Seattle ups its outdoor dining game, Seahawks-style

SEATTLE (AP) – Fed up of the same old, same old pandemic food? Seattle says: game is on.

For a limited time, foodies can enjoy a socially detached alfresco meal at the home of the city’s NFL team, the Seahawks.

The Field to Table dining series kicked off this month at Lumen Field, offering fine dining and a view of the stadium normally reserved for players and coaches.

It’s not cheap, however: the cost is $ 100 per person, plus taxes and a service charge. Drinks are extra too.

What’s included Arrive through the same Seahawks logo steel tunnel the team uses on game day, a seat under an open tent in the field near the northern end zone, and a four-course meal served by a rotating list of local chefs.

Event producer Sam Minkoff believes the dinner series will be the first of its kind in the United States

And people eat it up.

All of the original dates sold out quickly, but Minkoff noted that additional reservations will be available shortly. He said his company, SE Productions, could book two weeks of overtime and extend the event through March.

Field to table meals are prepared in the stadium kitchen and an adjacent heated tent. There are two seats per evening for about 100 people each as night falls and the glow of purple and green lights transforms the stadium.

Among the guests on the first night of the event were Tom and Debbie Gallagher, who were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary.

The Seattle couple – season ticket holders for more than 15 years – snapped selfies and sampled classes, including seared scallops and grilled slow-braised beef ribs. Tom wore a # 59 jersey from linebacker Julian Peterson, who played for the Seahawks from 2006 to 2008, and both wore Christmas hats and protective masks in team colors.

Part of the proceeds will go to the non-profit Big Table, which helps restaurant and hotel employees in trouble. The restaurants in the Seattle area recently resumed indoor seating with reduced capacity after being restricted to takeout or outdoor seating.

Minkoff is a veteran producing events for thousands of people in cities across the United States, but Field To Table is his first in-person event since the pandemic began.

He kept his business alive with virtual cooking and handicraft classes for customers at home.

But Minkoff said of the Lumen Field Dining series: “We find ourselves back with what we love: bringing people together through shared experiences.”

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On the Internet: https://www.fieldtotable.us/