Safeco Field, Centerplate, Mariners and Ethan Stowell

Spring means baseball and in Seattle at Safeco Field, that means food. It's just our way. The good news is that they're sticking with the locally-sourced/produced products whenever possible, as they've been doing. And they have the largest selection of beer (23 featured breweries, including Seattle Cider Company). There's really no bad news.

Graphic of beer locations, so many!

It's been eight years since Centerplate (Mariners hospitality partner) and Consulting Chef Ethan Stowell have been working together. Restaurant quality food in a ballpark setting, that just can't be bad. They head out, eat at local restaurants, and get new ideas. Ethan and Centerplate Executive Chef Taylor Park and his team make it happen.

New concepts this year come from The Sultan of Sandwich (Main Level, Section 105), Holy Smoke BBQ (Sections 119 and 313), Sound Seafood (Club Level Section 249), On Deck Donuts (Section 136 Hall of Fame area), Trattoria (Club Level 216), Jack's BBQ (The 'Pen), Din Tai Fung (Intentional Wok, Section 132), Rita's Italian Ice (5 locations, Main and View Levels), Juma Ventures (Club Level, Section 214), and even more beverages including Chateau Ste. Michelle's 14 Hands, four varietals by glass or bottle (various locations).

Juma Ventures operates coffee and beverage stands at several locations at Safeco and this year they're adding bubble tea with tapioca pearls. Their program helps low-income and minority high school students prepare for careers by employing them so they learn responsibility, teamwork, and communication skills. Maybe they can take those skills and become Mariners! So far Juma Seattle has employed over 550 kids who have earned more than $1.5 million in wages and saved $220,000 for college through a matched savings program. Drink your bubble tea!

Each year, things change, primarily based on what sells. After all, there's only so much room, and apparently, they have to use the field to play ball or something, so that space is out. According to Paul Pettas, Communications Director for Centerplate, and Executive Chef Taylor Park, they'll even give up some of their food offerings to bring in more local items that people clearly want. Now that's teamwork.

Lobster roll

Another unique thing they do are pre-game meals at a fixed price, like $29, for the ticket and meal. There's a Gluten-Free Night, a Vegan Night, and the ever-popular Sriracha Night. And every game has a 'deal of the day' where a concession item is 50% off. There's also a fireworks night.

If you can't find a reason to get to the ballpark this year, you just aren't trying very hard.

Connie Adams/April 2018