The Tailgate Society

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-30T21:23:00.001-08:00

This week I thought I would try out a new site for finding recipes from delish.com. Figured I would change it up a little bit since I had been going with what I new was good. This still sounds really good. When I get the chance I definitely want to try this one out!

Herbed Chicken and Hot-Pepper Sandwiches

From Country Living
This sure-to-please dish is easy to prepare and travels well — perfect for both autumn picnics and everyday meals. To save time, purchase a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter or use good-quality sliced fresh turkey breast and make this entire dish in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients

* 2 (about 1 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 3 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
* 1/3 cup(s) olive oil
* 3 teaspoon(s) rosemary, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon(s) salt
* 1 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground pepper
* 1/2 cup(s) mayonnaise
* 3 ounce(s) hot capocollo or salami, thinly sliced
* 1 cup(s) pickled hot pepper, thinly sliced
* 6 ounce(s) fontina cheese, sliced 1/4-inch thick
* 4 (10-inch) baguettes

Directions

1. Roast the chicken:

Place the chicken, lemon juice, olive oil, 2 teaspoons rosemary, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish and refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours. Heat oven to 400°F. Remove chicken from marinade (discard marinade) and roast until cooked through -- about 25 minutes. Thinly slice the chicken breasts; set aside.

2. Make the sandwiches:

Split each of the baguettes horizontally using a serrated knife. Stir the mayonnaise and remaining rosemary together and spread on each slice. Layer the capocollo, peppers, chicken, and fontina on half of the sliced baguettes. Top each sandwich with the remaining slices, cut in half, and serve.

Serving size = 1 sandwich

Tips & Techniques

Timesaver: Purchase a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter or use good-quality sliced fresh turkey breast and make this entire dish in under 15 minutes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

Good morning everybody and a Happy Thanksgiving! There is a full slate of football games schedule for the day while you sit around and enjoy your feasts. I know I cannot wait. I am looking forward specifically to the Dallas game. They play every year and I have been a fan since I was a kid. Plus I have Miles Austin going this week in fantasy football, so it has other implications. Hopefully he will have a big week. Need all the help that we can get. I am trying to make a playoff push these last few weeks before the regular season ends. In another league that I joined I have a guaranteed playoff spot, but I am still battling for the number seed. I guess it does not make that big of a difference. It would just be nice to be the supposed “weakest” team.

Anyways my plans for the day are nothing short of spectacular. I plan on eating so much food that I will probably just wear sweat pants to lunch. Since I am eating dinner at my house I do not see the need to get overdressed. It is just the family. I would rather be comfortable and ready to stuff my face full of bird. Then move onto the several options that dessert offers…usually something in pumpkin sounds about right. My mom makes a pretty good pumpkin roll. If I ever to remember I will have to post that sometime. I think you will really enjoy it.

Again enjoy the holidays and be safe out there this weekend. Always want to make sure to have fun, but still be aware of what you are doing.

Happy Turkey Day!

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

I also think I have used celebrations.com before to find recipes, and was fairly happy with the results. So, I decided to comeback for more. This sounded like a tasty twist on your typical cheeseburger. With all the ingredients you might think it makes cooking a burger way to difficult, but if you actually read the directions they extremely easy. Not much more than throwing ingredients, the right ones of course, together and mixing. Then for your burgers you just have to form the patties. Cannot get any simpler than that!

Mediterranean Burgers

The Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise is excellent as a topping on these burgers and would taste great on a vegetarian version as well.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 3 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup pitted, finely chopped Kalamata olives
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
• 4 grilled onion rolls
• Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise
• 1 Cup mayonnaise
• 4 sun-dried tomatoes (hydrated)
• 1 tablespoon minced basil leaves

Steps

• Add ground beef into a bowl and mix in cheese, olives, salt and peppers until throughout. Form 4 patties and place in an airtight container for transport to the tailgate site.

• To make Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise: Add mayonnaise and sun-dried tomatoes into blender and process until smooth. Stir in basil leaves and transfer into an airtight container.

Note: Keep mayo in the cooler on hot tailgating days for maximum freshness.

• Grill burgers on a lightly oiled rack over medium-high heat, 5 minutes on each side for medium burgers. Top with Sun-dried Tomato Basil Mayonnaise and serve on onion rolls.

Makes 4 servings

"Tailgating Fanatic"

2009-11-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

Tailgating Fanatic

Tailgating Fanatic is a web site dedicated to selling merchandise for the tailgating fan. They have items for sale from four sports categories that include NCAA, NFL, MLB, and NASCAR merchandise. Some of the items up for sale are chairs, suit cases, coolers, and other various products with your favorite team’s logo. They are plenty of options for choosing your favorite teams. You can basically select any major division I college school from the NCAA merchandise list and have their team logo put on your item. It carries all NFL and MLB teams which means another 60 something options to choose from, roughly. Finally, it carries numerous drivers from NASCAR, but it is does not include all the drives in the series.

Items that they carry range from backpacks, blankets and throws, chairs, coolers and accessories, to heaters, lanterns and lights, and other portable appliances. They also have an entire section dedicated to your typical tailgating games. The bag sets, also known as cornhole I believe, that they had looked really nice. If I had some extra income to spend I would not mind buying me a set of those. They are always fun to play when you need to kill some time on a nice day. Not as fun when it is could outside. Other games include bulls-eye washer and 3 washer games, finger football, and frizby football. The frizby football actually looks like a lot fun. Another game where you can stand around drinking and still be able to throw a disc with your other hand. The object of the game is to throw a frizby through a set of goal posts. Something similar to bags, but at the same time a little different challenge. Should try it out.

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-16T16:50:00.000-08:00

I found another knockout from myrecipes.com, but this might be more suitable for a night at home watching the game on the tube because it calls for baking the wings instead of grilling. It might be possible to make them the night before if there were some possible way of reheating them at the game the next day. Even though I cannot really think of too many options when it comes to this other than getting dish or pan and heating on the grill. This would reheat the wings in a rather short time frame, and allow you to still keep the sauce on the wings. You could even make up another batch the night before and bring it with just in case. You can always add more flavors, but you cannot take the spices out after the fact.

Honey Chicken Wings

You're sure to get a standing ovation when guests sample this sweet-hot salsa, honey, and ginger marinade. Bake the wings during the first quarter and serve at halftime with blue cheese or Ranch dressing.

Yield: 4 appetizer servings

Ingredients
• 1 cup salsa or picante sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces

Preparation
Stir together first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Add wing pieces, tossing to coat. Place on an aluminum foil-lined 15- x 10-inch jellyroll pan.

Bake at 400° for 55 minutes or until chicken is done, turning once.

Another quick and easy recipe…that is why I love this site. Enjoy!

Bud Light! Wheat Beer...

2009-11-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

Another exciting rendition of the Bud Light! Tailgate Tested. Tailgate Approved. Although this time they finally came out with a new beer and not a semi-sarcastic product. I have yet to try it but I have heard from several people that it is fairly decent. No big remarks that it is fantastic and is a must buy. Even so I will probably eventually cave in and go try it. I guess you really have to. No other ways to form your own opinion about it until you try it. The only real details that I have heard about it are that is basically taste like Bud Light! with a slight wheat flavor. I was wondering if the taste is somewhat similar to the pales or wheat ales or if the taste is not as strong as say a Samuel Adams Wheat beer.

That also was not a bad marketing strategy from Bud Light! Nothing to brilliant but none the less can still be effective. Create hype about their company by producing commercials about not to common tailgate products, and then eventually x months later roll out a new flavor of beer. It caught my attention. Although, I still have not went and bought any. Maybe it is not that effective after all. Hopefully they will come out with another flavor in a few months or so. Then I will have a new beer on my list to try. Cannot wait until I go buy some, and I think I will actually go right now.

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-09T21:11:00.000-08:00

I found this while searching tailgating.com. Looked like a unique meal compared to your normal eggs and pancakes breakfast. Philly scrapple sounds like something you might not want to eat, but at the same time I bet this is delicious. Never tried it myself, but you never know until you try.

This is basically what scrapple is:
Scrapple (Pennsylvania Dutch) is traditionally a mush of pork scraps and trimmings combined with cornmeal and flour, often buckwheat flour and spices.
Philly Phavorite Eagles Breakfast

Ingredients:
o 2 to 3 lbs Philadelphia Scrapple
o 2 to 3 lbs Sausage Patties
o 2 to 3 lbs Bacon
o 2 lbs sliced American cheese
o 4 dozen eggs
o 4 dozen English Muffins
o 5 lbs potatoes
o 2 large onions
o 2 large peppers
o Worchestire sauce

Instructions:
Need a hot grill and skillet ....slice scrapple about 1/4" thick, grill on very hot skillet (the hotter the skillet, the better the scrapple cooks), grill sausage patties and bacon (meat can be cooked at home and prepared at parking lot) ...fry eggs on skillet, flipping one time, place on toasted english muffin, cover with slice of cheese and meat and/or meats of choice, add ketchup to taste and eat away ...

Peel and dice potatoes into bite size pieces, sprinkle w/seasoned salt, cover w/ sliced onions and peppers, add 1/2 stick of butter or margarine and a splash of Worchestire sauce, cover pan w/aluminum foil and place on grill...cook for about 1 hour (stirring to prevent burning) ...makes a great side dish to breakfast sandwiches.... Potatoes can be pre-boiled to speed cooking process Sandwiches can be wrapped in aluminum foil and taken into game to eat as a half time snack ....

After years of tailgating w/an all-male crew, I've been selected and elected as the "tailgate wife of the year(s)" and the mess cook ...suddenly men who have been eating hot dogs/burgers for years cannot cook for themselves ... it is fun to cook for so many who appreciate a good meal and great football

That was from Maryann R. an Eagles Tailgater…

How to Prepare for those Cold Winter Games

2009-11-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

Now that we are getting closer to winter it is especially crucial to bundle up for those outdoor activities. For those of us that do not have the luxury of year round warm weather or domed stadiums we have to bear the cold to support our teams on Sunday or Saturday if you prefer. I am a bigger NFL fan than college football. Anyways, there are few ways you can go about your preparations in order to stay warm.

For the typical fan you probably are going to want to be the warmest you can possibly be. For this I say it never hurts to pack extra things. Bring a few blankets that you can have while tailgating that way you are not completely frozen by the end of the day, and if they allow you to bring them into the stadium I say go for it. Put on plenty of layers of clothing. You can always take stuff off if you get hot, but if you fail to bring something you can put in back on. I always like to keep these parts of my body the warmest: your head, hands, and feet because they are the furthest away from you heart where your blood is obviously being pumped. For me anyways, they tend to get the coldest. Usually I am I wishing I had a ski-mask to help keep my entire face covered. Bring hot drinks: coffee, tea, cappuccino, or whatever. This will help keep your blood circulating and give you warmth.

Or you can be that other guy….you know the one. It is the guy that has no shirt on and is in a line as a letter to spell out a word. I definitely do not have the motivation to do this. That would be a long day for myself. I do respect that they are willing to stand out in the cold for the day though. My question is do they even get cold?

Best College Football Stadium to Tailgate

2009-11-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

In my personal experience I have tailgated at a couple of college football games. Since I am from the Mid-west the only games I have gone too are a few ISU and U of I games. I have never actually tailgated and gone to the game at the same time though. I have either solely went to the games or tailgated and didn’t have tickets to go. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but does it really need too? Oh well…. it did not make a big difference to me because from a competition standpoint I wasn’t too excited for either games because I am not really a fan the teams.

If possible, when I do go to other games I generally like to tailgate before the game with the intuition that I am actually going to the game also. I just think it is more fun that way because it creates an entire experience where you spend your whole day around with friends and family to support the team. Otherwise you are just drinking in a parking lot with a bunch of other people, which can be done basically anywhere. I am kidding where else can masses of people get together to drink without any intrusion from the law, but seriously how can it be tailgating if your intention is never to go into the game. In addition, games just are not the same without tailgating before. Do get me wrong both leisure activities are great by themselves, but combined it is the best time.

I have always wanted to go to a Michigan Wolverines game because as a child I wanted to go to their school for some reason. I think it was because I have been a fan of their football program since then. They were always on ABC and a good team to watch. Hard not to like something that wins all the time and also when you watch all the time. Hopefully I can make it to a game sometime. For me that would be the best college football stadium to tailgate at.

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

This recipe comes from myrecipes.com. They have a wide variety of foods to prepare, and I think I have found another recipe from their website before. Great selections! This looks like a tasty appetizer that is fairly simple to prepare. The directions are easy to follow and there is no more than a few steps. You will love these and so will your guests!

The three-cheese filling is a nice complement for the spicy peppers. You can also use a milder chile, such as a cherry pepper. Shredded cheddar cheese can take the place of Parmesan, if you like.

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 2 pepper halves)
Ingredients

* 1/2 cup (4 ounces) soft goat cheese
* 1/2 cup (4 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
* 1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
* 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 16 jalapeño peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded (about 1 1/2 pounds)
* Cooking spray
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

2. Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl, stirring well. Spoon about 2 teaspoons cheese mixture into each pepper half. Place pepper halves, cheese side up, on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill peppers 5 minutes or until bottoms of peppers are charred and cheese mixture is lightly browned. Carefully place peppers on a serving platter. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Happy Halloween Tailgaters!

2009-10-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Tailgaters! It is a bright and early morning for myself. I have no special plans as for tailgating this morning, afternoon, or night. It is really hard to make it to a game when the costs alone are so high any more. I hope to make it to at least one game this season. The last time that I got to do any kind of tailgating was when I attended a concert on back to back days at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin. It is actually a pretty great venue for the Midwest that holds a substantial amount of people, and allows them to pre-game in the lots prior to the show. The best part is that it is kind of secluded from anything part of the general population. The lots are so vast because they are basically open fields where they allow people to park.

Are time spent there tailgating was not exactly the longest either. We basically rolled up a couple of hours before the show, and sat there long enough to chug a few beers. Other people were grilling and playing some games when showed up, but we got there a little later than we wanted and had to wait in the line to get in the venue.

Again I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween and hope that their tailgating adventures turn out to be a little more exciting than my last experiences. The best way to solve that problem is plan ahead, and do not assume anything.

Mystery Post

2009-10-30T08:43:00.001-07:00

Keeping with the Halloween theme, I wanted to keep the topic of choice hidden until you read just this one sentence. The suspense is killing you, I know. Do you keep within the spirit of Halloween and dress up for the games this weekend? Halloween is tomorrow, which is Saturday for those of who do not know, and there is a slate of college games schedule for the entire day. Then on Sunday, the morning following the festivities, there is another day full of football with the NFL schedule. How many of you will actually participate in dressing up in costume for the day? It may be uncomfortable to be Fat Elvis or a Giant Brick, but going the extra mile might be worth it.

You might be the only person to show up dressed in a costume, but at least you will stand out. You definitely will get a lot of comments…good or bad. I personally would think it would be more fun to show up for the day in a costume. Not to many times do you get to dress like a fool in public, and not really worry about what people will say. Really if you plan it right nobody will even know that you were there. Get a costume that totally conceals your identity you have a mini-pass to be an idiot for awhile.

The biggest question is what do dress up like? You do not want to show up as a football player…not very original. Leave your best costume ideas for the big tailgating weekend. This just gives you a better reason to get outside and enjoy a hot apple cider and spiced rum drink.

Squeezing The Tailgate Society

2009-10-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

It has just been a little over two months since I created this blog for users that were looking for additional information regarding tailgating activities, tips, recipes and more. My initial objective was to just create topics where people could interact with them by leaving comments about their advice and stories.

One of my earlier posts debated between what type of grill will cook your meats to perfection. At your tailgate party, you want to have the best possible food available, and personal preference of taste will determine which category of grills you would cook from. You can find more of this debate at its original source, “Grilling Challenge: Gas vs. Grill.”

I also wanted to provide users with the top products, different tips and techniques offered by experienced tailgaters. This could include any personal information that I might have, any research that I conduct, or other personal stories/ideas about what makes their tailgate party the best. My post, “Top Activities to do while Tailgating,” supplied tailgaters with different suggestions that they could while they are hanging out in the lots. Depending on how crazy you feel at the moment you could either tackle all 10 activities or only one or two. In addition, “Essentials of Tailgating,” is another topic where you find ideas related to most key, quality items that you could want and need for your tailgate party.

Finally, I sought to supply resources outside my own personal knowledge, since mine is limited about tailgating. This was probably the best way for my readers to find the pertinent information they wanted because it would them alternative options with more seasoned, experienced tailgaters. My first attempt was to send readers to another blog post called, “The Ultimate Tailgater,” but I think this was futile since it does not seem like they updating continuously. For a better perspective for finding more information I would look under both of these posts, “The Drunken Tailgate,” and, ”Tailgating Lots from Tailgating America”. I believe both of these are currently still posting, and you probably have a better chance of what you are looking for.

Iconic Television Show Even Makes Reference to Tailgating

2009-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

I was watching television the other day, and it just happen to be the Simpson's whom made reference to tailgating. I could not believe how tailgating has become integrated into American entertainment culture. That it is now even being recognized as a national pastime in a cartoon as another symbol of American pop culture is truly amazing. Two great, but completely different topics could come together to make the ultimate tailgating reference.

The funniest aspect of the entire episode was this short blip of praising tailgating as so finely described by the one and only Homer Jay Simpson,

“We’re not here for the game. The game is nothing. The game is crap. The game makes me sick. The real reason we Americans put up with sports is for this: Behold, the tailgate party. The pinnacle of human achievement. Since the dawn of parking lots, man has sought to fill his gut with food and alcohol in anticipation of watching others exercise.”

This response came in essence of s response to his kids asking why they were going to the football game so early. Clearly he nailed that answer.

Upon further research I found that the Homer quote came from the Simpson’s season 19 episode #18 called “Any Given Sundance,” if any readers were curious to where they could access this clip. It is at the beginning of the episode, so you do not have to wait long to find the clip.

I was unable to find a viable clip online, so let me know if anyone out there has this short segment from the episode I mentioned. No explanation can do the creative imagery and writing of the Simpson's justice.

Recipe of the Week

2009-10-25T17:30:00.001-07:00

Wazzu Tailgate Chili -

This looks complicated and time consuming with a lot of ingredients, but since you can make it the night before it is actually a quick fix at your tailgate party…just reheat and eat. I found this recipe at Allrecipes.com where you can find other great recipes for tailgating or just dinner on a Monday night.

Ingredients:
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped, divided
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 habanero peppers, seeded and minced
• 2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle lager-style beer
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Cook ground beef and pork in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.

2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in 3/4 of the onion and all of the green pepper, habanero pepper, jalapeno pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the drained meat into the onion mixture along with the green onion, chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, beer, and water. Sprinkle with the cornmeal, then season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.

3. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate overnight.

4. Reheat the chili over medium heat until it begins to simmer again. Top individual servings of chili with cheese and remaining chopped onion.

Bon Appétit!

How to Drink for Free

2009-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Short on funds and still want to catch a buzz for the big game. Here a few simple tips to help you solve your predicament.

#1 – Have a large group of friends with deep pockets.

The more friends that are at the game, the more possibilities that someone else is going to buy you a drink. Ten friends could mean ten drinks, and the deeper the pockets mean multiple drinks from one person. What a steal! Just make sure you are the last round, or you might get cut off early. Also try not to abuse your friends either. They may not ask you to come back. Predict the right moments when you know you have the best opportunities to sneak in a quick drink.

#2 – Make Sure those Friends are Generous

The previous strategy does not work unless your friends are fairly giving with their booze drinking money, but some of them may be in the same state you currently find yourself. Do not be noisy about your friend’s finances, but if you can make them feel sorry enough for you I bet they will at least buy you one drink. I actually guarantee that they will. I mean what is a measly $6 or $7 when it comes to friendship and having a good time.

#3 – Fill Up Before You Leave Home

Have any extra beers or liquor laying around the house…well pack it in a bag and take it to go. The best alternative for having to carry booze for the ride while keeping it concealed it buying a flask. An excellent tool for any tailgater to invest in. It’s cheap and practical. One time cost of purchasing the flask, and you got a permanent carry-all for your booze. Not to mention that liquor in a flask will be cheaper and last longer than investing a lot of beer.

Try out these few tips and see how far you make it for the day. What kind of buzz can you achieve without having any money in your pockets?

Best NFL Stadium for Tailgating!

2009-10-22T13:30:00.001-07:00

Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago, IL - Home of Chicago Bears Football

This is completely my own opinion and has no factual information regarding the best places to tailgate at. I choose Soldier Field for several reasons as my favorite place to tailgate:

1. Limited opportunities to tailgate in other parts of the country

Having no money and limited access to earning any in the near future has put a strain on my capabilities to travel and spend my days drinking and relaxing in the utopia that is tailgating. Besides a few local college tailgate parties within the State of Illinois (U of I and ISU), a couple of White Sox games, and a few concerts I have not been any where that has matched the intensity of the atmosphere at Soldier Field. The fans are passionate about their team, and you can definitely sense that.

2. Location

Right off a major interstate there are several parking lots within the area to locate yourself for the day. These lots are easily within walking distance to the stadium, which makes it quick to get so you can continue to party just up to the start of the game. The last important issue is with exiting the area. Since the parking lots a far enough from the stadium (but I remind you close enough to walk), if you beat the pedestrian traffic you can avoid the long car lines too.

3. The Fans

The several games that I have been tailgating at the fans were always hospital. Handing out free food samples, asking if you need a drink, or offering just about anything they had to make your time more enjoyable. Everyone seemed willing to share their love of tailgating and football.

Leave a comment and share your favorite venues to tailgate at and why.

Bud Light - Grooler: Tailgate Approved!

2009-10-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

If you are a regular football watcher on Sundays you have probably noticed Bud Light’s Tailgate Approved infomercials. Here is another strange and wacky product they have come up with. They combine two important elements of tailgating necessities, a cooler and a grill. Each has their own obvious benefit, but I will not go into that because if you did not know what a grill and a cooler is used for, you may want to look into help. This is what one writer had to say about the Grooler:

“For $125 you get two coolers with a grill in the middle. Awesome, right? I mean, sure, you can toss a grill and two coolers in the back of your car for cheaper and with less lugging, but this is still a fun gimmick.”

I totally agree because that is such a high price to pay for an item that is probably less functional than the two products separated as individual units. That being said, why not buy something so off the wall? You can actually try and see how well this product holds up against the rest of its competition. Not to mention you get to say you actually own the Bud Light Grooler, which as we know is Tailgate Tested, Tailgate Approved!

Once you think about it too, $125 is not that bad for two coolers and a grill because one grill can cost that match depending on the size and brand. In the long, if this product is as useful as it sounds it may save you some additional funds by reducing the overhead costs associated with purchasing additional coolers or grills. I have been interested to see how these products work in live action out in the parking lots, but have yet to try themselves (short of cash flow) or read any product reviews related to any of Bud Light’s tailgate items.

So, try the Grooler out! Give it a test run and post your results.

Click Here for more information on Bud Light's Grooler

The Tailgating Cookbook: Recipes for the Big Game

2009-10-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

This tailgating recipe book, "The Tailgating Cookbook: Recipes for the Big Game," was written by Robert Sloan. Here was short description of his credentials and interests:

“Bob Sloan is the celebrated author of Great Burgers. Based in New York, Bob is a busy guy who teaches and writes mysteries and other books on a variety of topics. He is an equal opportunity tailgater, firing up his grill at soccer, baseball, and flag football games, and even at cricket and rugby matches.”

It sounds like Sloan is a well-established author in all areas of his writing, and knowing that he regularly attends sporting events to tailgate only proves that he has found some delicious recipes. His enthusiasm for tailgating provides an extra sense of trust in his abilities because it shows he is a fan of the pastime. He would want to provide other fans with the same tastiest recipes and useful tailgating techniques. At over 270 pages long there has to be a couple of excellent recipes to try out. Here is the brief product review that was provided:

“Hungry spectators need look no further than The Tailgating Cookbook for sizzling recipes guaranteed to please. Packed with burgers and brats, chili and stew, tasty kabobs, ideal side dishes, desserts, and drinks to go with them, anyone can turn their simple hot-dog-and-beer party into a gastronomical glutton-fest of tasty delights. With expert tips on equipment, prep-ahead, timing, food storage, tailgating etiquette and scoring the perfect spot to hunker down, this part cookbook/part handbook will get the party started.”

So not only do you get great recipes, you are also provided with other helpful tips related to tailgating. I recommend checking this book out if you are short on ideas for an upcoming tailgate party you are looking to host. The cost of purchasing this book is far less than the headaches you would have otherwise not knowing what to do for your tailgate party.

Click Here to purchase "The Tailgating Cookbook"

Recipe of the Week

2009-10-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

This recipe sounded too good to pass on without sharing the information with others. I mean it has at least three of my favorite things in a meal: burgers, bacon, and hot dogs. Keep the ingredients simple and flavorful, I say.

Burger Bacon Dogs

This recipe was provided by Bruce in Keystone Heights, Florida, and the original source can be found at Tailgating.com.

Ingredients:
1 pound of hamburger
1 pound of thin sliced bacon
8 hot dogs (the real deal, no cheap ones!)
4 slices of cheese (split the slices of cheese in half)
1 egg
16 toothpicks
Tin Foil Wrap

Preparations and Cooking:
Combined hamburger, egg and your spices/seasonings to taste and form 8 hamburger patties.
Spread out your bacon with every two slices being about 2 " apart.

Slice each hot dog from end to end, NOT completely through, maybe half through the thickness of the dog and insert one half slice of the cheese into each dog.

Place the dog on one end of the hamburger patty and carefully roll the dog while wrapping it with the patty.

Place this carefully at the ends of your bacon, which should be spaced 2 " apart (2 slices of bacon per burger-dog), carefully roll and wrap the bacon. Secure bacon to each burger-dog with two toothpicks. NOTE: Leave each toothpick exposed on one side or the other in order to remove them after cooking.

Wrap your burger-dogs with tin foil and place on grill over medium heat, but do not place directly over flame. Cook for half-hour and then CAREFULLY remove foil from burger-dogs (HOT JUICE-Be Careful!)

Place burger dogs back onto grill for browning.

Serve with any condiments by itself or on a large Hoagie Roll - Awesome!

The Tailgate Society

2009-09-29T00:08:00.001-07:00

Along with my blog posts, I have been working on creating my own website that is directly related to my blog. I am providing the basically the same information about tailgating, but I just expand on some of the topics and provide additional resources. The title of my site is the same as my blog because I wanted to keep consistency between the two in order to make easy for my followers to stay current. It is just in the initial stages, so it is not entirely complete. It probably will not be done for some time either, but I will be continuously making updates for you to check out.

It is my goal to provide you with information that can help make your tailgating experience even better than it ever has been. I will write articles on typical problems that tailgaters run into, and how they can prepare themselves to avoid those situations later. For example, if you are unsure how to start a charcoal grill then my site would be an excellent place to visit because I will be providing tips on subject content just like that.

In addition, I will try to find the best possible resources for tailgating gear, recipes, and so forth to where you can expand your search to a broader area. Not solely relying on my information alone because by no means am I the most knowledgeable tailgater. Although I do have my fair share of my own personal experiences, and that is why I am trying to provide content that I feel is relevant to tailgating. The best way to do this is to point you in the direction of other experts and companies that provide information and accessories that will only improve your tailgating experience. I hope this additional content is helpful in your search for the best products and knowledge when it comes creating the best atmosphere at your tailgate event.

Come check it out…The Tailgate Society

#1 Tailgating Mistakes made by Beginners

2009-09-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Partying too hard! Sometimes I do not think that people think things all the way through. Actually I know that they do think about their actions all the time. I was just listening to a story the other day about a group of friends that started tailgating at 8 am for a game that did not start until 8 pm. Over a twelve hour day one individual can slam a lot of beers. If you roughly 3 beers every hour (if you can keep that consistent pace) that calculates to at least 36 alcoholic beverages. That is not included random shots that you might drink or other mixed drinks. Now this could be greatly over exaggerated, but just give some perspective of how much you could possible drink in one day. You might be dead at this point though.

More realistically even if someone did consume around 20 alcoholic beverages that is still a large number of drinks. Not everyone has the ability to drink that much and still function as a human being especially when you are in public. Not as bad when you are at your apartment, but public drunkenness is not the most attractive thing. This could become a real problem if you are just completely out of control…basically at the blackout stage where you have no control over where you are at or what you are doing.

If you are planning a day of tailgating and it is your first time…I do not recommend drinking as much as can or as fast as you can. This will only diminish the amount of fun you had because more than likely you are not going to remember any of it. Who wants to waste an entire day in complete drunkenness? Do not get me wrong either, I love having my share of drinks and I am not saying to not drink at all. Just learn your limits and how to control your excessive drinking, or you might end up like these Texas Tailgaters (picture on the second page of entries).

Be smart…take it light (beer)! You do not want to forget your first experience tailgating. That would be just a shame.

Recipe of the Week

2009-09-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a super simple recipe for grilled shrimp…something I thought would be a little different than the usual grilling foods, meat and poultry. This recipe I found on Food Network’s Website provided by one their amazing chefs, Tyler Florence, which I am personally a big fan of his style of cooking. I do not think you can go wrong with this recipe because of its simplicity and taste. You will not need to bring your entire kitchen with you to prepare this dish. In fact, most of the dish can probably prepared before you leave for the ballpark cutting down on some of the prep-time at the game. Here is the recipe and directions for his version of grilled shrimp.

Ingredients:

2 large cloves of garlic, chopped

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

16 large head-on jumbo shrimp in the shell, shells split down the back

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Heat a large outdoor grill and wipe down with oiled paper towel to create a nonstick surface. Add chopped garlic to 1/2 cup oil. Season shrimp with salt and pepper and place on grill. Baste with garlic-olive oil and grill 3 minutes each side basting as you go.

As you can see, there a very few ingredients and directions that you have to handle in order to prepare this meal. That is why I choose this as one of the beginning recipes to work with. I guarantee you that anyone can cook this dish, and make it just as flavorful as if Tyler Florence prepared it himself. I feel that working with simple ingredients helps keep the natural flavor of the element you are working with (seafood, red meat, poultry or whatever it may be), and also allows for the greatest chance of success. The more complicated the dish is the more confusing it is going to be to you. This would be a great dish for beginner grillers.

Take the time to try this one out…I know I will!

The Drunken Tailgate!

2009-09-26T11:38:00.001-07:00

The Drunken Tailgate is your guide to college football tailgating. The focus of this particular blog is to display the colors and pride of tailgaters across the nation from a student’s point of view. One blog post that I found exceptionally humorous was one about USC student taking down a beer pong or should I say lack thereof. They even provided a video with some subtle comments about this poor guy’s sad attempt of drinking a beer (probably the weakest beer pong I have ever watched). If you are in for a good laugh I definitely recommend looking for this site and video.

I think one aspect of tailgating they do cover that almost all college students would be interested in is the quality of different beers. They have several posts describing and detailing what they think are of some of the better beers in cans and on tap. Comparisons are also made between the same beer whether it is has more quality out of a can or out of the tap. There is quite a unique selection of beers that they covered. Most of them I have not even heard of. If I find the time and money I myself might go out and by a few of them just see how accurate of information they are providing. That is only permitting if I can hit the lotto in the next few days. Hah! Good luck right?

One nice thing about the blog post is they broke all the types of categories that they discuss and provide them in a panel for you to search by topics depending on the relevance of your search needs. I like how they did that because it makes it ten times easier to find articles related to a certain area of tailgating. Say you want to find something to wear for this weekend’s big game, but you have nothing left in your closest. Well, go The Drunken Tailgate and you might be able to find your answer. They have just about all the basic things that a college tailgater would want.

Check it out…and stay safe tailgating today!

Essentials of Tailgating

2009-09-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

My first and foremost number one rule of tailgating is just too simply have a whole bunch of fun and excitement. Since tailgating is an activity that mostly partakes on the weekends this is a time for rest and relaxation, so use the most of your time wisely. This should not be a stressful event. If it is you are either taking this way to serious, or you were not quite properly prepared.

That is my next point. In order to optimize your fun level the best way is to prepare yourself a few days or weeks in advance. This will ensure that you have everything you will need at the game, and you will not just be sitting in your chair with a dumb look on your face. I can guarantee you that if you actually take the time to plan out your day by setting a schedule of what times you want to arrive and by preparing a list of items that you will need. It may seem pointless and a waste of time at first, but it will only take a few moments to create these lists. These two steps will prevent any heartache that could arise if you show up unprepared.

You would not want to show up at the lots without a grill, even if it is the smallest Weber charcoal grill. That would be more satisfying than not having one at all because smelling all the good eats would be unbearable. Not to mention the money you can save by not buying food in the game. I would definitely recommend enough chairs for everyone in the group, and to bring large enough coolers to fit your drinks and food. It is a long day when you start tailgating as early as 5:30 am, and you want to save every last bit of energy you have. It will not be good if you go unnourished, and begin to feel weak and sick. This is not a good at all…this happens to me quite a bit when I go to concerts and I would rather avoid this feeling.

Remember to stay full and hydrated…and most importantly always, always have the most fun you can have. Without taking it too far…you do not want to end in the drunk tank!

Tailgating Lots from Tailgating America

2009-09-24T08:09:00.001-07:00

So you want to travel around the nation finding the best places to tailgate at, but you are unsure of where to go. This site will give you directions to tailgating lots related to these sports NFL, colleges and universities (I assume for football games, but it does not specify), NASCAR, baseball, and arena football. I love that they give a wide variety of sports to visit tailgating lots because not everyone enjoys the same ones.

This allows anyone to pick and choose between the places they want to stop. For me personally, I would probably try to stop at as many NFL football stadiums because that would be my first to sport to watch (and the best for tailgating). Usually the parking lots around football stadiums are easier to access because they are prepared for large crowds when they planned during the development stages. Plus NFL stadiums tend to hold larger crowds, and are packed every weekend no matter how bad the team is. You know it will be a good time everyone weekend because there will be at least 50,000 plus people all the time. I will let you be the judge though. The list of the other sports is also limited to fewer lots because I believe they are not as prepared for tailgaters. Even though that may be the case I recommend the following.

If you have the time and resources I would suggest looking at this page, and finding several lots to partying at. I would also suggest visiting different sport lots because it will give you a better appreciation of how these divisions of fans tailgate. I think you will come to find out that it is not that different from sport to sport. All fans seem to congregate in the same when it comes to tailgating. One final note, it also gives direct links the stadiums official parking lots informational pages. So if you are unsure of their resources you can double check that they found what you are looking for. Here is a link to the site “Tailgating America”, and just find the tab on the home page that states “Parking Lots”. I hopeful this is helpful for your journeys this year.

Good Luck Hunting….The Tailgate Society

"The Ultimate Tailgater"

2009-09-23T20:41:00.001-07:00

As I was researching for more ideas related to tailgating I came across this great blog that details many aspects of tailgating. If you had not noticed the name from the title of this blog it is also the site to be directed to “The Ultimate Tailgater”. This was established by several well accredited individuals that range from authors to life timers of dedicated tailgaters. One is even a VP of Marketing for a grill website that is specifically focused on grills for tailgating purposes. They each have their own niche when it comes to tailgating, and this allows them to give many perspectives of tailgating.

The range of concepts they cover is so vast. They have everything from recipes to rankings of the best places to tailgate. They do an excellent job of embracing the several styles of tailgating that you could enjoy. They even have a blog post on tailgating on a budget. I found that amazing because most of the time you want to go all out to have the best time, but if you continue to do this every week it could become quite costly. It is great they have assorted array of ideas that you can go and find. I definitely recommend checking out their site(s).

Their blog might be slightly outdated only because they transferred to a different web page. You can get there from the blog post, and they also provide other links that they found to be useful to their topics. I am almost positive you could find anything you could possibly think of that is related to tailgating. You will most likely not be left unsatisfied. If you cannot find what you are looking for here then I am unsure of where to direct you. The information provided is first-rate. Let me know what you think of the blog and website, and if it helped you out at all. To find their site I would suggest searching by the title “The Ultimate Tailgater” to find it.

Weekend is soon…that means tailgating can start as earlier as Saturday morning. We can only wait!

Debate: More Fun? The Actual Game vs. Tailgating

2009-09-22T08:40:00.001-07:00

In my personal experience I have always loved being at the game more than sitting outside the stadium tailgating. Even though tailgating has it perks such as cheaper beer from your own cooler. Pay $10 for a twelve pack compared to only getting two beers inside for the same price. Just think if you were forced to buy all your drinks at the game that would be expensive buzz for the day. Probably cost you more than the game, but I digress. Let me tell you why I feel that the game is exponentially exciting compared to tailgating. First of all the atmosphere is completely different once you enter the stadium. When you are out tailgating you are kind of limited to a small area in your region for this five hour utopia. You can walk around and see other peoples setups and see what they do for fun, but you do not get a sense of how many people that are actually there. It hits as soon as the stadium fills up for the opening kick off, at least for football games. You take fans that have been boozing for several hours and pack them into a smaller area and the noise beings to intensify. The roars of the crowd are unexplainable. It sends chills down your back as you are gearing up for the kick off. I also think of it as the tailgating is exciting what it is suppose to be, just a pregame party. You are really there to see the main attraction (insert favorite event here) not to sit out in the parking lot and drink all night. I mean don’t get me wrong that is not always a bad night either, but it is just the simple fact your can sit in your drive way all and do the some activities as tailgating. Although that also looses its appeal because I think a lot of the excitement is generated from the environment and the atmosphere that is set for the upcoming event. Let me know your thoughts on what you think are better: the game/event or tailgating. Bring up your favorite moments or explain why one is better than the other.

Safe Tailgating!

Top Activities to do while Tailgating

2009-09-21T16:26:00.001-07:00

1. Drinking
2. Grilling/BBQ
3. Drinking Games (Beer Pong, Flippy Cup)
4. Bag Toss
5. Socialize with the neighbors
6. Throw football around
7. Eating your food and possibly the neighbors
8. Yelling/Screaming/Cheering for your team (Setting the atmosphere)
9. Walk the Lots
10. Watch/Listen to pregame announcements

The first two are the most obvious and critical for having a fun filled day of tailgating. Without beverages and cooking supplies the rest of the activities may not even be possible. If you want to experience tailgating the right way, you definitely want to prepare for those two. Having a few drinks and eating delicious grilled food are, to me; have to be the most important part of planning for tailgating. This helps move onto the next category of drinking games, which are always fun to play with your immediate group of friends or to spread out and meet some other friendly tailgaters and ask them to join your group. Creates a bit of competition amongst tailgaters (could ask a rival team that you are playing that week), and gets you excited for the upcoming game. It also gives you time to relax and talk to some strangers see how they made their journey to the stadium. You would be surprised; I have met people at baseball games that traveled from the east coast up to Chicago to watch the Cubs. I think it is interesting listening to other peoples stories and journeys to the game because there is always that one trip that just has a ridiculous amount of problems but somehow they were still able to make it. Some games that are perfect for the tight quarters in the lots are bags and throwing a football around. All you need is a long, narrow section (typically the drives in the lots) to setup your boards for bags or to begin playing a little bit of catch. Not only does this keep your mind occupied for the game, it gets your body moving (for cold weather) and gets you ready for some action. Finally, by far my favorite of all the activities (even though I ranked it as nine) is walking around the lots. Again, you would be surprised to all the different people and sites you see. One time on the way into Soldier Field we stopped at another friends tailgate in a closer lot, and of all luck I got some free chicken kabobs. Man…those were so delicious. It is surprising how everyone’s grilling techniques might be slightly different, but in the end it all tastes good.

Happy Tailgating!

Budlight Appeals to the Taste of Tailgaters

2009-09-20T19:08:00.000-07:00

As I sat around watching a day full of NFL games and during the brief moments that I actually pay attention to commercials there were a few that caught my attention. Bud light produced what I believe to be fake infomercials selling quite unique products that made me chuckle when I first saw them. The first commercial that played had a foam finger and a koozie combined into one great item. The koozie was built attached to the foam finger right where the palm of the hand is. It cut two slits on the side of the palm so you could stick your hand through to be able to hold onto your beverage, preferably a beer. Originally I thought what a brilliant idea. You can root for your team and drink beer with one hand. That means you have all kinds of possibilities to use your right hand for. Another beer! Maybe some food of some kind, or anything one’s heart desires. Then I started thinking, how can you drink the beer. Every time you would go to bring the can closer to your mouth, you would poke your eye before having the chance to get a sip. Again, I believe these were used as fake promotional items for Bud light, but if this was a legitimate product would you actually buy it? I think it would be something cool to buy if it were actually a functional koozie. Another product that I found hysterical was a dog carrying condiments. You can have your condiments of choice at your side at all times, unless your dog runs away. It was a real simple design, a strap that went around the dogs back with two pouches connected on the side to hold the contents. Obviously it is not most thought out idea, but I think it is just meant to be funny and stupid. I thought they were clever, cheesy commercials that at least got you thinking about Bud light and tailgating. What inventions have you thought of that would be great for tailgating. Post a comment what you think about the commercial, or any of your own creative ideas. See you next Sunday!

Top Beverages to Consume

2009-09-01T00:36:00.000-07:00

Once you get into the event/stadium there is always the same selection of alcohol, and it is probably nothing outrageous or spectacular. You almost know it is either going to be Miller or Bud products (more than likely) with the occasional “other” vender who might sell you Old Style, what a treat. I am more interested in what you as the fan likes to drink before the game. If I had my choice I would probably drink Blue Moons or Fat Tires all day, especially if they had it on tap. Just think if you have the same availability like you would at a bar. In one instance you do. If you make it up early enough to do some tailgating then you can bring all the alcohol you could want and need.

This also brings me back to those Chicago Bears playoff games when I was tailgating with my stepdad and some of his friends. There was one certain lot on the west side of Lakeshore Drive and just south of McCormick Place where we went both weekends. If you looked hard enough, which you did not have to at all, you could find this guy passing out shots of whatever you could think of for free. Actually, I believe he takes dollar donations for a charity, so it is not necessarily free unless you do not want to help out the needy. Anyway on the hour of every hour before the game they had a power hour shot where anyone in the area could come take a shot together, as a “team” to pump everyone up for the game. Come to find out this guy shows up for every home game on Sunday’s not just the playoffs.

That got me thinking what are your favorite beverages to drink before, during, and after the game? Leave a post of your favorites to share for the rest of us. This will all give us a bunch of different options of how we would like to get inebriated for the day. Here is a short list of my personal favorites:

1. Beer (Blue Moons or Fat Tires…I enjoy a good wheat and/or ale)
2. Rum and Coke
3. Long Island Ice Tea (Cannot drink too many of these)
4. White Russian
5. Hot Apple Cider and spiced rum (especially for the fall)

Again…leave a comment to compare and contrast everyone’s favorite drinks. You may find something you like, or something that will make you sick!

Unbeatable Food For Tailgating

2009-09-01T00:33:00.000-07:00

I know last week I was going to preview some specific recipes from various teams/regions across the United States, but instead I thought it would be amusing to take a glimpse at what the main course of your typical tailgater eats. Since I already discussed cooking methods, it is about time to put something on those grills to cook. Eventually, I am going to post about some delectable treats that are exclusive recipes from true tailgating fans.

The dominant component in one’s tailgating repertoire is really a trio of cuisine: hamburgers or cheeseburgers if you prefer, hotdogs, and bratwurst (hopefully boiled in beer prior to its grilling). You cannot go wrong grilling out one of these three if not all for your party to enjoy. It will probably cost you the least amount of money compared to other grilling items, and nobody is going to turn one down. Grilled potatoes are something easy to accompany your main ingredient by simply slicing quarter-inch pieces and wrapping them in tin-foil with butter and other seasonings. These are crowd pleasers every time and it is simple, so that is really the best part.

On the higher end, you could be looking at some grilled rib-eye steaks, filet mignon, or whatever cut of meat you like. The wallet might be a little lighter, but if you compare it what you pay for the food and drinks inside it is still a steal. Not to mention, the humongous difference in taste and quality. If you wanted to save a couple extra dollars shish kebabs would be a great alternative to a full steak. Same great flavor but you can reduce the amount of meat you would need, and mix in some hearty veggies such as cherry tomatoes (the tiny ones), some green and red peppers, and also tiny onions. Chicken is also a definite substitute for any steak, but just as a reminder be sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Other ideas I have seen and eaten were breakfast tacos made with side burners on gas grills (so there are other good things about gas grills). Again, I like to keep it fairly simple with some eggs, potatoes (basically hash browns), cheese, chorizo (awesome for breakfast tacos), and a few vegetables. Finally, I also believe chilis and salads are big for side dishes because of their simplistic preparation and easy transportation. Later I will go further into detail about one specific dish.

Leave your questions or comments about what you feel is a great tailgating dish, and I will try to respond with some other recipes that you request.

Grill Challenge: Charcoal vs. Gas

2009-09-01T00:25:00.000-07:00

The debate to determine whether charcoal or gas is superior to one another is like saying the Red Sox are better than the Yankees or vice-versa. At times they are so evenly matched it is hard to tell whom you like more, or which flavor of the month it is. Each one has its positives and negatives. It mainly comes down to a personal preference to which you end up choosing to grill with. Personal choice combined with a few other factors play a main determining role when picking one over the other.
First, I have to start with taste as the number one influence because from my experience that is what everyone wants from their grill: the best taste. I personally enjoy the raw smokiness that is produced from the charcoal that will give your food that extra bite compared to gas. It seems of late that most people are tending to buy more gas grills than charcoal because of the convenience it takes to start. This is definitely a plus when it comes to gas since it will reduce your cooking time by at least 20 to 30 minutes. Charcoal grills tend to be messier and time consuming when it comes to igniting your weapon of choice; not to mention the cleanup afterwards (not a big factor for myself). I think the additional flavors you receive from the charcoal grill definitely outweigh the convenience factor because to get the same taste you would probably have to spend more money for a smoker as an add-on (this could also cause more work eliminating that benefit).
Price is another factor that heavily weighs on your decision to purchase a grill for the big game. Charcoal grills can be found at relatively low prices up to more expensive models too, but gas grill are generally going to be higher priced. This could be to steep for some of us. I think another big issue some of us folks forget is a transportation factor. I am sure there are some nice gas grills, but when you have to transport a huge bulky grill in the trunk of a car I think you may be persuaded again. Small, portable charcoal grills are easily accessible and can be hauled in any sized vehicle. Based on my personal feelings, I without a doubt would bring the old, classy charcoal versus the new, sexy gas grills to the game because of these factors:

1. Taste = Charcoal
2. Price = Charcoal
3. Prepping Convenience = Gas
4. Transportation Ease = Charcoal

How do you feel? I know everyone cannot agree with me even though I know you want to. Maybe you can try to convince me otherwise, but until then you can keep your gas grills. The best way to tailgate is still with the basic Smokey Joe, Weber.

Feel free to respond to my bold choice....Charcoal is by far superior.

Who will win the battle?

Next Week's Content: Stay Tuned

2009-08-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

The upcoming schedule shows a tour of different regions located across the United States. National Football Teams and their cities will be chosen at random to take a deeper look at some tailgating traditions. The main theme will be on what is that regions speciality item for tailgating food because every region, team, and man has one. We all should know there is usually only one "right" way to prepare it too, but we are going to let you know some of the hardest kept secrets in grilling. Maybe your team will be on the list.

Bears Football!

2009-08-25T12:43:00.001-07:00

One of my own tailgating experiences was during the 2006 NFL season. I went to the two Chicago Bears playoff games that were played at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL prior to them losing in the Super Bowl. In the first game, they played the Seahawks defeating them 27-24 which I thought was the best experience. Then the following game was by far a lot more exciting because they were playing the Saints for the NFC Championship. They obviously won that (they lost in the Super Bowl). Not only were the games amazing, but the tailgating (basically my first two times ever) was just as much fun. We cooked up these delicious rib-eye steak sandwiches with hearty deli-buns, and had some drinks before we went into the stadium. The neighbors were always generous offering up a taste of their morsels. Everybody wants people to try their food, so they can hear someone else tell them how good it is. I don't mind for the simple fact I get to eat it! Overall it was an awesome time. I recommend anyone to stop in Chicago for a Bears game, and definitely make sure to get there early for some tailgating.

Tailgating: The Ultimate Experience!

2009-08-25T00:54:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone is familiar with what tailgating is, but for those of you who are not here is a brief description explaining what I feel it encompasses. Tailgating allows the typical businessman, serious brain surgeon, and even your professor to escape the pressures and stress of the real world to an oasis of food, friends, and booze not necessarily in that order. Patrons show up to the parking lots hours prior to an event (football, basketball, or baseball games, music concerts, and so forth) in order to kick off the enjoyment of the weather and the miraculous smells of others barbecuing. It is basically a gathering of fellow fans pregaming to get ready for the main show, but even though they congregate for the same event every fan celebrates in their own unique way. That is what makes tailgating great! This blog is created for the die hard fan who loves to tailgate every weekend, but also for those less experienced in order to share the great secrets and tips of having the best tailgating experience one can have.