Super Bowl Sunday is said to be the biggest party day of the year, and area vendors are prepared to tackle fans' hunger.
Super Bowl Sunday is said to be the biggest party day of the year, and area vendors are prepared to tackle fans' hunger, with offerings ranging from gigantic grinders to "beautiful" cakes in the shape of a football field.
“We have so many different offerings,”said Norman E. Vernadakis, director of deli, bakery and food service for Big Y World Class Markets, the Springfield-based supermarket chain.
Big Y is one of the food services gearing up for the big day, Feb. 2, when the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII.
James Vallides, owner of 90 Meat Outlet in Springfield, calls the popular Super Bowl foods comfort food, perhaps especially if your favorite team has not made it to the big game, or is not leading.
He expects customers to buy chicken wings, hamburger for chili, hot dogs, steaks, some pork to make pulled pork. “Super Bowl is pretty much a comfort food party,” he said. “It’s like a tailgate party, not a formal sit-down party.”
His business does not prepare foods, but he has some recipes available if anyone is interested.
He is also owner of Armata's Super Market in Longmeadow, which has plenty of prepared food for the Super Bowl.
Football specialty cakes available too at Armata’s. They are “real beautiful,” said Jose Rivera, head chef.
Rivera's focusing on the preparation of three types of platters: mozzarella and tomato, wings and pulled pork. But orders for specialty platters are accepted. “We sell a lot of platters for regular (football) games,” about 20, he said. “Super Bowl is probably double” that.
Armata’s also accepts orders for meals like mac and beef, lasagna, eggplant Parmesan, rice and beans and steak tips Marsala.
Larry B. Katz, owner of Arnold’s Meats in Chicopee and East Longmeadow, is quick to list the many food items the stores sell for Super Bowl Sunday, notably up to 32,000 pounds of prime rib. “It’s one of the biggest (prime rib) weekends, other than major holidays, like Christmas,” he said.
He expects to sell 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of shrimp, 800 to 900 pounds of meatballs, 600 to 700 pounds of spareribs, and 500 to 600 pounds of kielbasa. “Everybody has their favorite,” he said.
Other popular items include chicken wings, sausages and steaks. “People buy a lot of steaks, and have steak parties,” he said. “They grill outside even if it’s snowing.”
Katz has heard from restaurant and bar owners that when the New England Patriots are not in the Super Bowl, those establishments do more business. “When the home team is in, people stay in and have house parties” more often. When the home team is not playing, people “don’t care if they miss a quarter” of the game.
Nonetheless, he’s expecting his business to be good. “We’ll do fine,” he said. “People are all in good moods.”
If the Patriots are in the Super Bowl, there are “mega parties,” and “everyone does a party,” said Daniel J. Puza, owner of North Elm Butcher Block in Westfield. “Without the Patriots in it, they’re just regular parties.”
Nonetheless, he’s prepared with myriad finger foods his customers want Super Bowl after Super Bowl: stuffed mushroom caps, scallops wrapped in bacon, stuffed shrimp, kielbasa, homemade sausage, platters of cheese, pepperoni and cold cuts. How about a sliced-pepperoni-and-cheese tray, with the pepperoni placed in the shape of a football? North Elm Butcher Block has that.
Though some customers serve steak, steamers or lobsters, the majority like finger foods, Puza said.
Vernadakis had hoped the New England Patriots would be playing in the biggest game of the season, but no matter what teams play, Big Y can provide a variety of team-related desserts. Big Y has quarter-, half- and full-sheet cakes, the largest of which serves 50-60 people.
But first the appetizers and meal: Before the game, which airs at 6:30 p.m. on Fox, Vernadakis suggests appetizers like shrimp, vegetable or cheese platters and wings. (Big Y offers some you cook yourself.) At half time, bring out the pizzas and grinders.
Big Y has 30-inch grinders, three-foot grinders and “the master of it all, a six-foot grinder,” Vernadakis noted. The latter has a pound of meat in every foot and usually serves 20-25 people, “unless it’s guys like me,” he added with a laugh.
“Of course we have chips and dip and the usual finger foods,” he added.
“Stop & Shop is proud to be your one-stop shop for all your big game party needs, from themed balloons to avocados to sausages,” said Stop & Shop spokesperson Lindsay Hawley. “Parties have evolved to the same level of holiday parties, and the foods which are purchased vary greatly.”
Wings and chili have become Stop & Shop shoppers’ favorites, and the most popular fares seem to be barbecue, Mexican, Asian and Italian.
Other categories that have become more popular in recent years are sushi, shellfish and beef alternatives such as ground chicken and turkey as well as football-themed desserts from cakes to cupcakes to brownies.
“Super Bowl is the top day for food service department sales,” Vernadakis enthused. “It’s huge. It’s the number one day of the year, stronger than New Year’s Eve.”