Monday, November 30, 2009

Calling All Couch Potatoes!

Thanksgiving is over and we can all turn our attention to more important things in life... like the orgy of sports and sports-related programming that will air over the next couple months.

Let's face it, we're in a glorious time of year for sports fans. The NFL is in full swing with half the games each week ripe with playoff implications. NBA and college hoops are underway, the NHL has had a couple months to get revved up, and the college football bowl season is coming up fast. On top of that, there's a Winter Olympics just around the corner, with more curling, skiing, bobsledding and, oh yeah, more hockey than you can shake a stick at!

What better way to celebrate this almost unprecedented tsunami of sporting events than by determining who really is the world's greatest couch potato?

On January 1, 2010, the ESPN Zone in New York, Chicago and right here in Baltimore will match sports fanatics against one another in a battle to determine who really has a butt of steel. Four contestants will compete at each site, hand-picked from essayists who submit their entry by December 9. Only one winner from each location will be able to claim the title of Ultimate Couch Potato.

Last year's winner Jessica Mosley will be back to defend her crown (70 hours and 45 minutes). Contestants will be able to order unlimited food and drink (excluding alcohol) from the ESPN Zone menu and bathroom breaks will be allowed once every eight hours. No peanut bladders need apply!

Winners at each location will receive a grand prize package worth more than $4000.00 including a recliner, Best Buy gift card for their own HD TV, ESPN Zone gift cards, and free cable or satellite service for a year.

Get those entries in now. I would weep with pride if a reader of The Hungover Gourmet was named The Ultimate Couch Potato!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Non-Breaking Food News: Concession Stand Grub is Bad for You

Not exactly what I'd call "breaking news". Center for Science in Public Interest (aka Buzzkill Central) determines that -- gasp! -- movie theater concession stand grub is bad for you.

They Can Hit, But Can They Cook?

We all know that pro football players can deliver wince-inducing hits on their opponents. But can they deliver winning dishes?

Baltimore-area football fans will find out on Monday, November 23 when the ESPN Zone hosts the inaugural Ravens Cook-Off at 6:30 PM.

Ravens tackle Jared Gaither, tight end Edgar Jones and linebacker Prescott Burgess will compete in a 30-minute cook-off. Dishes will be judged on taste, presentation and creativity with the winning dish being added to the restaurant's menu for the remainder of the football season.

Savvy THG readers might remember that the ESPN Zone hosted a similar event this summer featuring members of the Baltimore Orioles. The Ravens might want to look up former Orioles catcher Gregg Zaun who won that event with his chicken enchiladas recipe.

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, fans are invited to bring canned food and other non-perishable food items to the event. All donations will benefit the Maryland Food Bank. The Ravens Cook-Off is free and open to the public.

Come on out and cheer on your Ravens!

When: Monday, November 23
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Where: ESPN Zone, 601 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

UPDATE: Defensive tackle Brandon McKinney ended up taking the place of Prescott Burgess and won the competition thanks to his Caribbean Chicken with Mango Salsa. According to Sun food columnist Rob Kasper's report, the players didn't so much cook their dishes as they followed instructions and assembled them.