Super Bowl 50 is fast approaching, and what better way to celebrate this mind blowing spectacle than with a tailgate party hosted by none other than Chef Matt Dean Pettit (MDP) of Rock Lobster fame. Sports has always been a huge part of Matt’s life, at one time his goal was to be a real life Jerry Maguire, and when he was in university, he “sat out” one of his years to head over to the UK to work and play rugby. So yeah, this guy knows a thing or two about sports.
I didn’t know what to expect, “Food and drink will of course be provided in Rock Lobster Tail Gating fashion!”, was what the email said, but what did that mean?
When we got there I realized that the food being served were some delicious dishes created by MDP specifically for Super Bowl. I ended up talking to one of the reps from NFL Canada and he was telling me how they’re changing their thinking on how to promote the big game. He acknowledged that the big viewing parties do have their place, but they’ve come to realize that a lot of people like to watch the game at home so they decided to partner up with chefs, like Matt, to help create some dishes that we could easily make while at home.
Matt started us off with his West Coast Crab Dip – A dip made with chunks of Dungeness crab and cheeses in a creamy base and served in a bread bowl
West Coast Crab Dip
Next up was his Canuck Chili – beef, beans, and a whole lot of other goodness that played nice with each other.
Canuck Chili
And what would a party be without some amazing sandwiches. For these Matt prepared his slow roasted football ham.
Football Ham
Now the next dish is what made the carnivore in me very, very happy. Matt brought out his Golden Drumsticks. Yes, football just ain’t the same without wings, but believe me, these drumsticks make a damn good replacement. Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- 50 chicken drumsticks
- ½ cup light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups hot sauce (choose your favourite)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Rinse chicken drumsticks under water, and pat dry using paper towels.
- In a large roasting pan, lay the drumsticks flat and evenly pour across the soy sauce, and sprinkle the brown sugar and black pepper. Using your hands, toss the drumsticks to fully cover them in the marinade mixture. Cover the pan with tin foil. Place pan in fridge for 30 minutes to allow flavors to combine.
- On two large baking sheets, divide the chicken drumsticks, laying them side by side. Place one sheet on the top rack and second sheet on the bottom rack in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the melted butter and hot sauce. Set aside until needed.
- Remove the drumsticks from the oven, and turn each of them over. Baste them with the butter and hot sauce mixture. Reserve the remaining butter and hot sauce mixture. Place the drumsticks back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Remove the drumsticks from the oven, and toss them in butter and hot sauce mixture. Eat and watch the Big Game!
It was a fun night and MDP and his amazing team delivered some kick ass food that anyone watching the game would enjoy. Come to think of it, you don’t need to be watching football to enjoy these dishes, they’ll work any time, from Super Bowl to a lazy weekend at home to Valentine’s Day. Although your significant other may not appreciate these on Valentine’s.
So now that you’ve seen the final dishes, do you want the recipes? Calm down, calm down, they’re just a click away. Head over to the NFL Canada #HomeGating site to see Matt make them, and, as an added bonus, you can also see how he makes his a delicious dessert to end this meal: Maple Taffy. Enjoy and let me know in the comments below what dish you can see yourself making, or tell me about your own family tradition for Super Bowl.
[…] photo credit: goatrotichronicles […]