It’s the first Sunday since the official calendar-dictated start of fall.  While the Pacific Northwest doesn’t experience the same colorful seasonal change of leaves as East Coast counterparts at the same latitude, there is still a substantial shift in the weather patterns here.  A rapid transition from sunny to rainy.

As a sports aficionado, and Seattle native, my current dry accommodations are carefully selected.  A high-rise apartment, with the upper story perch, and exterior window direction, allowing expansive views of the city skyline.  Not the iconic Space Needle, but a different pair of large structures, situated to the south as opposed to the north.  The adjacent stadiums which house the Mariners and Seahawks, of professional baseball and football parlance, respectively.   

While the loft is pricy, my computer programming gig at Microsoft puts this pad well within my price range.  I love hosting folks, both to show off my penthouse, but more importantly to enjoy the comradery which sports and food can provide, especially when coupled together. 

I’ve spent all morning slaving away, cleaning and cooking, organizing and outreaching, scheming and shopping.  Right on schedule, this place smells, sounds, and shows-up perfectly.  I should be relaxing, considering the importance of today in my perpetually increasing life journey, but I thrive on entertaining.

This weekend is an important one, offering up the Seahawks first regular season home game, while the Mariners are trying to make the playoffs.  The Kraken hockey squad started up a few years ago in 2021, but Supersonics basketball team left in 2008, so there’s no chance for a sports equinox in this town currently.  A pair of important matchups, one here in town, and one on the road, will have to do.

Having home games for both these historic Seattle teams on the same day, especially around the same start time, is a no-go logistically.  With the Sounders soccer squad also sharing this complex area, scheduling is a constant challenge. 

I survey the interior space of my apartment.  It’s a good turnout already, even before kick-off of the football game.  There are half a dozen people milling around the living room, with a few more in the adjacent kitchen.  My bougie pad can’t handle much more than 20 visitors comfortably.

While it’s possible to see into the stadiums from this high perch, through the orthogonal picture windows in the external corner, the much easier and higher resolution approach is to watch the games on the big screen TV mounded to the opposite wall. 

I enjoy live sports, and concerts, as much as the next person.  But there’s something nice about not being constrained to assigned seats, or having to buy overpriced concessions.  Plus, up here we don’t need to fight the packs of commoners in the streets, with long lines for both vehicle entrance and street vendor wares.

Granted, parking, and traffic, in downtown is always an issue.  Thus, I encouraged my guests to take public transportation today.  Which also allows for freedom to indulge.  On that note, I need a refill.

The booze station has been set up in the dining nook, away from the general flow of traffic, to avoid any bumping accidents.  My friend group is fairly affluent, and cultured, with most bringing an alcoholic gift for the host.  I’m not sure if this kindness is because I’m always offering up my place for these gatherings, or if there’s extra generosity on account of my 35th birthday.  Either way, I’m not complaining.

Perusing the nice selection of shapely bottles, I choose a fine pinot noir from the Willamette Valley region.  I already had a generous pour of refreshing sparkling rosé, so figure keeping the same grape varietal on the palate makes sense.  There’s a full cooler of beer on ice as well, including several seasonal fresh hop offerings, but I’m in a wine mood.

Grasping the slender neck, I tip the bottle slowly until it’s almost completely upside down, but just a trickle of luscious, crimson liquid is deposited into my stemless glass.  These stable containers are much safer for parties, while still remaining classier than disposable plastic cups. 

That bottle went quick.  No worries, there’s plenty of other unique offerings to try.  Carrying this spent object over to the recycling bin, I realize the vessel is still quite heavy, even when empty.  Must be due to the specific shape; a tall container of thick glass with very substantial punt in the bottom. 

Time to get some sustenance to savor while I sip away.  There’s a large spread of food on the table adjacent to one of the main picture windows.  May as well let the guests enjoy the view while they load up their plates. 

For typical potluck parties, the fare usually ends up with lots of store-bought salads and salty snacks.  I’ve solved this common imbalance by establishing a text thread with each guests’ dish listed out.  As a result, the amassed selection is quite diverse.  Antipasto and veggie trays.  Several grilled meats.  A trio of homemade soups.

Not to mention the desserts and booze.  I have a real sweet tooth.  And can indulge in a few drinks on my birthday. 

In addition to assembling flaky local smoked salmon on freshly baked everything bagel chips, one of my go-to appetizers, I took responsibility for making my own celebratory cake.  I prefer the ice cream variety, but those melty messes are too difficult to manage over a multi-hour grazing session. 

Thus, I ended up with white sponge cake, dark chocolate glaze, bright red raspberries, and, of course, vanilla ice cream on the side.  The loaf was baked using the weathered bundt pan handed down from my grandmother.  This beautiful treat will be served later, hopefully as a means of celebrating a pair of Seattle hometown victories. 

Right now, the Mariners are playing their divisional rival further to the south and east, the Houston Astros, with a wild card berth hanging in the balance.  At least this locale provides an accommodating 2-hour separation between the games of interest.  Meanwhile, the Seahawks are scheduled to kick off at their typical 1 PM PDT start time when at home.  An important event, which has dictated the official start of this gathering.

I keep one eye on the TV as I buzz successive groups of guests in through the guarded lobby, and up the restricted access elevator, to my humble abode.  This party is become quite a lively and festive affair.

Flipping back and forth between the two contests, I try to catch the Seahawks on offense, then switch to baseball when they are forced to punt.  The Hawk’s defense has been solid for years, and I can follow their lockdown efforts simply by listening to the fan’s live cheers through the open window.  That’s the true definition of the 12th man.

On the only wall not covered by windows or televisions, a different type of glass is present.  A vibrant piece of art, purchased from the famous glass museum just down the highway in Tacoma.  The large format composition highlights several interesting molten blowing and shaping techniques.  Predictably, the hues of this piece are dominated by navy blue and neon green, with chromatic greys interspersed.  The shared colors on uniforms of the two local pro teams I follow religiously.  

I dabbled in this artistic sculpture pursuit, taking a few classes, but didn’t have the lung capacity, or aesthetic eye, required to create truly compelling pieces.  Hence, I went the purchase route.  This big and bulbous piece, composed of non-descript organic shapes, provides a Rorschach-like interpretive presentation to each individual viewer, and really ties the room together.

As the afternoon progresses, I mingle with guests, exchanging pleasantries and small talk.  I simultaneously monitor the dishware and cutlery options, making sure sufficient serving utensils and plate styles are provided for each visitor’s contribution to the feast.  However, as the games progress, my attention becomes increasingly focused on the sports action.

The Mariners’ offense has been struggling over the past month coming down the final stretch.  The 1-1 tie score going into extra innings is quite representative of this recent futility.  I better sit down for the end of this game.  With another plate of savory sustenance.

On the road, playing for a lone run in the 10th is a rare, and not recommended, strategy.  Yet the managerial leadership dials up a scheme to bunt the free runner from 2nd to 3rd, then the clean-up hitter delivers a sacrifice fly, before the rally peters out.

This squad is playing small ball like they’re a National League team.  Now we just need our closer to not blow it.  At least these goofy extra inning rules won’t be used if the Mariners make the playoffs.

A tense 7 minutes, which has me clasping dirty napkin with increasing ferocity, sees the Astros load the bases, before the final out is recorded via strikeout.  In typical modern baseball fashion, none of the 5 batters to come up put the ball in play.  Either way, a win is a win.

With the Mariners win in the books, I feel like I can indulge in another glass of wine.  In an epic show of self-restrain, I resolve to hold off on slicing up the Bundt cake until the Seahawks score a touchdown.  Which may be a while, if they continue to string these unproductive punts together.

At least all the guests are enjoying themselves.  A decided extrovert, I draw energy from the hum of others interacting.  In that regard, this apartment is like shot of adrenaline to my system, abuzz with life.  I love it.

Definitions:

Punt

1:  A long, narrow, flat-bottomed boat with square ends, usually propelled with a pole.

2:  A concave indentation in the bottom of a wine bottle.

3:  To defer a decision about something.

4:  To kick with the top of the foot before the ball, which is dropped from the hands, hits the ground.  [REF]

Deconstruction:

It’s impressive that this single 4-letter word has a quartet to completely different meanings, two nouns and two verbs, with no clear link between them.  Except for someone releasing a wine bottle vertically, then booting it off the side of their shallow skiff into the lake, as a means of delaying the obligation to pole back towards shore.

As a result of these divergent definitions, it’s not surprising that the word etymology is quite broad.

In terms of the boat, the lineage is clear and logical.  The term was coined in 16th century Old English, when this type of river transport became common.  The origin is the Gallic term “ponto”, used to describe the same aquatic vessel, which stems directly from the Latin word “pontem”, translating literally to “bridge”, thereby demonstrating the functionality of these crafts.  Understandably, modern “pontoon” boats of leisurely lounging also emanate from these same terms.

The wine bottle “punt” has a much more complicated and confusing lineage.  Most researchers agree this term links to the glassblowing techniques originally incorporated to make these ornate vessels.  The word is clearly derived from the term “punty”, a metal support rod used for blowing glass, which leaves a raised mark when sheared off.  As these pointy protrusions would cause the bottle to sit unevenly, savvy crafts folk pushed the blemished bottom into a recessed indentation.

Considering the modernized methods for making wine containers, there’s really no need for a punt these days.  However, this dimple now serves many functional purposes beyond the manufacturing origin.

Ease of holding and pouring using one’s thumb.  Increased visual shape while still preserving the same 750 ml volume.  Better durability with higher resistance to pressure.  A location to trap sediment inside the bottle.  At this point, this historical anomaly is now a signature of any high-quality wine offering.   

Interestingly, there’s no consensus on the source of the “punting” term that is commonly used in modern American football parlance.  Strategically, the act of sending the ball to the other team aligns well with the broader deferring definition above.

From a sporting standpoint, a similar movement is used in rugby, a more global pursuit, dating back to 1845.  Ironically, this kicking motion may tie back to a different bodily action, “bunt”, meaning to “push with one’s head”.  This is an obvious misspelling evolution of “butt”, applied more commonly to goats than humans.  Which links nicely to the second dictionary term.   

Definitions:

Bunt

In baseball, to deliberately hit the ball very gently, by holding the bat in front of you and pushing it to meet the ball, so that the ball does not travel far.  [REF]

Bundt

A type of tube pan with fluted sides.  [REF]

Deconstruction:

Like many elements of America’s pastime, the historical records are a little fuzzy on the “bunt” technique, from both a terminology and execution standpoint.  The lore surrounding this soft hit strategy is both prolific and amusing.

It’s important to rewind back to official rules in the early days of professional baseball, when the catcher was positioned well behind home plate, without much protective gear, and any ball that initially landed in the lines of the field, regardless of where it rolled to after that, was considered a fair ball and in play.  Which represents an ironic ode to the sport of cricket, that utilizes a full circular pitch.

Understandably, the macho men of late 19th century baseball were hesitant to use this delicate, deceptive technique while batting.  Until 1873, when Brooklyn Atlantic teammates Dickey Pearce and Tom Barlow went all-in on bunting, using special small and maneuverable bats, allowing them to consistently foul off countless pitches, until the perfect rolling trajectory was achieved.

The origin of the word is even more debated than the athletic innovators in this space.  Aside from the gentle head-butting idea previously presented, the theories get increasingly farfetched.  An obscure Old English synonym, citing the player “dragging” the ball down the line.  A diminutive reference to a tiny bird, the American “bunting”.  Most amusing, drawing parallel to the Pioneer era children’s nursery rhyme, “Bye, Baby Bunting”.

Regardless of interpretation, this seeming display of weakness at the plate is now fairly uncommon, due to various MLB rule changes.  These days, the bunt is typically utilized as a concession strategy to move along a runner already on base; hence the baseball statistic term “sacrifice”.  Or to break up a no-hitter against an absolutely dominant pitcher, as the small-ball era comes back into vogue.   

While similar in sound, and just one letter different in spelling, the homophones “bunt” and “bundt” have almost no similarities from a definition standpoint.

The bundt dessert was inspired by a historic German delicacy “bundkuchen”.  The word breaks down in translation to “bund”, representing the origin of the uniquely shaped pan, and “kuchen”, meaning cake.  Interestingly, the origin of the “bund” prefix in Old Germanic is disputed: bundled dough, banded appearance, and local peoples, all being potential reference points.

The iconic baking tin itself has a few key components.  Hemispherical fluted sides, often in a spiral pattern.  Non-stick coating, using either greased metal or silicone film.  A hollow center tube section, which allows for even cooking temperatures.  Over time, aesthetics, materials, and thermodynamics have only mildly changed on this historic oven vessel.

This cake was popularized amongst American housewives in the 1950’s, due to unique imagery and simplicity of execution.  Popular kitchen brands of the time, Nordic Ware on the equipment side, and Pilsbury pedaling sugary sustenance, resulted in an explosion of this novel treat.

Nordic Ware still holds a trademark on the term “Bundt” in the U.S., but countless similar offerings are available at department stores under similar monikers.  The original project was reengineering the traditional heavy cast iron version into a lightweight aluminum form factor.  The “t” was added to the end of the word to create the achieved legal monopoly.

This term is now used synonymously for both the type of cake and the vessel which it’s cooked in.  While this pan is traditionally used for desserts, there are many means of savory execution.  Casserole bakes.  Roasted meats.  Shapely breads.  The large circular dish can be utilized to simmer sauce, catch grease, or constrain starch.  These applications go well beyond the original intent of this baking tin. 

The bundt pan has also been repurposed for another edible item which is neither sweet nor savory, and debatably even a food at all.  Jello, available in many colors; this mixed liquid concoction is happy to take on any accommodating shape, with the additional of refrigeration cooling sealing the deal.  Since over 60 million such dishes sold across North American since the 1950 launch date, most households have to find something productive to do with this random kitchen item.

Open a bottle of dry red wine, carve off a piece of marbled cake with chocolate glaze, then put playoff baseball or NFL football on the TV.  Sounds like a relaxing Sunday evening.  Enjoy.   

Details:

Word etymology for the various forms of punt.  [REF]

10 reasons why wine bottles incorporate a punt.  [REF]

Baseball bunting background.  [REF]

History on the evolution of the bundt cake.  [REF]

5 unique and novel ways to use a bundt pan for savory cooking. [REF]