When it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, food is more important than football.
There. We said it.
We’ll give the fans — dare we say, Super fans — a moment to digest that fact. Having a quality menu for your Super Bowl party is crucial to the game experience when the Denver Broncos meet the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. To help with your preparations, we’ve put together a menu that will not only pay homage to both teams’ cities but also keep your guests full.
Drinks
Denver and Seattle are both renowned for their microbreweries, so check out Gator Beverage, Dorn’s and other microbreweries in Gainesville for the best in local craft beer. If beer isn’t your drink of choice, stop by Starbucks and grab some coffee. Starbucks sold its first cup of coffee from the Pike Place Market in Seattle, and with the Seahawks representing the NFC in the title game, it’s the perfect excuse to go for more caffeine.
Appetizers
Chili is classic Super Bowl fare for a reason. It’s relatively cheap, easy to make and goes great with beer and soda. Splurge on a can of green chili, a famous Denver food Mayor Michael Hancock wagered in a Super Bowl bet with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. Even if Denver loses, having leftovers for the rest of the week will take away a little bit of the pain. Serve it with chips and pretzels to munch on before the main meal.
Main course
No Super Bowl party is complete without burgers and hot dogs. Add a Seattle twist to your hot dogs by replacing ketchup and mustard with some cream cheese and grilled onions. Broncos’ fans can salute their rivals by serving the Denver sandwich, an omelet with ham, onions, green peppers and scrambled eggs served between two pieces of toast. Don’t feel like cooking? Order burritos from Chipotle, which opened its first restaurant in Denver in 1993.
Desserts
You can’t go wrong with a bowl of M&M’S or a tray of brownies to finish off your Super Bowl menu. If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, stop by Publix or Trader Joe’s and pick up an apple pie. Not only is Washington responsible for producing 10 to 12 billion apples a year, but apple pie and the Super Bowl are two great American traditions. It seems a shame not to enjoy them together.
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 1/30/2014 under the headline "Dishes to kick off your Super Bowl"]
