The super buffet

A de facto national holiday, millions of Americans set aside Super Bowl Sunday to watch costumed warplay and cram our pieholes with toxically delicious foods. If you’re into the former, but not the latter, there’s the sixth annual Vegan Super Bowl Party at El Papagayo Restaurant (5804 Marconi Avenue) in Carmichael on February 4 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. In lieu of wings, layered dips and pastry-wrapped weenies, a vegan buffet ($23 for access) will be stocked with quinoa, flax and chia balls covered in mole; red and green enchiladas stuffed with mushrooms, tofu or soyrizo; and tamales, one filled with chile verde veggies and another with pineapple, topped with fresh fruit and a creamy coconut sauce. To drink, there’s vegan horchata and the restaurant’s full bar. Buy tickets online because, according to owner Rosalinda Aceves, this event sold out last year, bringing in roughly 150 mindfully eating football fans.