Hosting a Grown-up Super Bowl Party
By Leah Ramella
You’re never too old to enjoy the Super Bowl, and it’s a great chance to throw a festive gathering in your home. Now that you’ve graduated from college, or you have a few kids, or you are simply looking to host something a bit more upscale, it’s time to plan a Super Bowl party for adults – with lots of fun, elegant touches that everyone is sure to remember post-game.
Drinks – Now that you’ve graduated from the keg of Bud Lite, think about offering your guests a selection of delicious wines. Purchase a mix of red and white wines – crowd pleasers like Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are always safe bets, and often pair well with a variety of foods. It’s easy to purchase great wines online these days, and some online retailers will deliver a case of wines to your door, free of charge, saving you both time and money. If you want to keep it more casual, opt for boxed wine and a few different types of beer. Be sure to have some sparkling wine, like a great Cava from Spain, on hand for those post game toasts – no matter which team wins, there’s always something to celebrate at the end of the game.
Food – Don’t just throw together the usual microwave nachos or Buffalo wings. Add a bit of class to your Super Bowl affair, and think outside the standard fare. Instead of the usual Buffalo wings, try a simple, but elegant, recipe like maple bourbon chicken wings, or bring some international flare to the Super Bowl occasion by offering festive food like dumplings and mini tacos. A cheese board accompanied by crackers and olives is another easy set-up crowd-pleaser, and pairs perfectly with the wines you’re serving. Be sure to keep in mind that the best food is portable and easy to both serve and eat. It’s also a fun idea to offer some “sweet treats” to your guests – a delicious fruit salad along with cupcakes decorated in team colors are perfect options and sure to please the entire crowd.
Decorations – Big foam hands and a plastic tablecloth are fine, but why not add some festive streamers or balloons in the two teams’ colors? A centerpiece filled with flowers in team colors can add an elegant touch to the party. Along with some colorful decorations for each team (this year it’s the Steelers versus Green Bay, so black, gold and green are your colors), think about using the food to decorate. Serve your cheese on a board in the shape of a football, or create a sheet cake that is decorated like a football field.
Set up a few different areas to socialize – It’s inevitable at every Super Bowl party that there are a few guests who are not that interested in football and would rather chat with friends. While the main focus of the party is of course the TV and the big game, to make those non-football fanatics comfortable and welcome, set up one or two separate areas with food and drinks where people can chat and socialize without interrupting the game. As well, if there are children at the party, be sure to have some food, drinks and even activities ready for them in a separate area.
Bring some friendly competition to the party – Before the game starts, have each guest pick the winning team and guess the final score of the game. When the game ends, send the guest who had the closest guess home with a wine gift!
As a closing thought, remember that there is no right way to throw a Super Bowl party, but a few elegant touches like wine and delicious hors d’oeuvres can turn an average Super Bowl party into a grown-up affair.
For more wine party ideas, and to find great wines online, visit MyWinesDirect.com.
Image source: Google
