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For Sports Authority, Trimalchio's Feast

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By STEVE OTTO

sotto@tampatrib.com

Published: January 16, 2009

With just over two weeks to go, I hope your preparations are well under way for the big game. You know, I mean like stocking up on chips and dip and making sure the fridge is loaded with appropriate beverages.

At our house it has become something of a family tradition to use the Super Bowl game to mark the official end to that diet we vowed to go on at the beginning of January.
Super Bowl snacks have changed through the years, from the early days when it was little more than chips and dip, wings and pizza to today's more elaborate meals. I also know some of you are last-minute shoppers, so here are a few Super Bowl suggestions from your Tampa Sports Authority.

That's right, even if you don't have tickets to the game and will watch it on the tube, now you, too, can eat the same things as your favorite Tampa Sports Authority members and their guests in their Raymond James Stadium suite. The authority members do have to buy their own tickets.

Last week the authority approved a $13,000 budget item to get them through the game. I spoke with Executive Director Henry Saavedra, who said this was the cheapest package available, at $350 a head, not including taxes and service charges and an additional $900 for booze.

That should more than please those of you who understand that even though there is a deepening recession going on in the real world, the TSA members should have a good time. This is the NFL, after all, and we have an image to protect.

So what does $350 get you? Glad you asked.

For Starters

It's broken down into sections, beginning with the Florida tailgate appetizers available to you when the stadium opens and you arrive in the suite about 2 p.m.

You can start with the gourmet popcorn served in the commemorative Super Bowl XLIII container. If you're not a popcorn person, you might sample the Italian antipasti, the fruit platter or the American artisans cheese platter with fruit compote. There also is the Charlotte Harbor blue crab dip, the mini Cuban sandwiches, the apple wood smoked turkey with cranberry apricot chutney, the grilled jerk chicken wings and the dogs and sausage sampler platter.

I know it's not much, but it ought to tide the TSA crowd over until kickoff, when the entrees will be served.

Men Of La Plancha

Choices include Cuban-style braised beef ribs; seared salmon a la plancha (which, of course, is organic toasted couscous with vegetables and tangerine sauce); lobster mac and cheese; smashed yams and sweet plantains; roast pear, endive and watercress salad; and Florida tomato, roasted corn and black bean salad with a chipotle honey vinaigrette.

By then it should be halftime, which means it's dessert time.

The choices include Florida strawberry crisp with streusel topped with Häagen-Dazs vanilla; a pina colada cake; or a selection of Super Bowl XLIII mini desserts and chocolates.

Beer and wine will be available until the end of the third quarter.

After that, I assume the poor souls up in the suite will be on their own. Maybe they could take up a collection and send out for pizza or some dogs to make it through the rest of the game.

Keyword: Otto Graphs, for more of Steve Otto's musings.

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