So what if both the Giants and the Jets missed out on the Super Bowl — again? Sunday’s game is the biggest sporting event of the year, and that’s reason enough to celebrate.
Event stylist Seri Kertzner, founder of Manhattan-based Little Miss Party Planner, has lots of easy tips for throwing together a football-themed bash that scores.
“This is a last-minute Super Bowl party,” Kertzner tells The Post. “You can get all of this Saturday afternoon and pull this off for Sunday.”
Kertzner keeps the menu simple for folks gathering to watch the New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams game at home. It’s assembly only — no cooking required. And all of the ingredients are easily sourced from the local grocery store.
“Our menu was inspired by the foods and flavors that come from these two very different regions, but still plays off traditional game-day menu items,” she says.
To rep New England, Kertzner suggests serving lobster rolls using pre-chopped lobster from the store.
Lobster, she says, will be a surprise upgrade to the fried and greasy fare of most Super Bowl shindigs: “Be prepared to run out of it quickly!”
Los Angeles is known for its healthy lifestyle as well as its Cal-Mex cuisine, so she whipped up chicken soft tacos using a pre-made rotisserie bird for the Rams’ side of the buffet. Here, a fresh salsa made of strawberries is the star player.
“We found out that Tom Brady avoids strawberries in his strict diet and had never eaten one until last year,” says Kertzner.
“We ran with this fun fact.”
And while it might sound strange, Kertzner says strawberry salsa isn’t such a stretch: “I often make this salsa for tacos during the summer.”
As for the crucial snack-bowl station, Kertzner suggests telling your guests to “B.Y.O.S” — bring your own snack.
“That way, everyone gets something they like.”
Party hosts have the home-field advantage for getting crafty.Tamara Beckwith/NY PostIf there’s one thing any Super Bowl party must have, says Kertzner, it’s beer.
She picked up Rhode Island’s Narragansett and Mexico City-based Modelo Especial, in honor of Los Angeles’ Latino community.
Another advantage? Her home-field decor touches use readily available supplies, including balloons and tableware from a party store, paper bags from the supermarket, and kraft paper, masking tape and twine from a hardware shop.
Finally, a swift setup also means a breezy breakdown.
Kertzner uses many disposable, do-it-yourself items, such as a table covered in kraft paper, made to look like a football field.
“At the end of the night, when the table is cleared, you just roll it up and throw away the mess!”
Read on for more of her super recipe and party ideas.
Beer can field goal
This aluminum can goalpost was assembled using empty cans and a hot glue gun. The key is to leave the two bottom cans full to steady the structure.
Micheladas
Tamara Beckwith/NY PostLet guests get creative with their brewskis by supplying ice, Worcestershire and hot sauces, as well as a plate covered in Kosher salt. Then use kraft paper to write easy instructions for a Super Bowl Sips Michelada: Salt your rim, pour beer over ice and add a dash of Worcestershire sauce plus hot sauce to taste.
Snack bags
Tamara Beckwith/NY PostProvide paper bags for guests to fill with snacks of their choice to enjoy on the couch while watching the game. It can also be a fun activity for kids.
“Set out some masking tape and crayons,” says party planner Seri Kertzner, “and let them decorate their paper bags by sticking on pieces of tape to look like football laces before filling their bags.”
Football field
Tamara Beckwith/NY PostTo make the football field, line your table with kraft paper and secure with tape. Use a ruler to find the center (lengthwise) and lay down masking tape — that’s your 50-yard line. Divide each half of the table in four even lengths and place masking tape at each line. Use a chalkboard pen or permanent marker to write the numbers that represent the yard lines.
Plates and napkin wraps
“Bringing the team colors in is easiest with tableware, because these solid colors you can get anywhere,” says Kertzner. Guests betting on the Pats can use red and white tableware, while Rams fans can pick up blue and gold.
Balloons
Tamara Beckwith/NY Post“Any party store would have these letter balloons,” says Kertzner, who says she’s even seen them at a dollar store.
Lobster salad
Mix 1 pound of store-bought, cooked lobster, ¹/₂ cup diced celery, 4 tablespoons mayo and juice of 1 lemon. Add salt, pepper and Old Bay Seasoning to taste. Garnish with chives and lemon wedges. Can be made and refrigerated the night before. Serve on rolls, hot dog buns or wrap with Boston bibb (get it?) lettuce.
Strawberry salsa, aka Brady’s Kryptonite
Tamara Beckwith/NY PostMix 1 pint of chopped strawberries, 1 de-seeded and diced jalapeño, ¹/₃ cup diced red onion, ¹/₄ cup chopped fresh cilantro, juice of 1 lime, plus salt and pepper to taste. Strawberries will macerate if chopped and left overnight, so make sure they’re added as close to party time as possible. Serve alongside soft tortillas and fillings such as shredded rotisserie chicken, guacamole and cotija cheese.



