Food is number one on the list. People are going to be snacking before, during and after the game so the more food the better.

The Deli Platter

A deli platter is a great way for people to snack. Select your favorite deli meats and cheeses. Perhaps turkey, ham and roast beef with cheddar, pepper jack and swiss cheeses. Tell the deli attendant how many people you are expecting and they’ll be able to help with the quantity. Pick up some dinner rolls so your guests can make mini sandwiches too, Hawaiian rolls are always a crowd pleaser. Next you’ll need the fixins’; keep it simple- mayo, mustard, lettuce and tomato. You’ll want to display everything on a large platter or a few smaller serving trays. This way your guests can help themselves to some deli meats and cheeses or make mini sandwiches to snack on.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Next on the list- Buffalo Chicken Dip! This dip is delicious and easy to make. You’ll need a rotisserie chicken from the store, jack cheese, ranch or bleu cheese dressing, whipped cream cheese and Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

Remove all the meat from the chicken. You can shred it with a fork or pulse it in a food processor for a bit. Next you’ll mix the chicken with the hot sauce. Pour in enough to cover all the chicken. Feel free to add more if you want that extra kick!  Set that aside.

You’ll now layer the ingredients in a large 13×9 baking dish. Start with the cream cheese (whipped is easiest to spread) and spread until the bottom is covered.  Next, you’ll want to add the chicken mixture over the cream cheese.  Now pour the ranch or bleu cheese dressing over the chicken mixture.  Finally, finish it all off by topping it all with shredded jack cheese.  Bake in the over at 350 for about 10- 15 minutes.  Nothing in this dip needs to cook, the baking is simply to warm everything up and melt the cheese.  Serve with tortilla chips, celery stalks and carrot sticks.  Dip and enjoy!

Italian Sausages

Now onto some Italian Sausages.  These are fairly simple, have few ingredients and they’re the perfect addition to any sporting event.  You’ll need the following ingredients (quantities will vary depending on the size of your party):
Italian sausage links or sausage of your choice:

1. Olive oil
2. Sweet onion, sliced
3. Red and green bell peppers, sliced
4. Garlic, minced
5. Salt and pepper
6. Deli rolls

Start by boiling a large pot of water.  Cook the sausage in the water for about 10 minutes.  Remove from the boiling water and drain on a paper towel, set aside.  Saute the veggies with olive oil, salt and pepper and minced garlic.  Cook until fragrant and tender.  Push veggies aside and add the sausage to allow the flavors to combine.  Cook sausages until brown and crispy.  Split rolls and add sausage and pepper mixture.

Baked Potato Food Bar

I’m a big fan of food bars because they’re easy, customizable and a great way to serve larger groups.  Who doesn’t love a baked potato?  You’ll need to plan on about one potato per guest.  Scrub and poke all of the potatoes, then pop them in the oven directly on the oven rack and bake at 400 for about 1 hour.  Once the potatoes are finished, individually wrap them in foil to help keep the heat in.  Place the foil wrapped potatoes in a large bowl or serving tray.  Place individual serving dishes with a variety of baked potato toppings to complete the bar.  Here are some suggested toppings: chili, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, diced onion, chopped green onion, butter, sour cream and of course, salt and pepper.  Your guests will be able to enjoy they’re favorite style baked potato!
As you can see a good amount of preparation goes into throwing a great party.  In order to save some time feel free to pick up some ready to eat extras at your local grocery or club store.  Both will have a variety of ready to cook appetizers, potato salad, macaroni salad, desserts and of course chips and pre-made dips.  Adding some of these extras will complete your party and ensure that you and your guests have plenty to enjoy throughout the game.

Decorations

Now decorations aren’t necessarily a must, however they can be very easy to do if you’re considering them. Party supply stores as well as grocery and drug stores carry a variety of Superbowl decor. Party supply places will carry Superbowl XLV specific decor and have a football section if you’d rather invest in pieces that can be used again. You can also add your favorite team colors to the serving items.  The best option is to get a few Superbowl XLV statement pieces like a banner or paper plates, then add a football shaped serving dish and Packer or Steeler colored utensils, napkins, cups etc.  It isn’t necessary to go all out with the decorations.  If you’re on a budget, use the money for the food first.  However, if you want to really knock your socks off with the decor there will be plenty of items to make that happen.

Remember it’s about spending time with your friends and family, enjoying great food and getting into the Superbowl spirit.  So whoever you are rooting for make sure your enjoy your Superbowl Sunday!

This article is brought to you courtesy of Nissa Moreno from Haute Tea

You may think making friends with the owner is the best way to be part of the inside crowd.  Although that is definitely one way, it is not necessarily the best.  If the owner is at the bar, he or she is often behind the scenes, which doesn’t necessarily help you.  Besides, more people than you might think drop the owner’s name so unless he or she is present it won’t hold too much merit at the door.

The person at the door is going to be one of your best bets.  Making friends with him will result in a few benefits.  If there is a line, chances are he will get you in without having to wait.  If the bar is charging a cover, he might also be able to waive the cover charge or at least work out a discount.  Tipping the door guy for helping you out will always benefit you!

Once you are inside, buddy up to the bartender.  As I have mentioned before, bartenders love regulars. Establishing a relationship with your favorite bartender has plenty of benefits! Your wait time will be short if at all and you may receive a free drink or shot on occasion. Taking care of your bartender by having your order ready, being friendly and of course tipping well will definitely help you.

Don’t expect to make your connections all in one night, try starting slow and building up a relationship. Once the relationship is established the perks will follow.

The Basic Differences

Clubs normally have unnecessary cover charges, strictly enforced dress codes and some intense lighting effects to enhance your dancing experience.

Bars on the other hand are usually more laid back, if the bar has a dress code it’s usually pretty basic (shoes, shirts, nothing that appears threatening) and they don’t always have dancing. The main attraction at a good club is an amazing DJ who makes you never want to leave the dance floor. The main attraction at a good bar is a good social scene and of course, a good drink!

It really comes down to preference and personality. Whether it’s a bar or a club, the most important factor is that you have a good time.

You know, that girl who’s flirting with you and gives you the vibe that there’s  “potential.” And then, as soon as you buy her a cocktail, she’s gone giggling with her girlfriends. I have seen this time and time again. So let’s get a couple of things straight and put that bitch in her rightful place.

Never assume that buying a girl a drink gets an automatic free pass into her pants. Just as girls shouldn’t assume that they’re entitled to free drinks because they are female. Make sure that she’s not hopping from boy toy to boy toy looking for guys to continually fuel her party. Be smarter than the drunken girl.

Beware of the hot chick that conveniently becomes overly friendly just before you place your drink order. If the situation seems too good to be true, sadly enough, it probably is. Tell her the line’s behind you.

So guys, if you’re cool with having some chick take advantage of you without you benefiting at all – it’s your choice.  However, if you’re not, beware because “the leaching bar bitch” could be right next to you and ready to strike!

1. Chili Cheese Dip

Take a block of cream cheese, a can of Hormel chili and place it into a bowl.  Microwave for a few minutes until everything is melted.  Stir and serve with tortilla chips.

2. Salsa and Cheese Dip

Not into chili? This one is even easier.  Take a block of cream cheese and place it on a plate or dish.  Pour a jar of your favorite salsa over it and serve with tortilla chips.

3. Simple Nacho Bar
Brown some ground beef and season with a packet of taco seasoning. Warm up a can of nacho cheese preferably in a Crock Pot.  Serve with tortilla chips, shredded lettuce, sliced olives, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce etc.

4. Dessert You Ask?

Why not try pudding shots?  That’s right, pudding instead of Jello. Grab a box of chocolate pudding and following the recipe.  Substitute vanilla vodka, kahlua or frangelico in place of cold water.  Trust me, the ladies are going to LOVE these!!

Happy Halloween my little goblins,
Roxi

Cut to an hour and a half later. You are still there. Why you wonder?

Let me redirect your attention to what has been unfolding before you. (I know it’s hard to pay attention when scantily dressed beautiful girls have been parading before you). Did you notice the well-dressed men talking to the bouncers? The bouncers, going from their phone, to list, phone to list and then them getting in? Who are they?

Well, in most cases somebody with money, a nobody really. But a somebody willing to drop a Benjamin to get to the front of the line and wait for a short time before entering the club.

The secret is money. In order to make your way into the club in the foreseeable future, you require money. Money = entry. Hot girls = men willing to pay to get in. These girls are the club’s advertisement – why they don’t have to wait and you do. Clever isn’t it.

If you think a bartender is hot, cute or maybe just intriguing and you’re interested in taking her out here are a few pointers:

Become one of her regulars
The best thing to do is become one of her regulars. A good bartender should remember your usual drink order, try to take your order first and might be able to provide an occasional drink on the house. Try introducing yourself and get the bartender’s name. On the next visit, greet her by name and try to initiate a casual conversation – keep it simple. Once you feel comfortable, go for it. One of the most important pieces to this puzzle is making sure you’re sober when you finally ask her out.

Maintain a friendly relationship
Establishing a friendly relationship is a good way to make her comfortable and remove you from the “just another drunk guy” category. Make sure to avoid cheesy pick up lines, because no girl really falls for that crap. Ask her if she’d like to grab some coffee or even frozen yogurt sometime. Maybe your buddy is having a BBQ, ask if she’d like to come hang out. The key is to get her out of the work environment and somewhere you can get to know each other. This doesn’t mean a candle lit dinner for two or a date to the movies.

Good luck, I’d love to hear about any success or even crash and burn stories.

Busy bars clearly have the upper hand in this situation. Since there are several people waiting to order their drinks, it’s better for me to take my chances on someone new. I’ve got a 50% chance to get someone new who tips with decency, rather than the 100% certainty of a bad attitude and no tip with the previous jerkoff. If you have stiffed me on tips all night or been rudely demanding, it’s more satisfying for me to ignore you. Being rude back to you is only going to add fuel to your fire and force me to waste unnecessary time on you. However, if I ignore you it’s going to piss you off but in a way that doesn’t further piss me off. Since my life doesn’t need your drama, I get to just walk away and let you fester with anger. People don’t like to wait, especially in a bar. The icing on the cake: I’ve shared your Desert status with my fellow bartenders so no matter where you go, everyone will ignore you.

I know some bartenders ignore pissy customers because they’ve got their head too far up their own ass, but most will ignore you for a purpose. Know you are an asshole but don’t know how to change? Try to not start off by being rude and thinking of yourself all the time. Have your order ready because Im the one working and busy here. Then try throwing down a worthy tip to show you know I’m working hard for you. Trust me, taking care of your bartender will always work to your benefit, especially if you become a regular. A bartender always remembers a good tipper and will go out of their way to give you preferential service! If these concepts remain too elementary for you, what goes around comes around. Next in line!

Bartenders differ from servers so we don’t write down orders. Part of our job is to remember the drinks you order which is why it is essential to order your drinks in a particular way. Every bartender is different and has their own system to help memorize drink orders, but the customer still plays a vital part in this process. Mistakes are going to happen and customers are going to forget someone’s drink or be slightly off on the count, no biggie. It’s those of you who place an order that consists of multiple changes and last minute additions that forces me to take up unnecessary space in my brain and prolong you actually getting your drink, along with everyone behind you?. For example, placing the following order can get a little confusing- “Can I get two Bud Lights, a Cosmopolitan, 1 rum and coke, & 3 Kamikaze shots? Oh wait, make that 2 Kamikaze shots & 2 Jager Bomb. Oh and I need another rum and coke.” Now imagine this order being placed, while you’ve got a bar full of people waiting to get their drinks and this particular person is still talking to his or her group trying to see if there are any more changes or additions. Believe it or not, plenty of people order this way and don’t even realize it’s effect on the bartender. I’m not trying to say you need to order perfect every time, but taking the time to have your order a little more organized (especially if it’s a big one) helps with the bartender’s efficiency and ultimately helps you. Unless you have been in the industry, this information is probably completely foreign to you.

One of the annoying components of a bartender’s job is dealing with people who aren’t ready to order. It’s annoying enough having to deal with someone who is waving their hand at you asking to be next or leaning over the bar yelling drinks at you, but the frustration is multiplied when that idiot isn’t even ready to place an order when you make it over to them! I mean really, are you going to yell across the bar like a bafoon and THEN have the audacity to turn around and ask your friends what they want AFTER I’ve come over to you???? Use your freakin’ head, don’t flag me down unless you are good and ready to give me your order!

We are also amused with the people who order a “beer”. When you ask what kind of beer, they shrug and respond with, “Just a beer”. Are you joking? Our bar carries eight draft beers and twice as many bottled beers, all of which are clearly displayed! I wonder if people think they’re living in some kind of cartoon and everything is generically labeled. Granted, all bars are different but how many have you been to that only carry one type of beer? At some point you have to be able to help yourself. Do you want an imported or domestic beer, perhaps something dark or maybe you prefer something on the lighter side. I don’t expect you to even notice the display of beers, but you can at least narrow down the search by specifying what you’re looking for. Try asking what light beers the bar carries or possibly you’re in the mood for a draft. You may not know if the bar carries Corona, but you can start by asking what Mexican beers are offered if you happen to be in the mood for something in that tier.

Keep in mind, you’re ultimate goal is to get your drink as quickly as possible and my goal is to serve as many customers as I possibly can. If you are more organized when ordering, I can be more efficient when making your drinks. Help me, help you and we’ll both benefit! :)

I know it can be frustrating when you’re trying to order a drink and it seems like no matter what you do or where you stand, the bartender doesn’t acknowledge you.  Believe it or not, most bartenders do keep a mental note of who is next and try to help customers in some kind of order.  The system isn’t fool proof when dealing with a crowded bar when every customer thinks they were there first, so try to be patient.

Now, I’m well aware of the bartenders who think they’re god’s gift to alcohol and make you feel like they’re doing YOU a favor by taking your order.  Let’s face it, I want your tip just as much as you want your drink so bottom line is that we both want something from each other so why play games?

In order to figure out how to get the bartender’s attention, you need to know what to avoid.  Just because a bartender’s head is down does not mean they aren’t paying attention to their surroundings.  We have our heads down most of the time to make drinks (after all that is our job), we need to watch our pour, get ice, locate the alcohol/ingredients to make your drinks, etc.  The lack of eye contact serves a purpose at times, it is not intended to ignore you so don’t take it personal.  Having said that, when you wave your hands in the air like a maniac from the other end of the bar it isn’t a trigger for us to rush over to you immediately and take your order.  In fact, it does the opposite and you just got yourself a free pass to the back of the line, congratulations!

Being an asshole never gets you very far in life and the bar industry is no exception.  If you start swearing at the bartender or lecturing them about how long you’ve been in line you’re just going to end up waiting even longer.  We’re bartenders not morons (well I can’t speak for everyone).  If you’re already pissed off before you’ve placed your order you’re probably going to stiff me on the tip and be an asshole once I get to you, so what’s the point of dealing with you?  If I move to the next person who isn’t complaining I at least have a 50/50 chance of getting a tip and hopefully a 100% chance of not getting any attitude.

Telling a bartender you’re next and you’ve been waiting a long time is another topic to avoid.  Like I said, we do our best to ensure everyone gets their drink as quickly as possible.  Most of the people who say they’ve been waiting for 20 minutes are exaggerating and probably haven’t even waited 10 minutes.  When you’re in a crowded bar and the bartenders appear to be moving quickly there isn’t much more that can be done.  You just have to be patient and wait your turn, being polite helps too.

After all people, you’re in the bar/club to grab some drinks and have a good time.  Why start the night being pissed off because you had to wait a few extra minutes to get your drink.  All it will do is ruin your night and it definitely won’t make your drinks magically appear.  So just chill out and relax.  You’ll attract the bartender’s attention much quicker if you look like you’re having a good time than you will if you look pissed off.  Keep this in mind, the more customers I help, the more potential there is for me to make money.  Ultimately it doesn’t benefit me in anyway to ignore you or avoid serving drinks.  So smile, be patient and know that I’m trying to get to you as quickly as I can.  Hopefully we can both benefit from this mutual understanding- you can get your drink on and I can bring in that cash money!

- Roxi