The 2026 Super Bowl is drawing closer, and tensions are running high between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Stress in the kitchen is also firing up, where watch-party fans are deciding on the appropriate dishes that best represent Seattle and New England. But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The staff at Traveling Boy selected the following dishes and beverages that best showcase the tastes of Seattle and New England for a mouthwatering Super Bowl party.
New England Patriots
Slow Cooked Boston Baked Beans
Ever wonder why Boston baked beans are called “Boston” baked beans? It’s the molasses, stupid. Boston has been tied to molasses since colonial days, when the city was a trade center for rum from the Caribbean. Molasses is used for rum production, a by-product of sugar refining, and was easily available to the colonists. Baked beans were also popular with the religiously observant Puritans who were forbidden to cook on Sundays. So they made a big pot the night before, and the baked beans were hot and ready the next day.
So why not go for tradition? After all, Boston is the nation’s most traditional city. Disregarding basic fire safety, cook the beans start to finish in the oven overnight. All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a Dutch oven, cover it, and bake it for hours upon hours upon hours. Toward the end, if they got too dry, you’d need to add a splash or two of boiling water, but otherwise, that’s about it. If you intend to soak dry beans overnight first, the next morning you’ll find that the beans have been inflated, so stick to the recipe. Boston baked beans make a perfect accompaniment to hot dogs, submarine sandwiches, and can even be used as a dip. For Bostonians, they are the city’s most patriotic dish. You’ll make Pats’ fans as happy as the first day of fall foliage season.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound (2 to 2 1/4 cups) dry white beans such as Navy beans or Great Northern beans
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 3-4 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 cups hot water
- 1/2 pound salt pork (can sub bacon), cut into 1/2-inch to 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, (1 1/2 cups) chopped
What to Drink: Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Is there any question? Samuel Adams Boston Lager helped lead the American beer revolution, reviving a passion for full-bodied brews that are robust and rich with character. A flagship brand of the Boston Beer Company, Samuel Adams was named in honor of Founding Father Samuel Adams, an American revolutionary patriot who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Now that’s patriotic. A second cousin to president John Adams, Samuel Adams inherited his father’s brewery on King Street (modern day State Street). Some histories say he was a brewer, while others describe him as a maltster. Established in 1984, Samuel Adams Boston Lager uses only the finest hand-selected ingredients to create this perfectly balanced and complex brew.
Seattle Seahawks
Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon
Totem Smokehouse is a family-owned business that has been handcrafting wild smoked salmon for over 40 years in Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market.
During their early years, Totem perfected its famous smoking process. Their decades of experience smoking fish using their secret Native American-inspired recipes has satisfied customers from all over the world. They have a variety of house-smoked fish and also offer pâtés and gourmet bites. Ideal for Super Bowl parties.
Wild Sockeye Salmon Profile
Sockeye Salmon, also known as Red Salmon, is one of the most popular salmon species around the world. The species of salmon is known best for its wide array of nutrients, natural bright red coloring, salmon-forward flavor, and its firm texture.
What to Drink: George Town Beer
Georgetown is an independently owned Seattle craft brewery and maker of Manny’s Pale Ale. In May of 2017, after 14 years selling beer, we went from a draft-only production facility to canning select full-time beers (hey, we always said “never say never”). We now offer pints in our tasting room in addition to kegs, growlers, and cans to go. Or you could be social and get out to your favorite local watering hole. The only thing that hasn’t changed, we’re still focused on one thing … brewing darn tasty beer.
