In 1986, I got up from a chair to turn on the VCR when the Red Sox were one strike away from beating the New York Mets to win their first World Series since 1918. You know what happened next and I blamed myself.

Years later, I learned others carried this guilt because a split second too early they were calling their fathers, opening a can of beer, chiding a Mets’ fan, uncorking the bubbly or just thinking, “How sweet it is!”

So until Monday morning, I dared not think about the ways food and drink could complement a 2007 World Series between the Sox and the Colorado Rockies. Once again I found I was not alone as markets and restaurants were only then assembling baseball specials for the games which begin tonight at Fenway Park.

Glenn Place, manager of Tom’s Market in Coventry, was Googling on the Internet to find out some Colorado Rockies’ cuisine to complement the local food experience.

The Pinelli-Marra Restaurant Group was sending out 9 a.m. e-mails to spread word the local chain would offer free pizzas and other appetizers during the games at all of its restaurants.

The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common was resurrecting their Dice-K-Tini at the Jer-Ne Restaurant and Bar and sending out the recipe to all interested media.

And I found out how it may well have come to be that the Sox battled back to defeat Cleveland when I called Shore’s Market in North Providence and learned they chose this week to update the deli and refrigerated areas where they sell the prepared foods like chicken wings.

When the Genesis Center hosts its big annual fundraiser tomorrow night from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Botanical Center of Roger Williams Park in Providence, guests will be sampling wines and foods from local restaurants but a big screen television has been added to the line-up so Red Sox fans won’t miss a pitch. They were concerned attendance would suffer otherwise.

Jim Harris at Providence’s Ristorante Pizzico will continue doing what he did throughout the playoffs, offering free grilled pizza to guests who come into the lounge during games.

He’s also been pouring the three Red Sox inspired wines, a portion of whose proceeds go to charity. “Manny Being Merlot,” “Schilling Schardonnay” and Tim Wakefield’s “CaberKnuckle” are sold by the bottle at Pizzico and available at local liquor stores. What better week than this to try these Sox wines from Chile.

After his research, and thinking about what he likes to enjoy on game days with his children, Place of Tom’s Market said the menu will include: bratwurst; grilled vegetable quesadillas; chili; and Ming’s Wings which while not the official recipe of this beloved spot, are close, assured Place. Fans can pick up 14-inch grilled pizzas which can be cooked at home in 8 minutes. There will be an array of appetizers including chili stuffed potato skins, bacon and Jack cheese stuffed potato skins, pot-stickers and dim sum.

In a nod to Colorado, there will be “Mile Long Hot Dogs” with all the trimmings, including sauerkraut, grilled red and green peppers, onions and mustard; garlic fries and Buffalo Meat Balls with Horseradish Sauce.

At Providence’s Eastside Marketplace, they are dubbing today “World Series Wednesday” and will have sausage and peppers in their chef prepared foods case so fans can grab some fresh rolls and make their own subs. They also have batter-fried, buffalo or barbecue chicken wings. In the to-go case, there’s beef, turkey or vegetarian chili.

Pinelli-Marra’s restaurants offering the free pizza include Waterplace Restaurant in Providence, the Post Office CafÉ in East Greenwich, Twist in Warwick, Pinelli’s Cucina in North Smithfield, the Grille on Main in East Greenwich, Pinelli’s Gourmet Deli and CafÉ at Night in West Warwick, Pinelli’s Cucina/Twist in South Kingstown, and Twist on Angell in Providence.

Dave’s Marketplace stores have hot wing bars in the store which include a variety including honey stung, teriyaki, Parmesan and Buffalo. They also offer a variety of dishes that make a party to go including everything from lobster risotto balls to dumplings to calzones. A party pizza has 27 slices. Dave’s stores are in East Greenwich, Cumberland, North Kingstown, Smithfield, Warwick and Wickford.

The Belmont Market, with stores in Wakefield and Narragansett, have all their favorite prepared foods including wings, ribs and chili, as well as sushi for the game.

At the two Whole Foods Markets in Providence, as well as the new one opening this morning in Garden City, Cranston, look for lots of wings, freshly made guacamole, all kinds of dips including chili con queso and Mexican. Their team of chefs are also pulling together an assortment of game day food in the prepared foods department. The Garden City store will be featuring platters of wings and pre-packed ribs for convenience.

Taco Bell, not likely Red Sox fans as this is a national chain, nonetheless announced Monday that on a designated day after the World Series, they will give out free tacos if someone steals a base during the World Series.