The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and that means fans are looking for places to grab a bite and watch the game. There are many sports bars and restaurants offering wing and beer specials while the game is on, but how many restaurants actually invite you to eat like Heat players, who face the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at 7?
See also: Ten Best Places to Watch the Heat Game
It's no secret that MC Kitchen's Dena Marino and the Miami Heat have a close connection.
Many of the players enjoy the chef's creations. And last year, Marino was serenaded by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade during teammate Shane Battier's South Beach Battioke fundraiser:
Marino is returning the favor of that, um, heartfelt (and ear-spliting) song by featuring special Miami Heat-approved menu items during each playoff game. Each game will feature an MC Kitchen item that's a favorite of a Heat player, paired with a special cocktail, beer, or wine.
The winning series kicks off tonight, April 23, with the SB Ambition Pizza, created by Shane Battier himself. The pizza is topped with caramelized onions, spinach, broccoli rabe, fontina cheese, and sautéed wild mushrooms and then lightly sprinkled with Parmesan (sounds like an ambitious pizza to us).
Battier's pizza will be paired with a Mr. Shilly Shally Shanedy, made with gluten-free Tweason Ale from Dogfish Head beer, mixed with a natural ginger ale. The pizza-and-beer pairing costs $18 and will be offered at the bar only (where the game will, of course, be available for viewing).
Chef Marino will offer similarly priced surprise pairings on all other playoff nights.
Follow Laine Doss on Twitter @LaineDoss and Facebook.
Follow Short Order on Facebook, Twitter @Short_Order, and Instagram @ShortOrder.
