Offering Up a Gastronomical Super Bowl Rematch
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
Super Bowl Sunday is upon us again. And spectacle LVIII is a rematch of spectacle LIV.
Regardless of the long gridiron tradition of the game, it is as anticipated for its off-field festivities as it is for its on-field combat. The season has come down to a single game and the glory and esteem it will bestow on the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs.
Super Bowl Sunday brings together friends and family to indulge in the biggest junk food day of the year. Once a year we indulge guilt-free in those waist-widening, artery-clogging foods we try to avoid fastidiously all year. And what better way to wash down those calories and fat than with your favorite beverage.
But what will we be enjoying this Sunday? I offered my suggestions for the prior matchup of these two teams in 2020. I offer them again as timeless opportunities to enjoy the gastronomy of both cities.
With culinary highlights and lowlights in mind, I offer a Super Bowl Challenge for the best food, wine and beer produced in the two rival football regions.
Food
After New York City, San Francisco is the dining capital of the United States, in my opinion. From the eclectic and bountiful waters of the bay, to the culinary heights of haute cuisine in the downtown area, to the ultimate Italian comfort food in North Beach, diners continually find “one of my favorite meals” in San Francisco. And don’t forget the Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Café.
Kansas City has cultivated a cult following for its pork and beef for more than two centuries. Barbecue restaurants tempt locals and tourists with the aromas of smoldering smoked ribs, chops and brisket. World-acclaimed steakhouses ply their high-quality offerings from prized local ranches and butcher shops. Jess & Jim’s, Pierpont’s at Union Station and Ocean Prime are standout eateries.
In this category the edge goes to San Francisco. Like the 49ers, it consistently delivers on what it promises, at a level far surpassing the norm.
Wine
This is an easy category. Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco lie two of the most famous and highly revered wine regions in the world, Napa and Sonoma counties.
But don’t sell Kansas City short. The history and foundation of the American wine industry must pay tribute to the Norton grape variety, first cultivated in Missouri in the early 19th century. In one year, 1880, production reached two million gallons, the highest in the United States.
Raise your glasses of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as you salute the favored 49ers, facing the powerhouse offense of a Chiefs team akin to the powerful history of the Norton grape.
Beer
Craft beers are growing in popularity, a testament to the new generation of talented brew masters. Both Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes are the new generation of top performers in the league. Mahomes, at 28, is considered one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the game today, rivaled by Purdy at age 24.
San Francisco craft beermakers like Anchor, 21st Amendment, Barrel Head and Cellarmaker have been rising in esteem since the last century.
But don’t count out Kansas City. Its high-powered football team is a reflection of the influence and might of the state’s beer success. Yes, I know St. Louis’ Anheuser Busch is a juggernaut, but are several brands in jeopardy as craft beers gain popularity? Kansas City has its share of popular craft brewers, including Boulevard Brewing, Bier Station and Martin City.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl Champions, San Francisco easily overpowers Kansas City in this category.
Super (Snack) Bowl Sunday: Nirvana for football enthusiasts and junk food aficionados alike. Whichever camp you fall into, just kick back and enjoy the game and the camaraderie.
Nick Antonaccio is a 45-year Pleasantville resident. For over 25 years, he has conducted wine tastings and lectures. Nick is a member and program director of the Wine Media Guild of wine journalists. He also offers personalized wine tastings. Nick’s credo: continuous experimenting results in instinctive behavior. You can reach him at nantonaccio@theexaminernews.com.
