It was Sunday afternoon, and I was doing something I rarely do — watching football. It was a playoff game, a classic match-up — the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Green Bay Packers at Green Bay, where the temperature at game time was predicted to be 0 degrees.
I kind of like that sort of football. Especially if I’ve got a few beers in the fridge. And San Francisco is the closest we in Los Angeles have to team to root for.
It was the first inning, er… quarter, I mean. The ‘Niners were up 6-0 and seemed to be moving the ball at will. Then a guy on the Packers got hurt, and they went to commercial.
One of the advantages of watching post-season football is the commercials tend to be pretty good. Everyone gets excited about the Superbowl ads, but I always find that a lot of the best ads (i.e. less screwy, less deliberately vulgar or controversial and less overhyped) debut before the Big Show.
Such was one particular Bud Light ad that came on during that break.
Besides an opportunity to talk about beer — not Bud Light, mind you… I would prefer to drink urine, but rather the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale I was enjoying — the commercial offered an always welcome chance to riff on quinoa. Quinoa has long played punch line to our hero, pork, on this blog. And after all, I have an entire category called, “Yoga, Starlets & Quinoa.” It was also a reminder that outside of the Andes, the yoga/starlet capital of the world where I happen to live, and the online foodie community (i.e. you), there might be people who’ve never heard of the Mayan supergrain.
The set up is a tailgate, and a young guy standing at the barbecue. His wife has sent something curious for him to grill. Not that I like to do anything that might result in more sales of Bud Light, but… well, why don’t I just invite you to watch for yourself:
I was glad to see I wasn’t the only one having some fun at the expense of quinoa. Then again, I did recently eat some humble pie in regard to quinoa, which I will blog about soon.
There was also a very heartwarming, very lonnnggggg commercial from Turbo Tax, but I’ll let you watch out for that one yourself if you’re interested.
As for the game? It was a good one, and San Francisco won in the final 3 seconds. Sorry all my friends in Green Bay. Wait — do I have any friends in Green Bay!?? Does anybody?…
skinny girls & mayonnaise 
Jan 07, 2014 @ 00:20:21
Only meaningful comment is GO NINER”S!!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 02:50:16
Enjoyable story. Truly! But I still have no idea what quinoa is. Please, enlighten me, a southern belle! I’m anxious to know now.
Jan 07, 2014 @ 02:54:15
It’s like the Mayan version of grits. Except people hardly ever put good things like butter, lard, cream, cheese or Tabasco into it.
Jan 07, 2014 @ 17:19:58
I love the Quinoa!! with butter, cheese, herbs, spices, red eye gravy, maple syrup etc. ad infinitum! But I also like Faro, Barley and almost every other kind of grain known to mankind! Our (Daniel N. & mine) artist/professor friend, Andy “Chili Boy Roy” Owen is from up Green Bay way and big cheesehead, so peripherally yes you have a friend from up there.
Jan 07, 2014 @ 17:28:15
So it is indeed only a couple degrees of separation between a knucklehead and a cheesehead!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 17:43:43
& we didn’t even need Kevin Bacon! mmmmmmmmm . . . bacon!!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 17:46:49
Six degrees of deliciousness!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 20:04:22
Speaking of Daniel N. I just had an Asheville foodie graze with him the day after Christmas. The boy is looking great–very healthy and I hear tell he is thinking of a visitation in June maybe. Maybe I’ll take advantage of a “tres amigos” opportunity & bop in if OK wit choo and the ever lovely Leslie. Just thinking out loud. Dodger dogs sound good about June.
Jan 07, 2014 @ 20:14:12
Dodger Dogs are indeed fresh in June!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 18:54:03
hahaha! Oh quinoa. It is also a good punchline. I’m also supremely jealous of that Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale — it’s one of my favorites this time of year. In fact I tried to get a keg of it for my house but alas the suppliers didn’t have any at the time. Probably a good thing for my liver!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 20:14:34
Just remember… they don’t call it a “liver” for nothing!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 21:48:54
love that commercial…..!!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 22:08:51
Yeah, it’s funny right?
Jan 08, 2014 @ 00:30:05
Looking forward to the quinoa humble pie post.
Jan 09, 2014 @ 03:02:53
I have a friend who’s a huge fan of the Packers, but he’s from Brooklyn. I don’t get it. I DO get quinoa, especially when combined with roasted beets and goat cheese. Give the grain a break! 😉
Jan 09, 2014 @ 03:04:51
Jess at Attempts in Domesticity just did a post on her warm breakfast gruel she makes with quinoa. I told her, “I’m not eating that!”