Dodgers Spring Training - Day 1

Aloha ~

Today was the first of three games that we will be attending on our Spring Training Mini-Pack. What better way to spend St Patty’s Day then with the boys in Blue---or in this case Green.

The Dodgers make a big celebration out of St. Patty’s Day. They put on the green uniforms and have green shirts and hats for the fans to purchase. I, of course, got mine.

My new shirt and hat

and from the back

They encourage the fans to get into the spirit of the season. Some fans are a little more spirited than others. It took me a couple of tries to get a picture of the leprechauns. They don’t usually like to be photographed on account of I might try to steal their pot of gold.

Me Lucky Charms

Obviously, all the green brought good fortune and a beautiful day at Camelback Ranch Baseball Facility in Glendale, AZ.

Great crowd for Spring Training...8,743 tickets sold

The View from our seats

The day was made even better when the boys in Green won, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 11-1. What a great way to start.

Cheering for the team really builds up an appetite so afterward we decided to head up to Scottsdale to Pinnacle Peak Patio Steak House. We were not disappointed.

When you drive up, it looks like an old western town just out of the movies. It is a huge facility. According to their website they can seat 1,800 people. During the summer months when the patio is open the number goes to 2,000. That’s a lot of food to be serving --- and serving well.

 The Sign Says It All 

This is one of those great places that play by its own rules. One of the rules is that if you wear a tie into the restaurant, it will be cut off. Evidence of this is found by looking up…

 Tie Anyone?

The theme is carried out throughout the restaurant. When asked where the restrooms were so we could wash up before dinner, we were told to simply follow the horseshoes.

Follow the Trail

Upon first walking into the restroom, I thought all of the stalls were taken. (In a way they were.)

Sorry to disturb. I will just go wait over here...

I just love how they have truly embraced the old west feel and run with it throughout the building. If you are someone who loves old west memorabilia, you could spend hours in there just looking at the decorations.

The menus is relatively simple…mostly steaks! They do have chicken and salmon but as the saying goes “When in Rome…”

I decided to go for the Baby Back Half Combo---a half rack of baby back ribs and a steak. I am so glad that I did. The steak was so tender and full of flavor. It practically melted in my mouth. The baby backs were done to perfection, falling off the bone. Their barbecue sauce is described as a “spicey-sweet/prickly pear chipotle”. It was very good.

 Doesn't that look yummy?

And don’t forget the dessert. We shared the Apple Pie A La Mode (Dan would not move it away from him so I could get a clear shot at a picture) and the Cowpie---warm brownie topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

 There may have been some fighting over this one

It is a wonder we were able to walk to the car after all the food. There was so much of it but it was so good. All four of us went in ordering big thinking we would take some back with us for lunch tomorrow. Only one of us actually stuck to that. The other three of us ate until we just couldn’t do it anymore. But it was just too good to leave on the plate. Oh well, food coma is not fatal---although it may feel that way at times.

I will definitely be adding this place to my list of restaurants when I am in the Phoenix area. Great atmosphere and great food. How could you go wrong?

Oh, I plan to!

Well tomorrow is another day and another game.

Until the next time…