We all probably have a running list of celebrities we’d love to have over for dinner. For me, having Guy Fieri at my Super Bowl party seems like a dream since he knows how to put together a killer food spread and always brings the energy. Ahead of the big game, I spoke with Guy about how to host a football watch party that’s almost as fun to be at as the real event. Below are some of his best tips.
Invite fans of the opposing team.
You might tend to hang out with fans of your ride-or-die team, but Guy says leaving out fans from the opposing team is one of the biggest Super Bowl faux pas you can make. After all, having that element of friendly competition is a great way to keep things interesting.
Prepare food ahead of time if you can.
To eliminate one or two people missing the most exciting plays or best commercials the day because they’re in the kitchen, do as much preparation leading up to February 13 as possible. “We want to make these great menus, and we want to have all this uniqueness, and we want to make sure that people are entertained with the food,” Guy said. “And what do we end up doing? A couple people like me end up in the kitchen the entire time cooking, missing the game and the banter.” Guy suggests using easy ingredients like King’s Hawaiian rolls, which can be customized into different sandwiches in advance and simply need to be heated before serving the day of. (Editor’s note: A partnership with the brand and Guy was the launching point for this story)
Have a diverse menu.
You never know what people may want to eat the day of, so having options is key to keeping you and your guests happy. According to Guy, its time to ditch the pre-made grocery store sub and make something simple from scratch instead. “I walk into somebody’s house and I see one of those big sandwiches from a grocery store laid out, I know that that thing was made yesterday. There’s no way they made it today,” he said. “I know that as soon as all those meats, all those cold cuts come together, they’re going to just start tasting like one flavor.”
Guy suggests having a mix of hot and cold sandwiches that you can make on King’s Hawaiian rolls like pulled pork, tomato, bratwurst, and more, as well as being sure there are vegetarian or plant-based options for football fans who may follow a specific diet.
Stick to the classics.
Some foods lend themselves to the tailgate feel of a game day party like sandwiches, dips, and other snacks that are easy to eat with your hands. “Soup is not a great game day food,” said Guy. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’ll take some bouillabaisse, and I’ll take some chowder, but people like festive food. People like to nosh on game day.”
Guy will be whipping up his Motley Que Pork Sliders on King’s Hawaiian rolls this Super Bowl Sunday if you want to host like the Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives star. For more game day ideas, check out our Super Bowl menu ideas.
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