You don't need a PhD in football science to know that since time immemorial there has been a clear symbiosis between sports and food.
More precisely, between the broadcasts of some sport and the fans who sit in the stands or in front of the screen and enjoy delicious food, while their idols sweat and burn the grass.
In the United States, business goes hand in hand like capitalism and greed.
Watching your sports team is just an excuse to stain your shirt with drops of mustard and get your hands dirty with a greasy snack.
You won't find a baseball fan without a hot dog and a glass of beer in hand, or basketball fans who don't gobble up a giant bowl of nachos in what has become an essential tradition in the land of Uncle Sam.
Nachos with guacamole, photo: Liron Almog
better late than never
Like anything worth the obvious, it also trickled to the Holy Land a little late, but it finally arrived - and in a big way.
If once upon a time sports and football were mainly linked by cracking kernels and virtuosically throwing the shells in all directions, today watching together, especially at home, is just an excuse to look at the delivery menu and chew while Messi or Neymar go down for another glitch on the grass.
"On evenings with special broadcasts, such as important football games, we do see an increase in food orders through the Walt app," reveals Ben Feldman, manager of restaurant business development at Walt Israel.
"People usually watch the game together with family and friends, and we see it in the bookings as well - with many combinations and family meals, and the popular dishes are pizza and hamburger. We identify these dates in advance and work in advance with the restaurants to offer great deals and specials for game nights. Because today You can also order at Walmart from supermarkets and liquor stores, the Israeli customers, who really like beer and crackers, tend to order from these categories on game nights as well."
No beer and pizza during the games, photo: Getty Images
Cracking the anxiety
Aside from satisfying hunger pangs, there is an anxious emotional element to eating food while watching your team play.
This, by the way, is no different from watching a movie in the cinema, where the popcorn meets exactly the need to crack and nibble, similar to those famous black kernels.
"The great thing about eating while watching a sport is first of all to soften the feeling of rejection and tension that the normal fan is in while watching his team," clarifies Michal Ansky.
"First of all, it is a ritual of emotional eating. As such, it requires foods that can accompany the pace of the game and the fast happening, so the best choice is first of all kernels, because of the cracking and spitting. It is the most neurotic thing in the world, or for biting nails.
Michal Ansky, photo: Shay Franco
"The fan is looking to pump up the emotion, to feel the noise of the crunch and the cracking, the rhythm it gives, the intense saltiness. It's always either very salty or very crispy. It produces eating that is classic compared to watching a sports game.
"On the other hand," Ansky qualifies, "there is another genre here, of comfort. Some fans prefer food that can be eaten with a spoon and is very comforting. Mashed potatoes, soup, macaroni and cheese, ice creams. It creates a feeling of calmness and peace."
Rotem Israel: popcorn, grapes and ice cream
"When I watch sports, a sushi platter is always a good option. For me, it meets the need of first and foremost. It's the ultimate snack. On days when I allow myself to sin, and it rarely happens, pizza is always an excellent solution, but it's something that rarely happens.
Pizza, photo: Thinkstock Photos
"My husband and I also really like Thai food and it's always good for us. We order a lot from 'Nam' restaurant. We are also fans of Italian food, but since it's fattening and heavy - for reasons of calories, I don't allow myself to order too much of it.
"Popcorn is always good when watching sports, grapes are also something that meets the need, and it comes instead of eating the unhealthy kernels. The feeling is the same. I don't like sweets at all, but if I had to choose, it would probably be ice cream; but that too once never."
Lehia Griner: "Eggroll? Yes. Ripple? No"
"For us, the preferred choice will always be sushi. It's delicious and fresh and all. I usually order from 'Kansai,' which is kosher sushi. They have two branches in Israel. I'll always order salads and egg rolls for a first course and then a huge platter of sushi. The feeling is that it's also healthier than the rest I also combine cocktails or a good sake drink, and it's a feast.
Also cocktails.
Lehia Griner, photo: Moshe Ben Simhon
"If not sushi, then I'll order a family meal at Mexicana, which is the best in the world and great for watching sports. A tortilla with guacamole, a burrito or tacos, and churros for dessert. It's perfect. When I'm watching sports and want to indulge, I also have ice cream from Honey Lulu' is a great choice."
Are there things you would never order because of superstitions?
"I have no superstitions that link food to my team's loss, but I will never order Ashkenazi food home. Karafalach and borscht don't go well with football."
Michal Ansky: "The Comfort of the Cream"
"I'm a bit smart about this, because I don't have a certain thing that I always order. Usually I like to order things from Walt that I'm not familiar with. I look at what's new on the menus, and order accordingly. My desires are constantly changing. I usually order very crazy food, And just improvise every time according to the desire.
"I don't have a particular team I'm a fan of or superstitious, but of course, while watching sports, my preferred choice would be popcorn - not from ready-made bags, but one that has been upgraded. You can season it in a different way and melt Atlantic salt on it. One of the tastiest things is to add butter to it , but real butter of course, from milk. It's a great pleasure.
"Besides popcorn, what always goes great during football is, of course, my mother's sandwich, Sherry, with herring. The crispness of the baguette is a real connection to the soul. You get the comfort of the cream, and it's even much better than sushi. Obviously, with a sandwich like this, you have to Also some good beer nearby. A winning recipe for watching football."
Kevin Rubin: "To nibble endlessly"
"I start with crackers, I eat the white kernels with the shell, it's something new I've started and it's a pleasure. At sports games, of course I order a huge tray of sushi. A tray of all the options. That's how I see the athletes on the field and feel that I can run with them. Sushi has Have all the options in one tray, and you can snack endlessly.
Starts with cracks. Kevin Robin
"For dessert I'll take something from 'Golda', some extreme ice cream. But this is on an unusual day of corruption.
"When drinking, I enjoy soda. Healthy and calorie-free."
Superstitions related to food and sports?
"I have no superstitions related to my team and food, but in the previous World Cup I mostly ate popcorn, just like in the movie, only I watched games."
Ido Gur: Small sins
"I like to order sushi, because it's about the only dietary thing you can find at Walt. Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive order. Sometimes I sin with a hamburger and fries from 'Mitabar'. I don't order drinks, because I make sure to only drink water."
and desserts?
"From 'Night Cookie', but only in desperate cases."
Ido Gor
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