Some super eats for Super Bowl

GREER WYLDER

Whether a true-blue Patriots fan, one of the high-flying Eagles

faithful or just a casual spectator, Super Bowl Sunday means a party

for everyone.

Fans will graze on chips, pretzels and tortilla chips, as well as

appetizers like nachos, wings and shrimp cocktails. Americans eat

more snack foods on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day -- and

nearly as much food as on Thanksgiving.

Most Americans will watch the kickoff from a comfy sofa or chair

at home. Yet many fans attend fun Super Bowl parties at restaurants.

In Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, the game will be on and plenty of

serious party snacks, hearty foods and drinks will be served at

Wingnuts on Harbor Boulevard, the Sutra Lounge and The Ritz.

Super Bowl Sunday marks the busiest day of the year at Wingnuts in

Costa Mesa, with 20 televisions tuned into the game, a football fan’s

dream menu and convenient Super Bowl take-out packages for parties at

home.

This restaurant was made for Super Bowl Sunday. Wingnuts carries

the distinction as the only local restaurant specializing in chicken

wings -- 30 varieties -- as well as three styles of ribs in 10

flavors. The take-out line can stretch so long, that a keg and TV

(weather permitting) will be set up on the patio.

“It’s going to be a to-go party,” manager Tim Donovan said.

Other Super Bowl festivities include a Super Bowl pool, with

payouts at each quarter. A $5 buy-in gets you into the pool with

proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Costa Mesa. A big-screen

TV will be given away at halftime.

Game-day to-go specials range from a Super Bowl feast that serves

12 or more hungry fans, for $125.99, to five packages that serve a

group of six, for $47.99.

The feast is a huge spread -- it includes 100 wings in your choice

of two flavors, five full racks of cherrywood-smoked baby back ribs,

2 1/2 pounds of homemade propeller chips (thinly sliced fried

potatoes) and dip, a family-sized salad with dressing, two pounds of

smoked baked beans and two pounds of fresh cole slaw.

Chicken wings range from mild-flavored wings to the most extreme

double-dog dare.

“We have a five-tier heat system. The most popular is the standard

hot wing, it won’t drive anyone away; it’s got the right amount of

heat and sodium,” Donovan said. “The double-dog dare is hot as you’re

going to get. We press the extract out of habanero chiles and then

put it on top of the ouch sauce.”

It’s even served with medical gloves and goggles.

Wing prices range from 12 pieces for $8.29; 20 pieces for $12.49;

50 pieces for $25; to 100 pieces for $43.99.

For bargain meals, there’s the rib and wing combo, a full meal for

just $14, and the gridiron grinder, which includes 12 chicken wings and a 23-ounce glass of domestic draft beer for $9.99.

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday. 3030 Harbor Blvd in Costa Mesa. (714) 434-7700.

www.wingnuts.biz

Sutra Lounge will celebrate Super Bowl Sunday by hosting a

fundraising event to benefit the Lighthouse Guild of Olive Crest

Abused Children’s Foundation. A tailgate party begins at 1:30 p.m.

The event includes a live performance by the Laker Girls,

aphrodisiac-inspired foods served by Sutra, prime viewing on a giant

screen TV, football opportunity pools, and scheduled appearances by

NFL players. Pre-sale tickets cost $75, while tickets are $90 at the

door.

Sutra Lounge is at 1870 Harbor Blvd. at Triangle Square. (800)

550-CHILD, ext. 8129. www.oclighthouse.com.

At the upscale The Ritz, a Super Bowl barbecue party is scheduled

in the garden and bar. The covered, outdoor, heated garden seats 50

to 100.

During the game, a barbecue menu will be served, while football

fans can watch the game on two flat-screen plasma televisions.

The menu includes a jumbo kosher hot dog ($7.50); a bowl of

Hadley’s Truck Stop chili ($1.50); or the “Famous” Ritz burger

($10.50). There’s also a choice of baby back ribs, barbecue chicken,

barbecue ribs and chicken combo ($19.95 each); prime top sirloin

($20) and a sirloin steak and lobster ($36). The Ritz’s dinner menu

will also be available.

There will be raffles and prizes, too.

The Ritz opens at 2 p.m. with the kickoff at 3 p.m. Reservations

only. 880 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. (949) 720-1800.

www.ritzrestaurant.com.

* BEST BITES runs every Friday. Reach Greer Wylder at

greerwylder@yahoo.com; at 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626;

or by fax at (714) 966-4679.