Tailgaiting 101

What you need to know to have fun this fall

The Oxford Dictionary defines the verb tailgate as: to eat food and drinks outdoors, served from the tailgate of a car.

Tailgating has become a very popular American pastime and a way for friends and family to gather together. Tailgating provides people with a time to eat, converse, and celebrate their favorite sports teams, as well as just share in the special quality time and spirit of relishing moments of fun and camaraderie.

It is interesting to know that tailgating is actually such a social event now, that it takes place in many different types of venues. In fact, most of us usually associate tailgating with football games, but tailgating is also a huge part of NASCAR races, music concerts, hockey and baseball games.

Here are some tailgating tips and tidbits:

•There is an actual Commissioner of Tailgating.

•There are many web sites devoted to tailgating and tailgating accessories. Some examples include: www.TailgatingPartySupply.com, www.AmericanTailgater.com, www.tailgatingfanatic.com , www.mytailgate.com.

•Tailgating accessories include: The Cobb Barbecue Cooking System ($90), which is a charcoal grill that weighs only 8.5 pounds (www.cobbamerica.com), for a large crowd, try out the 12th Man/Tennessee’s Bar-B-Gater. This comes with retractable wheels and is attached to the towing hitch of a vehicle.

•There are many tailgater essentials, such as: A Tailgate Gear Car Shade Canopy, a Quest Shade Canopy Chair, and a Tailgate Gear Handycan, which is a magnetic koozie, that keeps drinks cold, and can be used with canopies and cars(all found at dickssportinggoods.com).

•Other important tailgating components include: folding tables that are durable and will stand well, no matter what the terrain is like, as well as folding chair with armrest. Tailgating creates a clever combination of comfort, practicality, and just good fun!

Here are some fun food facts when preparing to tailgate:

•Although grilled hot dogs and hamburgers may have once been traditional tailgating fare, now there are many varieties of foods.

•Instead of taking the traditional tailgating drink, beer, many people now opt for a little more elegant approach and choose wine.

•When considering flavorful foods, some prepare ribs and brisket the night before the event, and then take the food and grill with them the next day.

•Subway makes a great and tasty giant sub, virtually any size you need with mixed toppings on braided bread. This would be perfect paired with chips and soft drinks, especially for a pretty big group.

•There are actually different types of food and participants’ categories at tailgating parties. There is a group called, “the Cold-Cut-Crew,” who prepare foods like they’re going to a casual gathering. They stick to cold cuts, potato salad, cold fried chicken, chips, and lots of soft drinks, too. The second group is called, “the Gotta-Grill-Gonna-Chill.” They are the planners, preparing a week ahead and bring a rather impressive spread. There can be as assortment of meats, ranging from: kielbasa, steak, and chicken, along with marinades. Their large meal also includes: casseroles, pies, cakes, perhaps kegs, if permitted, and many types of soft drinks and some mixers. This type of crowd tends to carry along their portable grills and will set up their chairs and tables four to eight hours before the event, and even have hors d’oeuvres.