Gumbo & Pretzel Rolls: 9 Foods for a Super Bowl Showdown
I'm a sucker for themed party food--Spanish tapas served alongside Cava and Tempranillo, a sake soiree complete with yakitori and other Japanese edibles. So every February, while everyone anticipates a great NFC-AFC showdown, I'm betting on what will make a better menu. For this year's XLIV game, the Big Easy is going head to head with the Hoosier State's lesser-known culinary traditions. Here are some ideas for food for Sunday's game.
From New Orleans:
Gumbo
This Creole dish melds French and African culinary traditions in one pot, perfect for parties. Try our Shrimp, Chicken, and Andouille Gumbo, which uses Cajun flavors like Andouille and cayenne. Bonus: the base can be made 2 days ahead, so you have more time to enjoy the game.
Abita beer
New Orleans brewery Abita has more than a dozen selections available in many major supermarkets. Try Purple Haze, a crisp raspberry wheat brew, or a malty Amber brew, the local favorite.
Sazerac
This classic cocktail was born when a Creole apothecary named Antoine Peychaud combined Cognac with his family's secret bitters recipe and began serving the drink to friends at his pharmacy in the French Quarter. In today's version, the glass is rinsed with absinthe (some use Herbsaint or Pernod instead) and filled with rye whiskey, bitters, sugar, water, and a lemon peel. Try our classic Sazerac recipe.
Oysters Rockefeller
New Orleans institution Antoine's originated this decadent dish that combines garlic, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs, and was considered so rich that it was named after the richest man of the day, John D. Rockefeller. Try our Oysters Rockefeller recipe.
Muffuletta
This fantastic Italian-style sandwich of capicola, salami, mortadella, provolone and olive spread is often attributed to Central Grocery Co (866-620-0174)--the mecca of muffulettas--where they will ship whole sandwiches in an iced-packed box. To make the sandwich at home, you can substitute foccacia or an Italian seasame bun, or order the muffuletta bread online from Gambino's, Nola Cajun, or by phone from La Louisiane (504-734-9188), a local bakery that supplies the Napoleon House's famous muffulettas. The olive spread makes each muffuletta unique--Napoleon House uses garbanzo beans, Serio's keeps theirs chunky, and Donald Link uses oregano, pepperoncini, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves at Cochon Butcher. Whether mild or spicy, smooth or chunky, the olive spread combines pimento-stuffed olives for a briny bite. Try our muffuletta olive spread recipe.Or get Donald Link's muffuletta recipe from Cochon Butcher.
Chicory coffee and beignets
End you Super Bowl festivities with a bold cup of New Orleans-style coffee, blended with a kick of chicory at the city's famous Cafe du Monde. Try serving it black, spiked with rum, with a scoop of ice cream, or alongside Cafe du Monde's legendary beignets. You can order the coffee and the beignet mix from the Cafe's website.
From Indianapolis:
Popcorn
Indiana is the birthplace of Orville Redenbacher and his famous gourmet popping corn. Try our recipes for savory spicy popcorn with piment d'espelette and marcona almonds or sweet caramel almond popcorn.
Sugar Cream Pie
One of the oldest pies in America, this Hoosier classic combines milk, sugar, flour, shortening, nutmeg, and vanilla. Wick's Pies has been making this classic for over 60 years and will ship 8-inch or 9-inch pies.
German food
If your guests think this is a stretch for Colts' fan food, hit 'em with this knowledge: Indiana was a common destination for German immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, and as recently as 1990 more than 23 percent of Indianapolis residents were of German descent. (Breaded pork tenderloin and sweetbread sandwiches grace the menus of many Indiana restaurants as a nod to the state's German-American heritage.) Celebrate at home with these perfectly sized Bratwurst Bites or party-friendly Pretzel Rolls.
--Katherine Kims
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