Celebrate Sunday’s Super Bowl with city-centric foods
There are only ever two cities that can celebrate their own in the Super Bowl, and yet it’s projected that the day after this year’s big game, roughly 16 million employees will call into work with what’s often called the “Super Bowl Flu,” per a Harris Poll on behalf of the UKG Workforce Institute.
Why?
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National award-winning barbecue champ — and the Kenny behind Uncle Kenny’s Take-Away truck — could list a bunch of reasons stemming from all the celebrating viewers do, “even if they’re only watching for the commercials,” says Kenny Nadeau. “But food is at the center of it. It’s what really brings people together around the Super Bowl or any big sporting event.”
Nadeau, a St. Louis native, has had his football ups and downs as his city’s teams have come and gone, but over time, Nadeau — whom you may also remember as the Kenny behind Clermont’s beloved Uncle Kenny’s BBQ — has grown into something of a Chiefs fan.
“In doing barbecue over the years, I’ve come to support and love the Kansas City teams,” he says. The Clermont ‘cue joint shuttered in 2022, but his traditional Kansas City-style sauce, precisely what this Midwestern style is known for, has been winning major competitions for years, including the World Series of Barbecue, which takes place annually in the Chiefs’ hometown.
The Midwest loves its sauce sweet, but San Francisco loves its bread sour, which makes this crusty loaf a fine way to serve all kinds of snacks at your Super Bowl soiree. And you could do a lot worse than the beautiful breads of CM Bakari.
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You may even have tasted it already, as the bakery’s wares are on-menu in places like The Ravenous Pig and The Foreigner, but you can grab one up before the game on Saturday at Hot & Heavy, an extra-special market at The Heavy (10 a.m.-4 p.m; 1152 Harmon Ave. in Winter Park).
Founder/baker Cesar Cruz isn’t much of a sports guy (“a little tennis, a little soccer,” he says), but he definitely knows his sourdough — and what it means to San Francisco.
“It’s been a staple there for close to 200 years,” he notes. “And since having the food from the [competing] cities is a fun way to represent the teams, it’s a good choice. You could make sandwiches, of course, but doing small slices, bruschetta-style is perfect for a party. You can put anything on a piece of sourdough, and it will be good.”
Though barbecue fans often have a favorite region, most just enjoy the cuisine overall, says Nadeau.
“What’s distinctive about Kansas City barbecue is the sauce,” he says. “Lots of people say that if barbecue is done right, it doesn’t need sauce, and that’s true, but the sauce is one of the things that makes Kansas City-style special in legendary places like Arthur Bryant’s and Gates’ BBQ, which are known all over the United States.”
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Though Kansas City loves its pulled pork, Nadeau says ribs are most prevalent. And fans need to come prepared.
“You might need a whole bag of baby wipes,” he laughs. The sauce is sweet and goes on when the ribs are done.
“You’ll sauce ’em up and put ’em back on the grill and let it set up for about 15 minutes,” he says. “And then you’re enjoying it so much, you’ve got that rib up in your face, and before you know it, the sauce is all over you. No one wears a white shirt to a Kansas City barbecue.”
Nadeau’s truck is rolling all over the place these days — you can find out where by following on social media — but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with your own basted rack. His award-winning traditional sauce, done in the Kansas City style, is available at most Ace Hardware locations in Lake County, Billy’s Meat Market in Groveland and Choice Meats in Winter Garden.
And if you can’t make The Heavy this weekend — where Cruz will be selling his popular country loaf — you’ll find him at the Audubon Park Community Market on Monday with a much wider selection of breads. (And by the way, his sourdough crust pizza’s killer, too!)
And if you’re looking forward to a nice home-alone Super Bowl without the pressure to cook, that bread’s appeal only goes up.
“I like it best with butter and a little bit of salt,” says Cruz.
As an added bonus, you may have some leftovers for a late breakfast while you nurse that Monday “flu.”
More info
Uncle Kenny’s Take-Away: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093489181629
CM Bakari: instagram.com/cmbakari.fl; hotplate.com/cmbakarifl (pre-orders)
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
