Super Bowl Food Face-off Staged By Nasft's Foodspring.com Chowder Vs. Chowda

It's game time this Sunday with two big food towns facing off in Super Bowl XLVI.

As the New York Giants get ready to battle the New England Patriots, foodspring.com has staged its second annual Super Bowl food-off. The contest pitted New York City against Boston to determine which team can claim victory as Super Bowl food champ.

New York has pizza, pastrami and bagels, while Boston competes with baked beans, lobster and Boston cream pie. The Big Apple boasts dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants while Beantown is home to two of the nation's oldest eateries: Union Oyster House and Durgin-Park.

Is it chowder or chowda? Which home stadium boasts the most spots to buy food? Do Giants or Patriots have more players trading helmets for chef toques? Which team has more food credibility overall?

Learn who is foodspring's 2012 Super Bowl Food Champ here. Don't agree? Cast your own vote and feel free to comment.

The contest was staged by editors of foodspring.com, a website for food enthusiasts from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade. The editors looked at the culinary history of each team and city, and weighed the Giants' and Patriots' passion for food, whether making it, or giving back through anti-hunger initiatives.

Game Day is important for the food artisans and entrepreneurs who fuel the $70 billion specialty food industry. According to NASFT research, chips, pretzels and snacks are the third largest category in specialty food, with $1.7 billion in retail sales in 2010.

Specialty food makers are carrying the ball this year with new twists on classics like chips made with seaweed, Indian-accented popcorn and booze-infused wing sauce. "Mindful options" for snacking was a trend noted by a panel of food editors at the NASFT's Winter Fancy Food Show last month.

Fans can enjoy "mindful" treats from NASFT member companies such as Sunflower Seed Snacks form Somersault Snack Co., Honey Caramelized Onion Hummus Chips from Plocky's Mediterranean Munchies, Sweet Potato Chips from Food Should Taste Good and gluten-free Basil Pesto Parmesan Crisps from Kitchen Table Bakers.

"New York and Boston are terrific food towns with rich culinary histories. No matter who wins, Super Bowl Sunday is sure to be a great day for specialty food makers and retailers who are going all out to present wonderful food for parties," says NASFT president Ann Daw, who grew up in Massachusetts and lives in New York. Which team is she rooting for? "No comment," she says.

About the NASFT

The NASFT is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Based in New York City, is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 that fosters trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food trade. The NASFT's website for consumers, foodspring.com, provides an insider's look at specialty foods and the entrepreneurs and artisans behind them. For information about the NASFT and its Fancy Food Shows, go to specialtyfood.com.