Now that we know who will be playing in the Big Game, it’s time to start planning your gathering of football fans and friends.
If you are a host who enjoys a tailgate-style party and prefers to cook and fuss over the grill rather than watch the game, you are not alone. According to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults who watch the Super Bowl, 40% look forward to attending or hosting a party for the big game, but they barely spend any time in front of the TV, as most prefer to hang out in front of the snacks and food than anywhere else.
The survey also indicated that more than three-quarters of the participants (77%) believe that the food and snacks are imperative to the overall Super Bowl experience. And when hosting a viewing party, respondents typically spend about eight days planning the menu, inviting guests and preparing.
For Super Bowl LVIII, why not step out of the comfort zone of the same old pizza, wings and potato chips and try something different? Here are a few tips and ideas to get you going.
The Team-Themed Party
For most people who responded to the survey (64%), the perfect Super Bowl snack is something relevant to the teams who are playing the game. “Super Bowl snacking is all about that unique twist, and 43% of fans are craving something out of the ordinary this year,” said Tom Penner, the CEO of Char-Broil, who commissioned the survey.
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A Feast Fit For The Chiefs
With Kansas City as one half of this showdown, BBQ and grilling are top of mind. “Think of your grill as your game day MVP — making the food prep easy so you can focus on the fun. There are many quick, tasty recipes to help you plan a winning menu with ease,” said Penner.
“Prior to shopping, make a detailed list of all needs,” says chef Kenny Gilbert, VP of Culinary Operations of Grove Bay Hospitality Group. “Inventory what you have at home and ensure your list is organized prior to execution. If you are smoking or grilling, preheat your smoker for at least one hour and your grill at least 30 minutes before cooking so you can get a good sear. Pull your meats out of the refrigerator and allow them to get to room temperature first.”
“If you’re having a Super Bowl party, don’t skimp on the quality of your meat. Use the special occasion to impress your guests with high-quality steaks that are sure to be party pleasers,” says Patrick Munster, executive chef at Don’s Prime at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. “Our philosophy here at Don’s Prime is to have a great time with the people you love, which I believe is the same thing you should do at a Super Bowl party.”
Munster recommends choosing dry-aged Snake River Farms Tomahawk - a Don’s Prime favorite. “This steak is half wagyu, half American angus, which makes for a rich and juicy blend of meat. The best part about this steak is that the meat speaks for itself so it doesn’t need much preparation to turn out great,” he says.
“Don’t overthink cooking your steak, just season generously with salt and pepper and grill/sear on both sides,” says the chef. “The amount of time on the grill depends on the thickness of your steak, so I’d recommend using a thermometer to monitor the internal temperature so they’re all cooked to perfection. After cooking, let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the steak stay tender and juicy.”
For finishing, you can’t go wrong with a bright sauce like chimichurri. “Chimichurri is great for any ribeye because the brightness from the herbs, garlic, and vinegar cuts the richness.”
Fare For The 49ers Fan
What to serve if you are supporting the 49ers? With San Francisco being such a strong culinary city, there are many things that will represent its eclectic cuisine. Think seafood, Italian or Asian inspired snacks like dim sum dumplings.
If the weather is chilly where you live consider cioppino — an Italian American seafood stew invented to use up leftover seafood that’s an iconic and widely popular dish in the Bay Area — or a creamy clam chowder. Serve it in hollowed out individual sourdough rolls for a cool presentation – San Francisco is also famous for their sourdough bread.
The city is also famous for Dungeness crab when it's in season each winter, as well as oysters. Shuck a bunch of fresh oysters and serve on a large tray with lemon wedges, co*cktail sauce or mignonette. Or try Andrew Zimmern’s curry crab dip for a nice warm treat with a spicy twist.
The Ultimate At-Home Super Bowl Taco Bar
“The best thing about a taco bar is that all of the prep can be done well before the game starts, so you’re not stuck in the kitchen during prime game time,” says Lanny Marquez, chef/owner of Roadside Taco at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where the basic ingredients include tortillas, meat, queso dip, salsa, street corn, diced Roma tomatoes, chopped lettuce, chopped white onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream.
“The main event for my dishes is always the meat, and if I’m putting together a taco bar, I like to make sure the meat works in every possible taco variation a guest might make,” says Marquez. “My go-to is Roadside Taco’s signature ground turkey picadillo, which is essentially seasoned ground meat. You can use ground beef instead of turkey if you prefer, but either way, a secret tip is to cook the meat with canned diced tomatoes and chicken bouillon, which gives the meat a moist savory flavor.”
Salsa, of course, is very important to any taco bar, and it can also be served simply with chips as a dip. “My quick recipe calls for 10 Roma tomatoes, one or two jalapeños (depending on your spice level), five to six garlic cloves, a bunch of cilantro, a lime, and some salt and pepper. Blend all your ingredients and you’ll have fresh salsa for 3-5 days. I you like roasted salsa, then roast the tomatoes, jalapeños, and garlic in the oven before blending,” says Marquez.
The (Mostly) Hands-Off Super Bowl Spread
If you are keen to host the party but also want to be able to watch the game and not spend the entire evening in the kitchen, you’ll need to up your game plan and serve things that can be prepared ahead, require little time in the kitchen, and can be served as a spread so guests can help themselves.
Grazing tables are all the rage, and they give you an opportunity to get creative and artistic. Best of all, you can include a wide variety of items to please everyone. “One reason we love a grazing table is because you can really offer so much more than a traditional charcuterie,” says Marissa Mireur of The Austin Epicure. “They are great for a crowd because it makes it really easy to serve all dietary needs, requests, and snacking levels. We love to add roasted veggies with lemon garlic aioli, different types of small sandwiches and our smoked ham and Gruyere sliders.”
Customize with anything from decadent dips to cheeses, charcuterie, gourmet tinned seafood (think seacuterie) crudites, crackers and breads. Add vegan, gluten and dairy free items (check out Violife) so everyone can participate. Be sure to add fresh and dried fruits, a variety of condiments and pickles, and a nice floral or fruity centerpiece for extra eye appeal.
“Everyone relishes the guilty indulgence of chips and dips while watching the game – and what is better than dipping a sliced piece of deep-fried potato through a silky, soured and slightly onion-tinged cow cream? The answer is: nothing, it is bliss,” says chef CJ Jacobson of Aba Miami. “That said, having some healthier alternatives like hummus is a great way to go. Having a diversified dip situation is critical to a successful party for the Big Game. Why not have Aba Miami’s whipped feta in place of a jarred cheese dip? Spice it up with some muhammara, and serve the whole thing up with some pita bread and crudites.”
You can also slow roast a pork shoulder on Saturday night, then gently reheat it and shred it on Sunday and serve it as sliders with some vinegary slaw, pickles, or both. Add a side of creamy mac ‘n cheese and you’re good to go.
If you still want a BBQ but don’t want to spend the whole party tending the grill, you can have it delivered to your door straight from some favorite smokehouses from Texas.
Houston’s Goode Company, known for its BBQ and famous pecan pie, has an online store that ships nationwide and offers goods like the aforementioned pecan pie, whole mesquite-smoked briskets, sausage links, spices, rubs and more. The Salt Lick BBQ offers a family-style feast that ships nationwide, with enough Texas style ‘cue to feed up to 16 people. Their Big Game Special includes 3.5 - 4.5 pounds of smoked beef brisket, two racks of ribs, two rings of Hill Country sausage, one traditional turkey breast, two bottles of Original BBQ Sauce and one bottle of Spicy BBQ Sauce.
Scott Roberts, owner of the legendary smokehouse, also likes to customize his queso dip. He suggests taking your favorite queso — whether homemade or store-bought — to the next level by adding a topping of your choice. Roberts likes to give his queso an added layer of flavor by topping it with a generous amount of chopped brisket. “It's a great way to give the beloved dip a nice, smoky flavor,” he says. “And if you like a little kick to your queso, add some pico de gallo to help balance everything out.”
