Nike’s Super Bowl ad: A middle finger to the noise, a kitchen battle cry, and the recipe for winning anyway
Nike gets it. Always has.
Win anyway. Nike doesn’t do subtle. They don’t do polite. They don’t whisper sweet nothings about effort and perseverance they slap you in the face with them. This year’s Super Bowl ad? A masterclass in that philosophy. A raw, punch-in-the-gut manifesto that doesn’t ask for permission, doesn’t beg for validation. It just tells the truth: You can’t win. So win.
Simple. Direct. Unapologetic. The kind of message that makes you stop mid-bite, mid-sip, mid-breath and nod because you know, deep down, it’s true.
It’s the same nonsense we see everywhere, including the kitchen.
Nike’s answer? Win anyway.
Think about it…who do we call chef? The men with their Michelin stars and their white jackets, screaming over the pass like battle commanders. And yet, for centuries, women have been the ones behind the stove, feeding entire generations, keeping entire cultures alive through food. And what do we call them? Home cooks.
This isn’t about feel-good slogans or empty empowerment. It’s about the grit, the sweat, the relentless pursuit of something bigger than yourself. It’s about athletes who refuse to play by the rules that were never made for them in the first place.
It’s Serena Williams smashing records and still being told she’s too emotional. It’s Chloe Kim landing a trick no man or woman has ever done and being called too lucky. It’s every woman who’s been underestimated, second-guessed, or told she doesn’t belong turning around and proving, over and over again, that she damn well does.
It’s the same game. The same moving goalposts. The same whispered (or shouted) doubts. But here’s the thing: the best of them the best of us keep cooking anyway.
Because winning isn’t about applause. It’s about doing the thing. It’s about putting in the hours, the sweat, the blood, the tears, whether anyone is watching or not. It’s about showing up, day after day, knowing the world might never give you the credit you deserve and doing it anyway.
And that’s where the magic happens.
Nike doesn’t just sell shoes. It sells rebellion, self-belief, and the kind of defiance that makes history. And this ad? It’s a battle cry.
So, yeah. You can’t win.
So, let’s cook something that embodies this attitude something bold, resilient, and unapologetically good. Something like Spicy chicken (or prawn) garlic butter pasta with lemon and herbs – a dish that doesn’t ask for permission, doesn’t play by the rules, and leaves a lasting impression, just like that ad.
The Lesson?
Ignore the noise. Make the thing. Take up space. Be too much. Be not enough.
And then win anyway.
Spicy garlic butter pasta with lemon, herbs with chicken and shrimp
Ingredients
- 250 g pasta linguine, spaghetti – whatever makes you feel powerful
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 200g shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes or more if you want to feel the heat
- 3 tbsp butter because richness matters
- 2 tbsp olive oil for balance
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon sharp, bright, relentless…just like you
- ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan because indulgence never hurt anyone
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- Season the chicken (or shrimp) with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- If using chicken, sear for about 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and let it rest before slicing.
- If using shrimp, cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, reduce heat to medium, add butter, the remaining olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Let them sizzle for a a few seconds to a minute until fragrant, not burnt.
- Toss in the pasta, lemon zest, and juice. Stir well, adding the reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats everything beautifully.
- Slice the chicken and add it (or toss in the shrimp). Mix everything together with fresh parsley and Parmesan.
- Serve immediately. Extra cheese on top? Always. Maybe a drizzle of chili oil if you’re feeling bold.
