Habif’s Super Bowl Party Peaks with the Eagles

With 28 menu items, Sherry Habif’s Super Bowl party has held up over the decades as the invitation list and menu expand with some of the old favorites complementing the new.

Speaking of “old favorites,” Elaine and Erwin Skibell met at Sherry’s 1986 Super Bowl party, and married a few months later. Elaine recalled, “We met here 39 years ago … actually, it was snowing that night, and we left early to beat the icy roads. The rest is history.”

Special out-of-town guests were Susan and Butch Frumin, who surprised Habif by flying in from Miami Beach, their winter home. Carolyn and Reuben Piha came from Hollywood, Fla. Gail Solomon, a tour guide at the Georgia Dome, wore her 1994 Super Bowl jersey dedicated to attending Habif’s party.

Habif knows her way around entertaining. Featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times “Chai Style Homes” (June 12, 2019), she has a citywide reputation for elaborate gourmet and Jewish-style cuisine and room decorations in many major hotel ballrooms and synagogue functions. She just has the knack to turn plain into color-soaked themes for family and friends’ celebrations. As catering manager of the legendary Atlanta landmark Coach ‘n Six on Peachtree in South Buckhead, her knowledge of baking and gourmet preparation has been touted in cookbooks … like her mile challah soufflé and traditional vegetable kugels.

Habif has been compared to Perle Mesta, who was just featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” as a piece of history, being a young Jewish girl from Oklahoma who, as a widow, took over Washington, D.C.’s social and political scenes by entertaining. Mesta, who was also the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, was known for her gracious and lavish parties beginning with the Truman presidency.

Sherry is Atlanta’s “Mesta” and volunteered to decorate for various holidays at the Breman Jewish Home.

That Sunday night, as the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Philadelphia Eagles, Habif and her professional staff concentrated on readying for this year’s Super Bowl, with the addition of valet parking.

She said, “I stretched out the cooking and baking over two weeks being able to freeze desserts and a couple of other dishes; so, everything would still be fresh. I have been decorating the buffet tables over the last week.”

For the event itself, she hired two servers and a bartender.

“As a party planner and decorator, the Super Bowl gives me a chance to use my creativity with a fun theme!” she exclaimed. She prepared most of the food herself, with friends bringing wine and adding some of their own specialties. As a 39-year Atlanta Falcons season ticket holder, she stores closets full of National Football League and Falcons football decor, along with the Super Bowl props.

In terms of the results of the game, Habif stated, “I was happy for the Eagles, as they were truly prepared for all that the K.C. Chiefs gave them. I have family in Philly, so I was happy for them. As much as I have friends who were for Kansas City, I felt their offensive line wasn’t up to par in protecting Patrick Mahomes, who got sacked about seven times.”

Most of the 50 guests stayed to watch until the bitter end.

“Truly a shocking game for the K.C. Chiefs,” was her sentiment.

Staff and helpers left at 11pm. After all the clean-up, Habif “hopped” right to bed.

The next day, she spent shelving football decor and dropping yummy leftovers for friends who were ill.

Which lucky guests will score the Habif invitation list for the Fourth of July?

Habif’s Super Bowl Menu

Appetizers
Pretzels, Mustard
Gruyère crackers
Elaine’s Special Cheese Showstopper
Baked Stuffed Brie
Assorted Nuts, Dry Snacks

Dinner
Beef Brisket Sliders
Franks in Blanket
Baked glazed Salami wedges
Turkey Finger sandwiches
Mushroom Strudel in Puff Pastry
Asiago cheese-stuffed baby new potatoes
Nova cream cheese terrine
Charcuterie board, olives, Pickles, cheeses, hearts of palm, hummus, marinated mushrooms, artichokes, buffalo mozzarella
Vegetarian mock chopped liver
Old fashioned coleslaw
Asian broccoli slaw

Dessert
Triple chocolate chunk cookies
Peanut butter squares
Ganache Frosted Espresso Brownies
Mini mason jars with lemon cake fresh berries, whipped cream
Chocolate budino, Italian pudding, whipped cream