Governor Blagojevich joins in friendly wager with Indiana Governor Daniels

CHICAGO - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today joined in a friendly wager with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, as the Chicago Bears take on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI.

 

If the NFC Champions Chicago Bears prevail, Gov. Daniels will provide caramels and assorted chocolates from Abbott's Candy in Indianapolis; pretzels from Pretzel's Inc. in Bluffton; organic cheeses from Trader's Point Creamery in Zionsville; Pop Weaver microwave popcorn from Weaver Popcorn Company in Van Buren; a 15-bean soup pot from N.K. Hurst Company in Indianapolis; salsa and tomato juice from Red Gold Inc. in Orestes; candy from Schimpff's Confectionery in Jeffersonville; pickles from Sechler's Pickles in St. Joe; bottled water from Cole Brothers Water Company in Peru; cinnamon-glazed almonds and pecans from Nutty Bavarian of Indiana in Granger; dip and soup mixes from Soup of Success in Elkhart; and shrimp cocktail from St. Elmo's Steak House in Indianapolis.

 

If the AFC Champions Indianapolis Colts win the game, Gov. Blagojevich will send to Indianapolis Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Pizza, Eli's Cheesecake, and treats from Illinois Nut and Candy.

 

"The Bears fought their way to win the NFC Championship and are ready to take on the Colts to become the top football team in the nation," said Gov. Blagojevich.  "With Lovie Smith as head coach, their unshakeable defense, and spirited fans, the Bears are a force to be reckoned with.  We look forward to enjoying Governor Daniels' wager.  We in Illinois are proud of the Bears and wish them good luck in the Super Bowl."

 

"We look forward to a great game and good eats.  Every Hoosier has a team in this game," said Daniels.  "It's fun to do business with Governor Blagojevich.  We always start by talking about jobs and roads and other business, but sports always comes up."

 

Lou Malnati's Chicago style pizza is a deep-dish pie so thick and cheesy it must be eaten with fork and knife.  Lou Malnati had pizza in his blood; his grandfather Rudy Malnati helped create the recipe for Chicago style deep dish pizza in 1943, and Lou worked with his father in Chicago's first pizzeria in the early 1940s.  In 1971 Lou opened his first restaurant, and today Chicagoans can enjoy Lou's Pizzas at 22 locations.

 

Eli's Cheesecake is a Chicago legend, earning rave reviews from critics across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times, which dubbed it the "King of Cheesecake."  Although the cheesecake originated from Eli's A Place for Steak, the Schulman family spun off the famous dessert to form Eli's Cheesecake in 1980.  Gov. Blagojevich is such a fan of Eli's Cheesecake, he celebrated his first Inaugural Ball with an 800 lbs. Eli's cake, which featured sugar paste violets (the Illinois state flower), cardinals (the Illinois State Bird), the images of the State of Illinois, and a miniature train to represent the Governor's tour from Chicago to Springfield.

 

A Chicago chocolate bear will go along with taffy apples and English toffee from the Illinois Nut and Candy Shop.  The Illinois Nut and Candy Shop is the largest kosher candy shop in the Midwest and is expanding into other niche markets.  Customers with food allergies can enjoy gluten-free, sugar-free, and lactose-free candy.  Illinois Nut and Candy even creates lactose free soft-serve ice cream.

 

The Bears have not been to the Super Bowl since their 1986 championship, and the Colts have never attended.  Coaches Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy are the first African American coaches to bring teams to the Super Bowl.  With a vaunted defense and a strong fan base, the Bears should put up at tough fight against the Indianapolis Colts.