It’s the second biggest food holiday after Thanksgiving, so smart operators are making a play to provide popular, on-trend specials during the NFL Championship Game. Viewing the day as a chance to enjoy their favorite all-American treats, diners on February 7 will be looking for intense, hearty flavors that capture the no-holds-barred spirit of the day.
This year’s celebration promises to be bigger than ever, with viewers clamoring for indulgent snacking during the Sunday evening extravaganza. A recent Nielsen report showed that consumers’ top choices for the day were pizza, salty snacks, dips, appetizers/finger foods, Buffalo wings and nachos. And to wash it all down? The number one beverage, Nielsen reports, is beer, followed by soda and sparkling water.[1]
When creating Sunday game-day specials, consider including craft condiments and signature sauces to help drive sales of game-themed dishes. Diners respond to the “craft concept” with enthusiasm, and sauces in general are a major growth opportunity for all operations. Luckily, flavor innovation is as close as your nearest Marzetti dressing. It’s easy to make tasty toppings that reflect your own creativity and your customers’ preferences. Use the Marzetti products you already have in house, add a dash of a zesty stir-ins, and you’ve got a whole new way to make “in house” saucing better than ever.
If your customers like to kick up the heat when they’re watching the game, consider these flavorfully bold recipes:
Recipes
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Creamy Salsa
Fire Roasted Dipping Sauce
Kicked Up BBQ Sauce
Here are some easy and elegant options for those who want a more sophisticated nibble at the start of a meal:
Artichoke Dip
Spicy Crab Dip
Bacon continues to be on-trend for just about every dining category:
Warm and Creamy Bacon Dip
Read more
Katie Ayoub, writing in Flavor & the Menu, covers a dozen sauce categories and their latest flavor innovations
http://www.getflavor.com/on-trend-sauces/#sthash.yXwSowPv.dpuf
Video extra
Watch a Marzetti® Foodservice video on creating simple signature dips with ranch dressing
