As Super Bowl LIX approaches, Guy Fieri, J.J. Watt and Carla Hall are sharing their advice on how to throw the most epic get-together for the Big Game.
“People like the fall, holidays and summer,” Fieri, 57, exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “[But] football season is my favorite season of the year.”
While Fieri sees Super Bowl Sunday as a sports enthusiast’s biggest holiday, Hall, 60, believes that the game is a pop culture moment for all to enjoy.
“It’s not just about the [football],” the Top Chef alum tells Us. “We wanna see the commercials. It’s what food are you gonna be eating? It’s coming together with your friends.”
So what does it take to host the ultimate Super Bowl party? Keep scrolling to see Fieri, Watt and Hall’s expert tips:
Turn Your Party Into an Event
To accommodate a large gathering, Fieri recommends having a couple of TVs playing the game so your guests can feel comfortable.
“We have one outside, one here in the kitchen, one in the living room,” the restaurateur, who recently launched Flavortown Cookware, tells Us.
To make the party more exciting and lively, Hall suggests making things interesting by incorporating some games into the viewing experience.
“Have a football pool, but it would also be fun to do a bingo game where you ask questions about the teams that keep people engaged in the game,” she says. “Like, which quarterback is gonna make the first touchdown? It keeps people chatting and there’s no lull.”
Prepare Snacks in Advance
“Don’t carry the whole burden yourself,” Fieri advises. “People want to put on this big spread, and they spend all their time in the kitchen yelling, ‘What just happened?’ Do foods that you can set up and get ’em done. Chicken wings — hot chicken wings, not so hot, they’re fine. Let people put the sauces on ’em. People want to warm them up, throw them in an air fryer.”
Give Them Options
When it’s up to the Mayor of Flavortown, he prefers for his guests to have plenty of choices for what to put on their game day plate.
“Not everybody likes the same thing,” Fieri says. “Roast a piece of prime rib or top round and slice it thin. You could go French dips, you could go hot Italian beef, you could go barbecue sandwiches, you could go an Asian banh mi.”
Three Zone Strategy
While not everyone will be as tapped into the games as others, Watt has a foolproof method to ensure everyone has a blast during the gathering.
“You have to have a three zone strategy,” the former defensive end tells Us. “You have the kitchen where the food and conversation happen. You have a socializing TV room where the game is on, but people are in and out. And you have a football-dedicated zone: this is where the guys — or gals! — that really want to lock in on the game go. Don’t mess with them!”
For more on Fieri, Watt and Hall pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.
