I think I speak for most people when I say, debating the "best of" items is common place among friends, especially when you're just relaxing and maybe enjoying a few drinks. Debate is common place. We all formulate our own opinions on everyday subjects, and will usually go to great lengths to defend that stance. Born from hanging out with friends, enjoying a few drinks, and taking about absolutely nothing important, I present to you, Draft Day.
I'm not going to pretend like this is a new concept, but this is our take on the fun. Draft Day is a three person draft between myself and my two best friends. We choose one subject, and then draft items within that subject that we feel are the best. It is a four round (Mt. Rushmore style), snake draft. For those unaware of anything fantasy sports, a snake draft is designed that every other round goes in the opposite direction (i.e. last pick in one round, gets first pick in the next).
The goal of the draft is to assemble the best team of four picks, and we will put it to the people to determine who assembled the best team.
I'm not going to pretend like this is a new concept, but this is our take on the fun. Draft Day is a three person draft between myself and my two best friends. We choose one subject, and then draft items within that subject that we feel are the best. It is a four round (Mt. Rushmore style), snake draft. For those unaware of anything fantasy sports, a snake draft is designed that every other round goes in the opposite direction (i.e. last pick in one round, gets first pick in the next).
The goal of the draft is to assemble the best team of four picks, and we will put it to the people to determine who assembled the best team.
The subject of Draft Day 1 is Best Free Items at a Restaurant/Bar. Here are the draft results:
Draft Results
Round |
Dan |
Mike |
Bryan |
1 |
1.1 Wheat Thins w/ Pub Cheese (99 Restaurant & Pub) |
1.2 Popcorn (Barrett's Alehouse - MA) |
1.3 Popcorn (99 Restaurant & Pub) |
2 |
2.3 Rolls w/ Cinnamon Butter (Texas Roadhouse) |
2.2 Mini Pretzels (Bog Iron Brewing - Norton, MA) |
2.1 Chips w/ Salsa (Chili's) |
3 |
3.1 Peanuts (Longhorn Steakhouse) |
3.2 Bread w/ Olive Oil (Not Your Average Joe's) |
3.3 Breadsticks (Olive Garden) |
4 |
4.3 Rolls w/ Olive Oil (Bertucci's) |
4.2 Chips w/ Salsa (El Mariachi - Easton, MA) |
4.1 Italian & Rye Bread (Cheesecake Factory) |
Team Recaps
Dan | Dan rounded out his team with arguably the most unique selection of food items. Breaking away from the repeat items of popcorn and chips w/ salsa, that Mike and Bryan both have represented on their teams, Dan found ways to stand out. Selections like peanuts and wheat thins were selections that could not be duplicated. The strongest pick for Dan came in the 2nd round with the selection of the rolls w/ cinnamon butter. A fan favorite. |
Mike | Mike ventured away from the traditional chain restaurant route, that is more represented in the draft picks of his counterparts. Mike took to the smaller restaurants like Bog Iron Brewing (Norton, MA) and El Mariachi (Easton, MA) for his selections. The mini pretzels pick in the 2nd round is the stand out pick of his draft. |
Bryan | Bryan drafted a strong "basic item" draft, choosing the staples of the chain restaurants that are represented. With the pick immediately after Mike's popcorn from Barrett's Alehouse, Bryan attempted to counter with popcorn from the 99 Restaurant. He was the first to draft the Mexican restaurant staple of chips w/ salsa, and managed to get a fan favorite in Olive Garden's breadsticks. |
Final Verdict
When put to a vote on social media, the vote was as followed:
Dan: 22
Bryan: 18
Mike: 2
To be fair, Mike was excluded from one social media platform due to only allowing two options to select via a poll on one specific site, but Dan and Bryan were leading the votes prior with 13 and 9 respectively. Dan won this one by bringing the hammer down in the second round with his rolls w/ cinnamon butter (Texas Roadhouse) pick. To say this pick is a fan favorite would be an understatement. Overall, Dan's team was the most unique, separating him from the other two teams. Partnered with the "hammer" in the 2nd round, we have a winner.
I will be aiming to keep tracking Draft Day going forward, and I will be tracking winners via a point system. With that said, Dan is awarded 3 pts for 1st place, Bryan 2 pts for 2nd, and Mike 1 pt for 3rd place.
Dan: 22
Bryan: 18
Mike: 2
To be fair, Mike was excluded from one social media platform due to only allowing two options to select via a poll on one specific site, but Dan and Bryan were leading the votes prior with 13 and 9 respectively. Dan won this one by bringing the hammer down in the second round with his rolls w/ cinnamon butter (Texas Roadhouse) pick. To say this pick is a fan favorite would be an understatement. Overall, Dan's team was the most unique, separating him from the other two teams. Partnered with the "hammer" in the 2nd round, we have a winner.
I will be aiming to keep tracking Draft Day going forward, and I will be tracking winners via a point system. With that said, Dan is awarded 3 pts for 1st place, Bryan 2 pts for 2nd, and Mike 1 pt for 3rd place.
Standings
1st Dan - 3 pts (1 win) | 2nd Bryan - 2 pts | 3rd Mike - 1 pt |