Food and entertainment

Chili and football just naturally go together.

You'll be able to enjoy both on Super Bowl Sunday at two Lincoln locations.

O'Rourke's Tavern, 1329 O St., hosts its annual chili cookoff before the 5:30 p.m. kickoff.

The contest is open to the public, with competitors needing to get their crockpots to the bar by 2:30 p.m.

Once judged, the chili is available to tavern-goers for free.

Across town at Cappy's Hotspot Bar & Grill, 5560 S. 48th St., another cookoff begins at 2 p.m.

Anyone may enter, and everyone can judge. Chili entries must be registered by 1:30 p.m.

The chili contest is part of a full day of events at the bar. Also on tap are Texas Hold-em Tournaments at 2, 5 and 8 p.m., a wing-eating contest (teams of two) at halftime, and games and prizes throughout the day.

For a list of events, visit www.cappysbar.com.

Food and drink pairings

Is there a beer that works best with Little Smokies?

Or a wine the matches the spicy freshness of guacamole?

If you are willing to break out of your Bud Lite box — by far the most popular beer sold on game day — consider mixing it up on Sunday. Some suggestions:

-- Ribs, brisket or anything else barbecued is a good match with LunaSea ESB, an amber-colored caramel sweet and crisp beer with a spicy finish. Pale ales are generally barbecue-centric beers.

-- Blonde ale-style beers are great with salty things like nachos, fries or chips. 

-- A Carmenere (that’s the grape name) is a red Chilean wine good with spicy food. It has good body with a hint of green bell pepper on its finish. Try a bottle of Santa Rita.

n If you are rooting for the New Orleans Saints, serve a Hurricane. This rum and fruit juice drink goes with everything in New Orleans. Here’s one recipe from www. drinksmixer.com

New Orleans Hurricane

1 ounce white rum

1 ounce Jamaican dark rum

1 ounce Bacardi 151 rum

3 ounces orange juice

3 ounces unsweetened pineapple juice

½ ounce grenadine syrup

Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients, mix well (shake or stir). Pour over crushed ice in hurricane glass. Garnish with fruit wedge if desired.

-- And the ultimate match for your favorite team and all kinds of snacks: Lucky Bucket Lager. Made in Omaha, it is a lighter style of beer with a hint of hops.

— Suggestions from Jim Engelbart, brewing manager for Empyrean Brewing Co. and Ken Meier of Meier’s Cork and Bottle