Interior designer Megan Mitchell dressed the space in cheerful décor using bright, sporting shades of blue, gold and red.
Food & Wine
Cuisine with A KICK!
Super Bowl Sunday gets dressed up with designer décor and culinary class.
BY
Matt Sorrell
PHOTOGRAPHY
Greg Rannells

Tips from our hostess

"It isn't just a piece of paper in the mail," Jan says of the invitation. "It catches their eye and makes them say, ‘This is really going to be fun, we're going to have to go.' " Super Bowl tickets inspired the invitation, doubling as a party pass, and came complete with plastic sleeve and lanyard. Each was personalized, so it could be worn as a nametag.

Invites should go out about three to four weeks ahead of time and should include a request for RSVPs, not just Regrets Only, to ensure everyone who is sent an invitation receives it.

For a buffet-style setup, excess furniture should be moved out of the way to ensure an uninterrupted path to food and drink.

Flowers are a must. Place some in the entryway, as a centerpiece on the buffet or on the kitchen table.
 Chef Ken Hayden of The Veranda Café.

Menu from Chef Ken Hayden

  • Philly Cheesesteak filets
  • Baked pita chips with fresh herb and goat cheese spread
  • Bacon-wrapped, honey-peppered shrimp
  • Chicken satay with sweet chile sauce
  • Mini crab cakes with chili ranch aioli
  • Salami cornets with boursin
  • Individual Caesar salads in a Parmesan cheese bowl
  • Pear and brie bouche
  • Assorted fruit vol-au-vents
Bacon-wrapped, honey-peppered shrimp.
Interesting party favors help get guests into the spirit of the event. Jim and Jan had football-shaped picture frames at each place setting.
When the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers took the field on January 15, 1967, to battle it out in Super Bowl I, an American tradition was born, one that has evolved over the years into an unofficial national holiday. Super Bowl parties now rival any other celebration, "official" or otherwise. According to the USDA, Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest food-consumption day in the country, following only Thanksgiving.

Despite the exalted status of the day, the types of parties associated with the Super Bowl have always been considered, well, somewhat lowbrow. And while there's nothing wrong with quaffing beer and munching nachos in front of the Trinitron on game day, with a little effort and ingenuity, your Super Bowl party can contend with any holiday get-together.

This is amply illustrated by hosts Jim and Jan Otis, who know a thing or two about football. Jim is a former running back for the St. Louis Cardinals. Sons Jim and Jeff both followed in Dad's footsteps and played football as well. Jim played at his father's alma mater Ohio State, and Jeff played in the NFL. Jeff was even born on a Super Bowl Sunday!

And in addition to being veteran party hosts, Jim and Jan are co-owners of local eatery The Veranda Café, so you can be sure their soirée featured more than just "brats and Bud." They had some great insights on how to scale up a Super Bowl party.

To convey a more sophisticated atmosphere, décor is paramount. "You don't want to make it too tailgate-ish," says Jan. Interior designer Megan Mitchell, owner of M2 Design, agrees. "It shouldn't be too cheesy or over-the-top," she says. "Scale and proportion are important." So, forget the team pennants and NFL paper ware. Since Super Bowl teams hadn't been decided when the party planning began, Megan elegantly draped tables in blue with gold accents in a nod to the hometown Rams. Having several tables set up for dining gives guests the option of eating somewhere other than the couch, but it isn't too formal. The food was laid out buffet-style in the main dining room.

Remember, your guests are coming to eat, not just cheer their favorite team.

"You've got to have the food continuously flowing, the drink continuously flowing, and you've got to have it so people can carry it and eat it," says Jan. Chef Ken Hayden of The Veranda Café prepared a variety of portable delicacies that were easy to eat, from baked pita chips with goat cheese spread to mini crab cakes. He also brought some sophistication to more traditional game day fare with his Philly Cheesesteak filets.

Of course, plenty of TVs are essential. Jim and Jan placed sets in most rooms of the house so guests didn't miss a single play (or commercial), though Jan drew the line at having one in the dining room! Since the game is broadcast in high-definition (HD), Felix Williams III of The Screening Room recommends viewing the action on an HD TV with surround sound to get the most out of the Super Bowl experience. Make sure you have the correct HD receiver set up for your satellite or cable system before kickoff.

While football is supposedly the reason for the event, Jim says a Super Bowl party isn't really about the game as much as it is about getting together with friends.

"It's fun to have people in your home," says Jan, adding that there's no secret to having a successful Super Bowl party or any gathering. "It doesn't matter how much you spend on the party – it's all about the way you make people feel when they are
in your home."

High-Tech Tips

  • Bigger is better when it comes to watching the game. You'll have a better experience watching on a 60" set than a 20" one.
  • Surround sound really brings the stadium into your living room, and good speakers can be found for reasonable prices.
  • Utilize your cable or satellite service's DVR feature so you can pause, rewind or fast-forward the action.