You’ve already canceled all your real-life (what is that, anyways?) plans for Sunday, right? It’s #DecisionDay, after all, and you’d better clear a space and get cozy on the couch.
With 10 games happening across the league, the action starts at 3:30 p.m. ET with our live pre-game show streaming online, and continues after them all with post-game analysis, too. (Click here for full details about that.)
So, that means many hours of hanging by your screens. You’ll need sustenance. But how to make sure, if you’re at home, that you’re getting the authentic local flavor of your favorite team?
MLSsoccer.com beat writers weighed in with suggestions on how to host the best #DecisionDay watch party, complete with locally flavored food and drink to celebrate your team. Here’s what they think you should try, depending on which club you support.
NEW YORK CITY FC
Brooklyn Brewery's Oktoberfest is a quintessential local fall beer. And for food, of course, there's New York pizza; some of the best is at Grimaldi's. If you're far from the city, though, don't necessarily fret yet -- the place now has franchises throughout the country. -- Dylan Butler
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Enjoyed best on a sunny fall day in their quaint beer garden at Assembly Row in Somerville (three minutes north of Boston), Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA, a hoppy double, always hits the spot.
For food, stop having other people make things for you. Go out and buy some lobster, put a little water in a pot and steam those babies to perfection. Don't forget the melted buttah! -- Craig Forde
COLUMBUS CREW SC
What better way to drink during a Crew SC game than by enjoying a beer created as the official brew of Crew SC fans? Meet Glory by Land Grant Brewing. And since Decision Day happens to fall so close to Halloween, a local, vampire-themed brew also makes perfect sense. For that, try Nosferatu by Great Lakes Brewing.
Meanwhile, for food, try the fried chicken shop that's the talk of the city, Hot Chicken Takeover. It's already wooed many Crew SC fans in Mapfre Stadium. You can't go wrong with fried chicken and sports, right? It's originally a Nashville creation, and here's a solid recipe to try at home.
And for the best barbecue in Columbus, Ray Ray's is a no-brainer. They cater events and will provide you with the best pork/ribs/brisket in the city -- so locals, you can order online. -- Andrew King
D.C. UNITED
D.C. Brau remains the District's brewery of choice: Last year, the local brewhouse teamed with United to create "The Tradition," a fermented tribute to the Black-and-Red. Though that run is long-gone, "The Citizen" -- a highly drinkable Belgian pale -- remains a fine choice for any D.C. sports gathering.
For food, forget half-smokes and mumbo sauce and go get yourself a pupusa. Any seasoned denizen of RFK Stadium will point you towards the pupusa stand on the lower level, and any DC resident will point you to Pupuseria San Miguel in Mount Pleasant, where you can fill your belly with the Salvadoran delight for a pittance. (For anyone in a city without a place that sells this specialty from El Salvador, here's a recipe to try.) -- Pablo Maurer
PHILADELPHIA UNION
Philly, of course, is best known for its cheesesteaks and there are plenty of great options around town to get your fix. Pat's is perhaps the most well-known place -- and if you don't want to wait in the long lines there, you can find their recipe here.
And who doesn't like a great soft pretzel at a party? If you have time and the proper equipment, here's an instructional video how to make another of Philly's biggest food staples.
The new Dogfish Head beer garden at PPL Park was a great addition to the stadium. Check out Dogfish.com to stock up on this great Delaware brew. -- Dave Zeitlin
ORLANDO CITY
Any specialty food for Orlando City's Decision Day game at Philadelphia has simply got to be purple, which is now the official color of Orlando. Why not give this recipe for grape Jell-o shot cupcakes a whirl?
And, just in case anyone over-imbibes in their excitement at OCSC turning around an eight-goal difference to squeeze into the playoffs over New England, how about a purple detox smoothie? -- Simon Veness
MONTREAL IMPACT
Montreal bagels are world-famous. Slice in half, pick your favorite ingredients and get creative. Every Montrealer has their favorite maker, but St-Viateur Bagel even ships to the United States!
Then there's pâté chinois (also known as shepherd’s pie, kind of). This literally translates to “Chinese pie," though there’s nothing Chinese about it . It's Quebec comfort food at its best: steak, blé d’inde, patates, or ground beef, corn, and mashed potatoes. Easy and good. No one in Quebec ever follows a recipe for this, but here’s one anyway.
To drink, try Moralité, by Microbrasserie Dieu du Ciel! Pour a healthy serving of it (a bright, American-style IPA) in your glass, because when Toronto and Montreal get on the field, immoral stuff is bound to go down. Enjoy at the pub or buy a six-pack at your local store in Montreal. -- Olivier Tremblay
TORONTO FC
For a taste of Toronto with playoffs on the line, in homage to T.O.'s Hogtown past, try a classic peameal (Canadian) bacon sandwich. Here's one recipe. Pair it with a crisp Steam Whistle Pilsner, brewed in a renovated roundhouse at the foot of the CN Tower. -- James Grossi
PORTLAND TIMBERS
Widmer Brothers Brewing: Craft beer is king in Portland, so for one of the city's originals from Widmer Brothers Brewing. They even brewed a Timbers-inspired beer, Green and Gold Kolsch, a few years back.
Food-wise, it's all about going big -- Big Ass Sandwich big. Seriously, look at these pictures. The owners are also noted Timbers fans who are frequently part of the Food Cart Alliance at Providence Park. -- Dan Itel
COLORADO RAPIDS
In addition to their MLS rivalry, Colorado and Portland rival each other with claims to the unofficial title of “Craft Beer Capital of the World." According to the Colorado Tourism Office, more than 10 percent of percent of the nation’s craft breweries can be found in Colorado.
Fort Collins-based Odell Brewing Company is the craft brewing partner of the Colorado Rapids, and its 90 Shilling Ale is a featured offering at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and an excellent choice outside of the park, too.
For food, every state in the four corners region makes green chili its own way and Colorado is no different. Adding some of the spicy stuff to fries or a hot dog adds some western flair to gametime classics. -- Marco Cummings
SPORTING KANSAS CITY
The Cauldron chant goes "... and we all eat barbecue," so that's an essential for match day. The iconic Joe's Kansas City is closed on Sundays, but Gates Bar B.Q., Zarda Bar-B-Q and Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue are all solid local options with multiple locations.
For nachos, go with chips and salsa from Silva's, available at stores around the metro area.
Kansas City is loaded with great craft brews, but nothing says "Sporting" like something from Boulevard Brewing. Your best bet is the Pale Ale, which goes with everything, but if you feel like splurging, go for the Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. -- Steve Brisendine
LA GALAXY
Los Angeles culture is informed by Mexico, especially with cuisine, and no party is complete without carne asada-- plus top-quality corn tortillas to make tacos. (If you prefer burritos, it's flour tortillas; having both on hand is a good idea.)
Also try tri-tip, California's preferred cut of beef. It's legend in environs northwest of greater LA, and it's grown hugely popular down here, too. Try this recipe.
Meanwhile, SoCal came late to the craft-beer game, but there are plenty of great brews from these parts these days. Some of the best come from the Bruery in Placentia, in north Orange County. The Autumn Maple comes highly recommended. -- Scott French
CHICAGO FIRE
No sports gathering in Chicago is complete without Chicago-style hot dogs. Here's a recipe from Wiener's Circle. They're best served with Portillo’s chopped salad, and of course, some tasty chips or pretzels with a Goose Island beer cheese dip.
Wash it down with a chilled Goose Island Oktoberfest or Autumn Ale, or maybe a year-round favorite, like Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ or a Domaine Dupage from Two Brothers. -- Shane Murray
NEW YORK RED BULLS
Since the Red Bulls are a little New Jersey, and a little New York, it's fitting to give love to both parts. To celebrate New Jersey, try a pork roll sandwich. It's simple, cheap, and delicious, and perfect for a day in front of the tube watching MLS.
To drink, here's another recommendation for Brooklyn Lager. Much like the Red Bulls, Brooklyn Lager has a rich local history. -- Eric Giacometti
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Although poutine is more associated with French Canada, it's still a Canadian staple. With the cheese curds also known as "squeakers," it's a fitting meal for the tension of the day, and one of Carl Robinson's favourite phrases, "squeaky bum time." Here's a recipe to try.
Gelato from La Casa Gelato (1033 Venable Street, Vancouver) - If you're in the area, get takeout from the legendary Vancouver gelateria La Casa Gelato. The boast having over 200 flavors, so you can have one for each of the many challenges facing the Whitecaps this Sunday. -- Michael McColl
HOUSTON DYNAMO
It's not a tailgate in Texas without brisket, sliced thin with a good dose of pepper and salt and no sauce -- the Texas way. It's a must have on game day and pairs well with a side of baked beans! (Here's one recipe.)
Prepping for game day in Houston is also not complete without the city's hometown brew, St. Arnold. Whether it's a Lawnmower IPA or good old-fashioned root beer, they have Houston covered. -- Darrell Lovell
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
One hyper-regional delicacy is the Seattle-style hot dog, more or less a regular hot dog, but served with cream cheese, and, depending on the vendor, grilled onions and other toppings. You can try making your own from this recipe.-- Ari Liljenwall
REAL SALT LAKE
What better way to support RSL than enjoying a nice "Rimando's Wit," a local craft beer that would pair well with one final victory over the Seattle Sounders for the 2015 season? Just don't overdo it when you're playing "Drink with Dunny."
If you're looking for something to munch on, you can always try some of Utah's famous deep-fried scones (recipe here). -- Tyler Gray
FC DALLAS
To me, the biggest staple of any Texas gameday watching party is a quality pot of chili con queso. It’s tasty, it’s easy to make, it’s got Tex-Mex flair, and, well, it’s cheese. What’s not to like? This recipe fits the bill.
As for a drink, Toyota Stadium is known for its rambunctious fan section known as the "beer garden," so it’s hard to stray from a good brew. It’s hard to pair something poorly with something as traditional as a good queso dip, but if you want a Texas flavor, grab either a local Deep Ellum brew or a Texas favorite Shiner Bock. -- Scott Sidway
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Fans wanting the replicate the authentic experience of Avaya Stadium can track down the folks from Speedy Panini -- one of the regular food trucks on site for Quakes game days -- by watching their Twitter feed. For those willing to come up to San Francisco, you can usually find another Avaya food-truck regular, El Tonayense, along Harrison Street between 14th and 19th Streets.
Gordon Biersch is a Bay Area-born brewery which has made San Jose its home since 1997. However, fans might want to have a bottle or two of harder stuff on hand, such as Bender's Rye Whiskey, produced on Treasure Island, in case the Quakes fail to end their playoff drought. -- Geoff Lepper
