,000-seat restaurant with everyone being served in a four-hour period. The Mariners are very supportive of maintaining this quality. "I get the accolades, but I'm the least deserving person," he says. Well, someone should be thanked.

Next time you head to the ballpark, come hungry.

April 2017