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
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
#1 Tailgating Mistakes made by Beginners
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.
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.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Recipe of the Week
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!
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!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Drunken Tailgate!
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!
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!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Essentials of Tailgating
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!
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!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tailgating Lots from Tailgating America
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
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
"The Ultimate Tailgater"
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!
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!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Debate: More Fun? The Actual Game vs. Tailgating
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!
Safe Tailgating!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Top Activities to do while Tailgating
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!
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!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Budlight Appeals to the Taste of Tailgaters
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!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Top Beverages to Consume
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!
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
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.
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
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?
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?
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