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Mountain Dew Bacon Tacos & Doritos Cured Gravalax: Inside Pepsi's Super Bowl Pop-Up In Bryant Park
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 29, 2014
Modified Jan 29, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 29, 2014
Modified Jan 29, 2014
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Have you wondered how it would feel to walk through a pavilion sponsored by PepsiCo, full of foods created by celebrity chefs made from PepsiCo products? For free?!? Thanks to the Super Bowl, now you can do just that in Bryant Park at #PepCity.
PepsiCo senior vice president of global strategy Jon Banner called it the company's "thank you" to its home, New York (the company is based in Purchase), what with the free food and free performances from "the next Justin Bieber" Austin Mahone, Ziggy Marley, Lemon Anderson and Broadway shows like Pippin. But it's also a way for the company to showcase many products in Pepsi family—perhaps, as the NY Times noted, "to offset declines in its traditional soda business".
Chefs David Burke, Marc Forgione and Michael Psilakis were given Pepsi's portfolio of food and beverage items and free rein to create bites. Burke said he got 20 cases of food and just worked his way through, experimenting with different ideas (like black and white cookies with Sun Chips). One of his items, the Mountain Dew Bacon Tacos With Sabra Guacamole—yes, Pepsi owns Sabra—was a really good, filling snack. It's many, many steps above the Taco Bell Cool Ranch Dorito Tacos.
Forgione said it was just like Iron Chef, when he's presented with an item he needs to improvise with. So taking Cool Ranch Doritos and using it to make gravalax was a no-brainer, since the garlic, onion, dextrose and salt are perfect for making a cure. He paired the gravalax with an "everything" (as in the bagel) gougere. He also incorporated Muller yogurt in a curry for lamb ribs.
Muller yogurt also makes an appearance in one of Psilakis' dishes—a delicious oatmeal and yogurt parfait with apricot and carmelized almonds. He suggested it could be perfect for serving as a brunch item before the Super Bowl. Psilakis also created a falafel with Sabra Spicy Hummus, which he was very pleased with: "it's even better than what I have at the restaurant… I just added some bulgur wheat and lentils to it."
Psilakis said that making food to him these days is about making memories, and days like the Super Bowl are ones that people tend to remember. As for his game day plans, he'll be going to the Super Bowl with his eight-year-old son.
Pepsi also has its own recipes on display, like a Tostitos "walking street taco." Word of advice: Avoid the Diet Pepsi Bellini—it's a blasphemy to Harry's Bar.
Pepsi's #PepCity at Bryant Park runs today (Wednesday, January 29) until 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, January 30, and Saturday, February 1, from 2:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be signing autographs tomorrow and Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will be serving food; on Saturday, former Lions running back Barry Sanders will be signing autographs and Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray will serve food.
Tagged
bryant park
david burke
marc forgione
michael psilakis
pepcity
pepsi
pepsico
original
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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