A Food Guide to the Greatest Sports Day of 2015
By Dean Watkins
May 2nd might the most anticipated sports day of 2015, from an anticipated boxing match in Vegas to the jewel of the Triple Crown, from the NFL draft to the NBA/NHL playoffs – and soccer! – there is something in it for everyone this Saturday.
Every great sporting holiday needs a menu, a guide to navigate you through one of the spectacular moments in couch potato history. If you’re looking for in depth sports commentary you won’t find any game breakdowns, fight hype or information on what horse you should bet on in this post however you will not leave longing for nourishment.
Morning Eats/Events
1:30 pm. EPL: Man United v West Brom (CNBC)
12:30 p.m. New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals (NBC)
Fado Irish pub- Fish and chips
All foodies know that you get the most bang for your buck during breakfast. Since the day starts with soccer, well “Football” to 90% of you who are watching this match you should head on down to your local pub and order some Fish and Chips. Don’t order your pub’s finest draft or ale though, if you want to make it through to the “Fight of the century”, choose something lighter and more brunch oriented like a mimosa. Your tough guy card might be taken but the Vitamin C will thwart off many of the hangover symptoms that you are bound to succumb to. If Hockey is your thing the fish and chips will suffice, the Canadian menu is a….. limited one.
Afternoon Eats/Events:
So it’s around 3 pm, you’re heading home after another Ho-Hum Red Devil performance and accepting the new expectations of a once proud club, but there is reason for hope because the NFL draft is winding down and you probably feel like your team has just picked up its final piece to complete its Lombardi puzzle. If the draft coverage has become too much, there is always the 2,123rd meeting of the Red Sox v Yankees to watch. Now to the good part the food….
Since it’s un-American for me to put a limit on what you can eat I decided to pick the best eats and drinks from each afternoon event.
Noon — 8 pm. NFL Draft Rounds 4-7 (ESPN, NFL Network)
Well since the draft is in Chicago for the first time this year you have to go with the Windy cities’ most famous dish. Yes NYC, Chicago pizza is better!
1:35 p.m. New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (YES, NESN) –
Fenway Park: Chicken Taco Salad
Not the most traditional ballpark item, but hey you can tell your Crossfit and Soul cycle friends that you ate a salad.
4 p.m. Kentucky Derby Pre-race coverage (NBC)
Old Forester Kentucky Bourbon.
It’s the official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and also the key ingredient to Churchill Downs’ most famous drink the Mint Julep.
NBA: 8 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers (TNT)
Kindersbbq- Garlicky chicken wings
Eating chicken wings and watching sports are as traditional as watching Tim Duncan in the playoffs, so the choice here was a no brainier.
Night eats
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquaio (PPV) —
MGM Grand buffet/ Krug Chamapgne
Assuming you’re not in a food coma, you made it to the main event. By the time the fight rolls around (midnight? Later?) all regard for discipline or healthy eating should be out the window. Indulge! Whatever your favorite eats are bring it to the table, sit back ,witness history and wash it down with some grade A champagne.