Super Bowl Food in a Better Style? In Defense of New Jersey

New Jersey as I know it: photo courtesy thomaspaulmerrill.com

“they paved paradise and put up a parking lot” Joni Mitchell circa 1970

Well of course, “Big Yellow Taxi” was not written about New Jersey, was it?  No. But couldn’t you easily apply this little phrase of Joni’s lyrics to my home state as it’s being portrayed in the week-long preparations for tomorrow’s big game –  especially when you see the aerial views of the Met Life Stadium  as the Super Bowl preparations continue today?  Ugh, the visual I just caught earlier this morning on CNN was indeed a dismal portrait of this venue – grey, stark, cold and ugly……

I’m sticking up for New Jersey today – particularly the culinary New Jersey.  We all know that our home state is the butt of jokes of all kinds and has been for many decades.  We could be and generally are the poster child for all sorts of trailer trash vignettes and classic  joke-full generalizations.   And, for the uninitiated, NJ is merely a place to drive through, via the New Jersey Turnpike, past countless truck stops, oil tanks, toxic waste sites and abandoned, underutilized cities – on to greater destinations – like the Big Apple or, others considered more pristine or inviting, north, south and west.  But, being a life-long resident, I tend to think of my home state of much, much more.  Get off the highway and see the real NJ – green and rolling, urban and urbane, sophisticated and charming, country and earthy, piney and leafy, salty and spicy.  In fact, you can find quite a bit of sophistication and major beauty if you want to.  This includes the home of some creative, soulful and fun (and football)-loving gourmands……..

Growing up in New Jersey in the 50s and 60s, I can still recall a state with rolling green hills, abundant farm land and a moniker of the Garden State that was still readily identifiable.  That “progress” took over shortly thereafter,  with the unrolling of new interstates, the uncontrolled explosion of tract housing, office parks, strip malls and the overall paving of paradise, so cars and tractor trailers could indeed do their quick and easy “drive-thru” to their ultimate destinations, is quite the unfortunate truth-be-told story…….  but, oh I digress……

Here are three shots I took last Summer and Fall in my own yard and about a mile away from my house – just a snippet of the NJ I know and love:

      

I’ve been reading all week about the food offerings around the big New Jersey Super Bowl Event which is on Sunday.  While the “big game” is in New Jersey, many, if not most events seem to be in New York City – the grander adjacent venue.   And we know why – NJ isn’t up to snuff in the marketing department.  Not enough ding, ding, ding on the cash register from the Meadowlands. All the glamour and glory go to the big apple.  (which I love by the way).  In this case, crossing the river is  just a minor technicality.  It’s like, for this event, we are being allowed to play the 6th borough……. Hmmmm…..

I’ve been reading about all the chefs who have been engaged in planning for over 2 years.  Wow!  What an opportunity to shine – on a hugely grand scale – one of the biggest challenges in the world of chef-dom! Unfortunately for me, I’ve seen way too many chili dogs, nachos, ribs and the typical tailgate-style.  I love all of this food, I do, but I can’t help but wonder if the NJ Super Bowl as an event, is not casting the culinary scene in its typically lowly light, if not in reality, in the media.  If you read the papers, you would think that all that people in New Jersey eat is hot dogs.

In fact, you’d think the show, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” was conceived in New Jersey’s image.   Frankly, I have an issue with this.   And, no, Star Ledger, I don’t consider Snookie the representative of your average New Jersey football fan, and no I don’t care who she is rooting for…………

So, the question is, can’t Super Bowl food be fun, tasty, in the spirit of tailgate, but great and, can I say gourmet, too? Well, many will undoubtedly disagree with me, but I’m proposing my very own New Jersey Super Bowl Menu.  Many of you may think that food for this game should be just that…….chili dogs, nachos, ribs and beer.  And, that’s fine and ok with me.

However, you may be able to keep the food “football stadium-ish”, earthy and sporty,  but just a step up or two —  the challenge being to serve great food to sustain on a cold day in February but not turn it into a cocktail party…….

You may need more than one menu for this event – one tailored to a home-based party and one for a catered event at the stadium:  If I were to use this opportunity to present a menu for the day, one that would please the most serious of football aficionados and well as someone with a palate beyond the truck stop,  I’d develop something as below.  This, I’d do if I were having a large party in my own home or if I were asked to cater an affair at the stadium.  I’d think in terms of :

Craft Beers by local breweries, wine and champagne

Fondue with platter of assorted salumi, crusty bread

Mineraly Raw Oysters with mild and hot sauces

Tempura of Vegetables, Shrimp and other cocktail bites with …….. ponzu sauce

Cassoulet

Filet Mignon mini-brioche sandwiches with gorgonzola sauce, Baked Country Ham on mini brioches with spicy mustard, meatball minis on mini-crusty-italian rounds

Goat Cheese and Sweet Potato bites topped with red pepper flakes and green onion

Salad “Spring Rolls”

A full selection of herby and cheesy breads

two-bite apple, pear and blood orange tart tatins with a ginger-nut crust and mascarpone drape

chocolate cake bites with a raspberry coulis and raspberry top

chocolate chip, caramel, pecan and macadamia bites

You may not like these particular ideas, but you get the point.  You don’t have to rush down the supermarket aisle and fill your cart with jarred salsa, processed cheese food or pre-marinated ribs.  You can have fun and good food too.

So, happy Super Bowl to everyone!  And, may the “whole” New Jersey get its proper due – in spite of our current political state of affairs!

 

map courtesy geology.com

Here are just a couple of extra recipes I found on the internet that I thought deserved mentioning:

Sweet Potato and Goat Cheese Puffs:

http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2012/02/sweet-potato-goat-cheese-puffs/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/mini-beef-wellingtons-recipe.html

http://www.certifiedangusbeef.com/recipes/recipedetail.aspx?id=53

Buffalo Cauliflower:

http://leitesculinaria.com/94557/recipes-buffalo-cauliflower.html

and, for Christin E. Hanley:

Chicken Wings with Honey Teriyaki Glaze:

 photo courtesy The Daily Meal

http://www.thedailymeal.com/chicken-wings-honey-teriyaki-glaze

update:  just posted today, from Honest Food:  “A Super Bowl Menu for the Foodie 1%” – Feb 2:http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=39677fc134fc8e7da493b1cc5&id=6ea9fa8a8d&e=a371dd3396