Next Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will go head to head while Rihanna finally makes her return to the stage. As we gather at our homes or in sports bars with our friends and family, there are a few classic staples we all have as a part of our Super Bowl traditions.
We spoke to chefs and restaurant owners from across the North Fork to see what their favorite things to eat are on Super Bowl Sunday.
Luchi Masliah, owner of goodfood. Cafe & Market in Mattituck didn’t experience the Super Bowl nor the customary appetizers until she moved to the United States. Yet, it’s been almost 30 years since Masliah made her way to NY and she has watched several football games since.
“When I first moved here, guacamole, fresh salsa, five-layer bean dip and corn chips were all new flavors to me. I did not grow up with anything even close to it,” said Masliah. “I immediately became a fan of fresh guacamole and Pico de Gallo and developed my favorite way of making it. I go heavy on the citrus, combining fresh lime and lemon juice and I never mix tomatoes in guacamole.”
11.2 million pounds of potato chips and 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips are consumed by Americans on game day, making it the most popular Super Bowl snack. Marissa Drago, owner of Main Road Biscuit Co. in Jamesport is a big fan.
“I am definitely a chips, guac, and pico girl,” said Drago.
Chicken wings, specifically Buffalo wings are the second most popular food for the big game. This year, it is estimated that Americans will consume 1.4 billion chicken wings on February 12, according to the National Chicken Council.
“I was completely unfamiliar with Buffalo wings when I first moved here,” said Masliah. “I loved the flavors though it took a bit to get used to the heat. I am not a big fan of wings, so I came up with Buffalo chicken thigh skewers, a lot less messy to eat and easy to pass around. I served them with the blue cheese dip and celery and carrot sticks just as you would serve the wings. I marinate the chicken thigh pieces in some of the sauce mixed with a bit of oil first, then assemble the skewers and grill them on a cast iron grill or if the weather cooperates, I grill them outdoors.”
Balo Alvarez of Balo’s Foods loves the heat from classic Buffalo wings on game day. But he makes sure to bring his world-famous seafood stuffies to the party: a lobster, scallop, shrimp and clam mix baked into bite-sized pieces served on individual mini-aluminum tins.
“I prefer to survey the great potluck dishes over watching the game,” said Alvarez. “My seafood stuffies are always a crowd pleaser. There’s never any left over after the game.”
While Drago’s husband requests her restaurant’s spiciest wings, she also makes sure to add her own flare to her family’s game day party.
“I usually throw some bacon wrapped dates together, pop some mozzarella sticks in the oven and make potato skins with bacon, cheddar and scallions,” said Drago. “My teenage son always requests ‘Marissa’s mac & cheese,’ which has gruyère, aged cheddar, seasoned bechamel, panko and a fresh herb crust. We add bacon to ours as well.”
Whether it’s ordered in or made fresh at home, there’s no doubt that these chefs and their families will be eating well this Super Bowl Sunday.
