Find it:

Cars =

Homes =

Apartments

Shopping

Classifieds=20

=20

CRIME & COURTS=20
- Indy911 Calls=20
DATA CENTRAL=20
- For the = Record=20
EDUCATION
POLITICS & = GOVERNMENT=20
- Legislature=20
COLUMNISTS=20
- Susan Guyett =
- Matthew Tully=20
STATE
NATION & WORLD=20
- National
- International =
- Business =
- Health
- Politics =
- Sports
- Science
- Technology =
- Offbeat=20
SPECIAL REPORTS =
LOTTERIES
VIDEO =

MARION CO.=20
BOONE CO.=20
- Zionsville=20
HAMILTON CO.=20
- Carmel
- Fishers
- Noblesville =
- Westfield=20
HANCOCK CO.=20
- Greenfield=20
HENDRICKS CO.=20
- Avon
- Brownsburg =
- Danville
- Plainfield=20
JOHNSON CO.=20
- Franklin
- Greenwood=20

TALK INDY/LETTERS =
- Letters to the = Editor=20
- Let it Out =
- StarWatch=20
EDITORIALS =
BLOGS=20
- Expresso
- Fresh = Thoughts
- First = Thoughts
- In Touch
- My Indiana =
- Reader blogs =
READER FORUMS
ANDREA NEAL
DAN CARPENTER =
DENNIS RYERSON =
RUSS PULLIAM
GARY VARVEL =

CAREERS=20
HEALTH=20 CARE & PHARMA
MARKETS=20
- Indiana=20 Stocks
- My=20 watchlist
- Most=20 active
- Quickrank<= /A>=20
- Industry=20 groups
- A-Z=20 list
NATIONAL
RETAIL=20 & REAL ESTATE
SMALL=20 BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY=20
COLUMNISTS=20
- John=20 Ketzenberger
- Dana=20 Knight
- Daniel=20 Lee
- Erika=20 Smith

COLTS=20
- Phillip B. = Wilson
- Colts = Insider=20
PACERS=20
- Pacers = Insider=20
HOOSIERS=20
- Hoosiers = Insider=20
BOILERS=20
- Boilers = Insider=20
COLLEGES=20
- Ball=20 State
- Butler=20
- Evansville=20
- Indiana=20 State
- IPFW=20
- IUPUI=20
- Notre=20 Dame
- Valparaiso=20
PREPS=20 PLUS=20
- Preps = Insider=20
MOTORSPORTS=20
- IRL=20
- IRL = Insider
- NASCAR=20
- NASCAR = Insider=20
BOB=20 KRAVITZ
OTHER=20 SPORTS=20
- Fever/WNBA=20
- Indians/MLB=20
- Ice/NHL=20
- Golf=20
- Tennis=20
- Boxing=20
- Horse=20 Racing
SCORES=20 & STATS
VIDEO =

BOOKS=20
CELEBRATIONS=20
- Anniversaries
- Engagements =
- Weddings=20
FAITH=20
PEOPLE=20
- Lori=20 Borgman
FOOD=20 & DRINK=20
- Jolene=20 Ketzenberger
HEALTH=20 & FITNESS=20
- Shari=20 Rudavsky
HOME=20 & GARDEN=20
- Dick=20 Crum
PUZZLES=20 & MORE=20
- Comics=20
- Crossword =
- Horoscopes=20
- Sudoku =
SHOPPING=20 & FASHION=20
- Jenny=20 Elig
TRAVEL=20
- USAToday=20 Travel

MULTIMEDIA=20
- V= ideos=20
ARCHIVES=20
READER FORUMS
E-NEWSLETTERS=20
INDYSTAR STORE
WEATHER =

= SITE=20 INDEX
CONTACT = US=20
- Staff list=20
SUBSCRIBER = SERVICES=20
- Subscrib= e=20 now
- Account = info
- Billing = questions
- Chan= ge=20 address
- Renew=20 subscription
- Mail=20 subscription
- eSTAR = electronic edition
- More=20
ADVERTISING INFO =
- Media kit
- Classifieds=20
= NEWSROOM=20 SERVICES=20
- Buy = photos
- Public=20 service counter
- Send=20 press releases, community news
- Reprints=20
- Staff lists =
- Terms=20 of service
ONLINE HELP=20
- Report = issues
- What's=20 available
- FAQ/Tips=20
JOBS WITH US=20
- About=20 us
- Benefits=20
- Culture=20
- Search=20 jobs
- Pulliam=20 Fellowships

Add=20 your thoughts: IU basketball=20

Who should Hoosiers hire as their coach?

Party like it's XLII

Let the site of this year's Super Bowl fuel your theme

=20

By Jolene=20 Ketzenberger

Posted: January 23, 2008

=
E-mail=20
Print=20
Share=20
- =20 Del.icio.us
- Digg
- =20 Reddit
- Yahoo=20
- =20 Google

A=20

Whether your tastes run to chips and dip or a more elaborate = Southwestern=20 spread, party planners say the Phoenix-area location for the Feb. 3 = Super Bowl=20 XLII provides the perfect theme for a game-watching get-together.

"It could be a football fiesta," said Jennifer McKinney-Seet, an = Indianapolis=20 event planner with Thomas Caterers of Distinction.

The location of the game yields plenty of ideas for = Southwest-inspired dishes=20 and decor, said McKinney-Seet, who designed a game-day menu and = tablescape with=20 a fiesta focus.

"You don't need to go overboard, but the little touches are nice," = she said,=20 "even something like serving Arizona Iced Teas."

For a festive event from start to finish, begin with the invitation, = said=20 McKinney-Seet. "You could even send out invitations that actually look = like=20 football tickets."

Web sites such as www .party411.com offer customizable invitations; = you'll=20 also find Southwestern-themed invitations announcing your get-together = as "Nacho=20 Ordinary Super Bowl Party."

As such bad puns might suggest, a Super Bowl soiree is not exactly an = elegant=20 affair, so you might as well get into the spirit of the event. An array = of=20 football-themed decorations are available, from full-size player and = cheerleader=20 cutouts that guests can stick their heads into for photos, to Super Bowl = XLII=20 plates, napkins and cups.

Even if you choose casual paper goods, there are plenty of ways to = dress up a=20 buffet. McKinney-Seet and Thomas Caterers of Distinction co-owner Kelly = Early=20 created a festive table -- complete with a pigskin-style tablecloth = accented by=20 trays of real grass -- and a menu that included tortilla soup shooters, = seafood=20 margaritas, grilled corn salsa and spicy meat-filled turnovers called=20 empanadillas.

The company's chef, Eric Day, loved the idea of a Southwestern fiesta = menu.

"One of my favorite types of food is Southwestern food," said Day. "I = just=20 like the way they use fresh ingredients."

For the tortilla shooters, he created a soup that is heartier than = most=20 tortilla soups, with more flavor and a thicker texture that comes from = cooking=20 tortillas right in the broth. The seafood margarita, which features = salmon,=20 crab, shrimp and avocado, is served in a cocktail glass and garnished = with fried=20 tortilla strips.

Other dishes on his game-day menu include fajitas, pigs in a blanket, = a=20 seven-layer dip and football-shaped brownies.

But whatever you choose, keep it simple and easy to eat, said = McKinney-Seet,=20 noting that you don't want guests juggling plates and silverware while = watching=20 TV.

"People like barbecue wings, jalape=EF=BF=BDo poppers -- anything you = can eat with=20 your fingers. You want things that are grab-and-go items."

Consider offering plastic cups for guests to fill with snacks, = allowing them=20 to take their treats back to the TV. Because even with fabulous food, = the real=20 star of any Super Bowl party is the game.

"Put a TV in every room and radios in the bathrooms," said = McKinney-Seet.

Even the commercials can prove popular with viewers, which can make = it tough=20 to get guests to the buffet table, especially if it's in another room.=20 McKinney-Seet suggested setting up several food stations: a table for = drinks,=20 another for the main spread and another -- not far from the TV -- for = snack=20 refills.

While some hosts might see halftime as the perfect opportunity to get = guests=20 to finally head for that buffet table or play party games, keep in mind = that=20 some fans won't budge from the Barcalounger.

But even those who are glued to the TV can play a variation on = Football Party=20 Bingo, said Early, a football fan who has played the game herself. = Guests mark a=20 bingo-like sheet whenever they spot such game-related activities as a=20 quarterback sack or a blocked punt.

"It's a riot," she said.

Call Star reporter Jolene Ketzenberger at (317)=20 444-6755.

In your voice

Read reactions to this story

Add your = comment (max 1000=20 characters)

You = must be logged=20 in to leave a comment. Login= =20 | Reg= ister=20

=20

{staffMark}

{authorIcon}

{authorHandle}=20 wrote:

{commentBody}
{commentTimestamp}

{recommendLink}

{reportAbuseLink} =

=20

Report item = as:=20 (required) X=20

Comment: (optional)

=20

Missing input fields.

You must fill out the comment body in order = to submit=20 a comment.

Comment too long.

The comment you have entered is too long. = Please=20 limit your post to {maxchars} characters or less.

=20 Zoom

Touchdown Tortilla Soup Shooters are served in tiny cactus-shaped = shot=20 glasses by Thomas Caterers of Distinction, 4440 N. Keystone Ave. = Wheatgrass=20 gives the display a turf look. - Rob Goebel / The Star

RELATED MULTIMEDIA

Kick=20 off game day with enticing snacks

Kick=20 off game day with enticing snacks

RELATED INFORMATION

Here are a few Super Bowl party tips, from certified event planner = Jennifer=20 McKinney-Seet of Thomas Caterers of Distinction in = Indianapolis.
1. Use=20 plenty of color in the party decor. "Once you know what the teams = are, you=20 can go all out with that. You could even split the living room in=20 half."
2. Keep the drinks separate from the food. "If you = don't, it=20 causes a backlog."
3. Make sure there's plenty of room around the = TV.=20 "You actually want to remove as much furniture as you can and bring in = extra=20 chairs."
4. Be creative when it comes to serving pieces. "Who = said=20 chips have to be in a bowl?"
5. Consider your crowd when deciding = when to=20 serve the food. "You can encourage your guests to come an hour or so = early.=20 Or you can set out hors d'oeuvres and wait until halftime to bring out = the=20 heavier items."

Where to get the goods
To round up = party gear,=20 check these sources used by McKinney-Seet.
=E2=80=A2 Pigskin table = linen:=20 www.bbjlinen.com.
=E2=80=A2 Wheatgrass: The Grass Shack, 4923 = E. 161st St.,=20 Noblesville; (317) 714-1734; www.thegrassshack.com.
=E2=80=A2 = Decorations and=20 props: local party stores; Kipp Brothers toy and novelty supplier, = 9760=20 Mayflower Park Drive, Carmel; (317) 704-8120; = www.kipptoys.com.
=E2=80=A2=20 Invitations, party planning ideas, decorations:=20 www.party411.com.

LOCAL NEWS ALERTS

IN THE NEWS

TOP HEADLINES

Kindergarten=20 bus flips in Decatur Township=20
Pacers=20 deny Walsh is headed to the Knicks=20
More=20 Indiana schools show achievement=20
Cuonzo=20 Martin interviews at Missouri St.=20
Consumer=20 confidence slips to 5-year low

More=20

MOST RECOMMENDED

MARKETPLACE

JOBS
CARS
HOMES
RENT
STUFF

Find the best job
in Central Indiana and=20 beyond

Keyword(s): City: Select=20 a state: Select a = Category:=20 =20

Searc= h for=20 Jobs=20
Post=20 Resume=20
My=20 CareerBuilder=20
Tools=20 & Advice=20
For=20 Employers

Place an ad

Online= =20 & Print

Search for your next car in central Indiana and beyond.

Place an ad=20

Online and=20 print | Print=20

Find your next home in central Indiana.

City/neighborhood State = =20 = Price=20 range

Place an ad=20

Online | Print =

Find your next apartment in central Indiana.

Search=20 by ZIP=20
Get listings = emailed=20
Moving=20 center=20
Apartment=20 Living

Place an ad=20

Online=20 | Print =

Sell and buy merchandise in central Indiana's marketplace

Sell your = stuff:=20

We make it easy to = place your=20 print and online ad.

Browse classifieds:=20

All=20 merchandise=20
Pets=20
Furnitu= re=20
Garage=20 Sales=20
Da= ily=20 deals

SU= BSCRIBER=20 HELP CENTER

Spe= cial=20 offer

Chan= ge=20 address=20
Billing = questions=20
eStar edition=20
Subscriptio= ns by=20 mail

Extras=20
Obituaries=20
Crossword=20
Sudoku=20
Comics=20
Horoscopes=20
Multimedia=20
Archives=20
Forums | Blogs=20
Newsletters | = RSS=20
Mobile=20

Partners: Indy.com | IndyMoms.com | IndyPaws.com | Gannett Co. Inc. | USA TODAY

Terms=20 of Service |=20
Privacy=20 Policy |=20
Contact Us |=20
About Us |=20
Work for Us |=20
Subscrib= e=20