How to throw a perfect Super Bowl party on Feb. 11

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January 31

The Super Bowl is less than two weeks away, and it's prime time to gather friends and family for a watch party.

We recently caught up with Sonya Keister, Gold Country food writer, blogger and private chef, whose new cookbook, "Chef's Table: Concepts and Recipes for Gathering" (Keister, $40), provides a playbook for anyone looking to throw the perfect Super Bowl party: one where the hosts get to relax and enjoy the game too. Obviously, planning ahead will help with that "get to relax" part, she says, but even an 11th-hour host can pull these dishes off.

Sonya Keister's new "Chef's Table" cookbook devotes a chapter to hosting a tailgate or elevated football watch party. (Courtesy Patrick el Mouzawak and Cynthia-el Hasbani)

Q: Can you tell us about the cookbook and your go-to recipes for football gatherings?

A: The cookbook has 12 seasonal concepts for gathering, and I wanted to include a really casual, fun Super Bowl Party concept to demonstrate that a dinner party doesn't have to be fancy. You can have great food in a casual setting, and sometimes, that's even more fun.

There are great home cooks out there and great recipes and blogs, but people can struggle with how to tie it all together. When I first started entertaining and doing dinner parties, that's where I struggled as well. I've learned that skill set over the years: how to plan out the menu, how to shop for things ahead of time and what steps can be done ahead of time. What this Super Bowl menu is about is having fun with your friends and creating some dishes that are more elevated, but remind you of going to a football game.

Q: What are some of those tips and tricks?

A: With the Super Bowl in particular, have fun with it. If you're going to use the menu that I'm suggesting, pick a fun presentation, tie in the theme with your decor. Focus on your guests having fun, watching the game and grazing. A good Super Bowl party is one that has that stadium food and a fun vibe.

Q: Stadium food but … better? Can you give us some examples?

Sonya Keister is the Folsom-based author of "Chef's Table: Concepts and Recipes for Gathering." (Courtesy Patrick el Mouzawak)

A: The arancini with mozzarella is reminiscent of mozzarella sticks. Arancini is an Italian dish. It's the Italian answer to what to do with day-old risotto. You can make that risotto a day ahead, cooking rice down with wine and herbs, adding some gooey cheese. And the real kick and flavor comes from this homemade marinara sauce. You blister fresh peppers and tomatoes and blend it all together, so you have this spicy homemade marinara to dunk those risotto balls into.

My personal favorite dish is the kielbasa (in puff pastry). You can buy kielbasa anywhere or use your favorite flavor. I highly recommend all-butter puff pastry. Places like Whole Foods have it. It's so flaky and delicious. You just wrap it up, bake it and serve it with a hot honey dipping sauce made with a little bit of crème fraîche. We're using familiar flavors — the pigs in a blanket concept — with elevated, gourmet ingredients. That one's delicious and super easy to pull off. (And you can make the sauces ahead of time.)

The other recipe that is my favorite is a corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich with an egg. The egg melts into the pretzel bun, and there's a secret sauce that goes with that. That one is to fill that rich game-day Philly cheesesteak or burger concept, instead of sliders.

I also set up a Bloody Mary bar. Anything that people can do and interact with their food is fun. If I have kids there, I also put out a root beer float bar.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

A: This cookbook is not just about the recipes, it's a plan for the home cook. Just like if you're playing ball, there's a game plan. This is the game plan for your Super Bowl party. Just go through the recipes and go through the checklist, and you'll be winning.