Tsu Mei Landry prepares a dish of chicken wings with an Asian twist for Sunday's Super Bowl game. The wings can be marianted ahead of time and then frozen until game day to save some prep time.

Sunday is the big day for sports fans as they gather around to watch the 46th Super Bowl when the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in Indianapolis. Who will win the toss up on this important Sunday? Will it be game or food? 

But when it comes to game time, hungry sports fans already know the answer. There is really no toss up – the game menu is just as important as who’s playing on the field.

Gregory and Tsu Mei Landry have never been lucky enough to score tickets to the big game, but that’s OK with the Jeanerette couple. On game day, they always score big with family and friends at their big game bash.

The Landrys play host to about 100 hungry sports fan. Their dining room table and kitchen counters are filled with an assortment of food and snacks.

Landry says she doesn’t fret on game day. She has a game plan in place that hasn’t failed in the 26 years she and her husband have been hosting the Super Bowl bash. She begins the food prep early, sets the table before game day and calls in the special team forces to bring their favorite snacks.

“Super Bowl is just as much about the food as the football game. The party has become a tradition with our family and friends. We started out with 30 people and the party has grown over the years. Everyone has their favorite dish that they bring so we have a little bit of everything,” said Tsu Mei Landry. “Everyone just shows up and we just about know what each other will bring to the party. We have three barbecue pits going at one time. “

The grills are usually filled with chicken wings and tender chunks of venison backstrap with onions and bell pepper, all wrapped in thick bacon.

The Landrys said they always prepare their traditional specialties – spicy grilled chicken wings, brisket and a spiced-up salsa dip.

The grilled chicken wings is a recipe with an Asian twist that Tsu Mei Landry brought with her from her home country of Taipe, Taiwan when she came to the United States in 1973 after marrying.

The recipe calls for an Asian five-spice mix. But just as any self-proclaimed Cajun, Landry said she has altered the recipe somewhat and added a bit of Cajun seasoning along with the spices for an added kick.

Landry said her parents owned a restaurant when she growing up and she always hung around and began helping out in the kitchen at the young age of 7.

She learned quickly the importance of preparing ingredients early or cooking as much as possible the day before, especially when cooking for a crowd.

“I always tell my friends if they’re going to cook Chinese food, 40 percent of the cooking time is for the preparation. It takes a lot of time to chop all the vegetables and there is no substitute for fresh vegetables,” she said.

Cynthia Schexnayder, a sports fan who also attends the Landrys’ Super Bowl bash, agrees game day is all about the food.

“Football and food go together. It’s the perfect time to try different dishes and share recipes,” she said.

To help avoid making rookie party planning mistakes, Kellogg has partnered with pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson of the New Jets to help in scoring points at your big game bash.

“I know how tough it can be to please everybody, both on the field and off,” said Tomlinson.

“But with some good strategy, you can plan a great party that puts a smile on everybody’s face.”

These tips were offered:

Make a Party Playbook

• Crunch the numbers: Count on guests each eating between 8 to 12 servings of appetizers over a two-hour period. Plan on two nonalcoholic drinks per guest during the first hour, and one for each hour after that. Buy about a pound of ice per guest for drinks.

• Tackle the food prep early: Make as much of the food ahead of time as you can. Peel, chop and prep veggie trays a day or two in advance. Dips and desserts can be made the day before. If you’ll be making anything in a slow cooker, prep all your ingredients in advance as well, so that all you have to do when you wake up is put them in the cooker and turn it on.

Sack Boring Snacks

• Run a surprise play: Try a new recipe like these Spicy Touchdown Tenders. They get a surprising, crunchy kick from Cheez-It Hot & Spicy crackers. Serve them with some Buffalo sauce and they’ll be the MVPs of your party.

Recruit a Great Team

• Call on your special teams: If you want a great dessert, but don’t bake, ask your baking friends to work their magic for the party. Get the resident chili expert to make his best, and let your friend the décor expert set the scene. They’ll enjoy working in their zones, and you get a few things taken off your to-do list.

* Let the Pee Wee League play, too: Get the kids involved with party prep. Older ones can help you make food and younger ones can set out utensils, cups and plates. You can appoint some special “Trash Referees” to patrol the party and help clean up plates and cups during the game, so there’s not a big mess to clean up afterward.

For more tips and game day recipes, head to www.SnackPicks.com.