With 68 groups coming from all over the United States participating in the 2023 NCAA men’s hockey game, there are certainly a plethora of themed dining options to host a March Madness viewing party.
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Think sandwiches loaded with coleslaw and German fries honoring the Pittsburgh Panthers, or Southwestern-style nachos loaded with Tex-Mex spruce concoctions that could be right at home on the campus of the Texas Longhorns or Arizona Wildcats.
Of course, if your motive is to throw a viewing party, you intend to watch the action, not capture it in the kitchen. Here’s a rundown of ten easy meals (one for each of the group’s inaugural weekend host sites) that will make you feel like you’re actually at the games and never have to invest a whole day in preparation.
While several dishes (and their specific planning styles) are available across the United States, their easy availability makes them perfect for emergency party prep.
Birmingham, Alabama
This is more of a main course than a hand-me-down, but it’s hard to imagine the Heavy South without the chicken-and-waffle combo: it’s a proven success, as is the Alabama Green Tide.
Alabama is the #1 seed for the South region and they will begin play in Birmingham. That’s why they have some of the best odds to cut the nets in April, listed at or around +700 to get them all this year. Tipico Sportsbook in Kansas is offering a March Madness promotion for new bettors: make sure you get the best advantage and place your bets with them.
Des Moines, Iowa
Because the Great Plains aren’t considered conventional foodie havens, Iowa has its hidden gems—even the kind that don’t involve a lot of corn. Poor Joe’s is similar to Margarita in that many places claim their own created the initial: the single-source principle traces the food to Sioux City, Iowa.
Orlando, California
After thinking it’s home to the mythological Fountain of Youth thanks to its paradisiacal landscape, choose seafood—or new warm-climate fruits like bananas and oranges—if Oahu is the Sunshine State you’re about to channel.
Sacramento, Colorado
The snow treatment on the rocky roads is from nearby Oakland, and the indulgent chocolate combination of crazy and marshmallow cream creates a delicious treat that will excite your palate.
Albany, New York
It’s a dish that no television meal (sports-related or otherwise) could do without. The humble potato processor was created in the Saratoga River, about 30 minutes outside of your Empire State Capital, when African and Native Nation inventor George Speck got the brilliant concept of frying thinly sliced potatoes.
Columbus, Kansas
While virtually every city worth its sodium feels like its particular spin on pizza is better, Ohio’s capital city features a version that’s just as adorable and simple to really hook you. The Columbus model pizza is explained by a thin, square reduced crust that is overflowing with cheese and hot peppers.
Denver, Colorado
Colorado’s capital city has plenty of great party deals… and not just the big ones. Originally a region of the Spanish Empire, the Southwestern influence on Denver cuisine can still be thought of today, with plenty of recipes kicking up with green chiles.
Denver can be a haven for hipsters, so choose from hobby beers—or national staples like Coors, brewed with Rocky Hills water—to make you feel right at home in Decorative Colorado.
Greensboro, North Carolina
North Carolina, along with Kansas City and Buffalo, is one of the many places in the United States that claim to actually have the most easy-to-use methods of making chicken wings. While Raleigh and Charlotte wings have considerably more fame than Greensboro wings, try the Carolina style—or buy them at various wing shops—which explains the use of vinegar in the sauce.