February 11, 2025

When I booked our Greek cruise, I did not figure in that we would be at sea during the Super Bowl.  That would have been bad enough but being one-third of the way around the world there was an 8-hour time difference.  That meant the game was scheduled for 1:30 am Monday (our time), and the predicted length of the game was over 4 hours.  The game was being broadcast live on a special on-board sports channel and would be over in time for an 8:00 am departure for our shore excursion.  We weighed our options.  We could stay up and be too exhausted to make the excursion, but this was a trip to the Palace of Knossos, a bucket list tour.  We could miss the game, but that would mean I was a fair-weather fan, and I had already packed my Chiefs shirt to wear the night before the game.  The bigger disappointment was I always put out a spread for 8 to 10 people as part of the game (even if it was just Melissa and me).  How was I going to watch the game without my buffet?

When I looked online, I found the Super Bowl buffet was not just my obsession.  In fact, football is merely the main course on a menu designed to bring fans together.  There are commercials with their own buildup, the halftime show, parties held in houses and bars, and the rare sense most of the country is watching the same thing together.  More than anything, the event is built around food for everyone (but the players in the game).  Everyone else watches football for more than three hours and will eventually get hungry.  USA Today decided to rank the 10 best super Bowl snacks, and mentioned the “closest thing to a vegetable on this list is a jalapeno”.  This begins with soft pretzels and sliders, a tray with a variety of meats and cheeses (charcutier board), nachos, chili, potato skins, pigs in a blanket (or hot dogs) chips and dip, pizza, and wings.  Many of these favorites have been on my buffet over the years.

Our only choice was to go to bed early and wake up in time for the start of the game at 1:30 am.  This worked, and we woke up in time to see the coin toss.  I made it through the first half (24-0) but refused to watch 45 minutes of half-time extravaganza and went to sleep.  The score was exasperated by the fact we were not getting any of the commercials (soccer and MMA previews only) on the special sports channel.  Melissa lasted through the third quarter then also gave up.  Her sister did inform her of the outcome at the end of the game.  The ship planned their own Super Bowl party for later that evening.  The game was broadcast in the theater on the movie screen.  Most had not stayed up late and were not aware of the score.  For them it was great, for me knowing the score was another form of torture.  There was a bright spot.  The cruise made hundreds of bags of popcorn and there were two lines of tables placed in the hall.  One was held basic football food (nachos, wings, chips and dip) while the other was filled with a wide assortment of finger desserts.  I did not partake of the food and only lasted a quarter rewatching the game, but I complemented them on their buffet.

THOUGHTS: The all-you-can-eat buffet has become an integral part of dining culture worldwide, offering a lot of different foods at a fixed price.  This dining experience dates to ancient times and has evolved through different cultures until it is now a staple across the world.  That said, it stands in opposition to the 733 million people and women and children who are the most vulnerable around the world.  Clean air, water, and sufficient nutrition should be a right, not a privilege.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.