Gourmet Superbowl

Or: How to get me interested in football.

I can honestly say that 2010 marks the first time I’ve watched the Superbowl and enjoyed it. Of course, there are a number of factors contributing to that statement, the game itself not being foremost among them.

Ah, Superbowl XLIV, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

1. Good Company: I attended the best Superbowl party of my life last night, hosted by Nick & JP (friends of Boyf and Sister Boyf…and mine!) at their amazing home in DUMBO. It was a quality collection of football fans and otherstuff fans alike.

(Nick & Sister Boyf)

2. Good Food: Not 60 seconds after arriving, I was handed a piping hot cup of slow-simmered chili, which Nick had been working on all day. I could definitely taste the time invested! Nick had a super-tasty, super-secret Superbowl chili recipe going on here.

…and maybe now that it’s quasi-famous he’ll share the recipe with me. ;)

3. Good Toys (also file under Good Food): Legit old-school popcorn maker…

…along with legit cotton candy maker. Seriously! My eyes just about bugged out of my head when I saw this. No one will ever accuse Nick and JP of not knowing how to have a good time.

4. Good Fun: It’s better left to the imagination how aforementioned cotton candy ended up here:

As you can see, the entire party was held in rapt attention by the game right off the bat.

…But if no one’s watching the game, where are they?

Ok, so maybe a little Rock Band was needed to get us through the first half of the game.

And I don’t think anyone’s arguing if I say the band in the picture above is easier on the eyes than Pete Townshend’s windmill-exposed belly.

5. Good Food (it bears repeating): Sweet potato empanadas, you say? Why thank you, Nick, you obviously saw me coming a mile away.

My photos don’t nearly do the party justice—I’m barely scratching the surface of all the fantastic eats on display. I also owe everyone an apology for forgetting my camera, since these awkward phone pics make for a poor representation of the party!

For that reason, however, I’ll take extra props for managing to frame the boyf and myself in a self-portrait using said awkward camera-phone.

He ought to have stars in his eyes whenever I’m around, but given the circumstances, I’ll settle for the Superbowl.