When Neal Balkowitsch relocated in 1989 from Minneapolis to manage Pine Brook Country Club in Weston, he met Dan Mathieu through mutual clients. Over the years, the pair occasionally collaborated on events before finally teaming up to launch the catering company MAX Ultimate Food in 2001. “We had quite a varied background,” Balkowitsch says. “Food and beverage is obviously part of it, but we’d had to run organizations where we played a role in creating events and defining events and thinking about every aspect of what an event is. And I think that’s a great strength in our company.” Over the past decade-plus, MAX Ultimate Food has catered many Super Bowl parties and with football season in full swing, Balkowitsch offers suggestions for tailgating snacks.