We always see a flurry of polls following the Super Bowl, claiming to enumerate the most popular foods served during the game. But what’s more interesting to me are the oddball food facts drawn from the collective history of Super Bowl snacking. And I found a treasure-trove of ’em…
The usual suspects on the Super Bowl menu invariably include Chips and Dip, Chicken Wings, Pizza, Nachos, Pigs in Blankets and so on. But I think it’s much more fun to focus on the more spectacular stats. And the folks at Premio Foods of Hawthorne, New Jersey, a major sausage maker, have made it easy, with the infographic above, revised as of 2021.
Three key venues
While the vast majority of football fans will celebrate Super Bowl LVI in the cozy comfort of their living rooms, yelling at the TV to the background music of the microwave’s hum, a select few will be able to attend the game itself, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California – home of the Rams and Chargers. And between these two classic venues sits a classic event all its own: the parking lot tailgate party. But there’s a hitch. And it’s not a trailer hitch.
“Given the limited space available at SoFi for the Superbowl, there will be no tailgating allowed at the stadium or any of the nearby NFL-operated lots,” tailgaterconcierge.com advises. But there are several big private tailgate parties planned at non-NFL controlled lots within a mile of the stadium. Perhaps not unexpectedly, Tailgater Concierge is behind one of the biggest:
“If you’re interested in a pre-game option, check out Tailgater Concierge’s Pre-Game & Game Watch Party that’s happening right next to SoFi Stadium. […] We are offering both a pre-game tailgate party and a game-watch party. […] Our all-inclusive tickets will include amazing food brought to you by one of Los Angeles’ premier caterers, Good Gracious! You will also be able to savor custom cocktails created by some of the best mixologists in LA. […] Lounge furniture mixed with bar tables will provide convenient reserved seating areas along with standing-room-only options. Big-screen TVs, TV walls, photo opportunities, themed games and more will round out this exclusive event.”
Tickets cost – ahem – $450.! But that’s peanuts compared to the cost of a ticket to Super Bowl itself, which averages $8,500. bucks this year. And you also have to figure in the cost of getting to Inglewood from wherever you are now.
Here’s a tip: Search the internet for local tailgate and watch parties near you. Seems some of the more dedicated sports bars are setting up really big (projection) screens in their own parking lots and patios and offering special tailgater menus!
So…
Like the vast majority of folks, I’ll be tuning in from my living room and partaking of some bargain pticed treats. Sister Erin squeezed the cheese lady at our go-to supermarket this morning for a gorgeous wedge of Cranberry Stilton, which we’ll probably serve on home-made flatbread of some description. I favour fresh salsa cruda or Pico de Gallo and warm cheese dip for anything that lends itself to dipping. That, for us, means chunks of flatbread and plain, thick corn tortilla chips, at least for a start. I also like to use those for the base of my Super Duper Loaded Nachos – a meal in itself.
I prefer chicken to beef for the meat component of my screen-time snacks, and as much as I love the dark-meat juiciness of legs and thighs, I may default to boneless breast chunks this year. Depends on what kind of price I can get on boneless thighs. I don’t expect to find any bargains in the meat cooler, though. And I always bake rather than fry my chicken treats. Less greasy to handle with your finger and I think tastier overall.
I also like to have a crudité platter on hand, to munch on between other dishes. It’s also a great way to balance the nutritional mix of the snack menu. I feature little cherry or grape tomatoes, red and green bell pepper strips, ‘baby’ carrots, small radishes (for a piquant bite), and small-diameter cucumber rounds (preferably from a classic English ‘Straight 8’). Forget the celery, cauliflower, broccoli and other usual stuff. Too hard and chewy to make enjoyable party snacks. You shouldn’t have to work for your enjoyment! Here is the one exception I make on the dip front. There’s always a bowl of classic Ranch dressing in the middle of the platter, for the less-adventurous among my guests. It’s easy to mix up home-made ranch, and you can tailor the flavour profile to suit your ‘custom’ tastes.
My approach to Super Bowl eats manages to meet two important objectives: easy and quick to make, and relatively healthy to consume.
Have fun!
Make your super Bowl watch party a memorable event – even if it is just you and your family. In the era of COVID, we all deserve to have a party now and then, even if we do stay home!
~ Maggie J.