Tailgating 101

[HillJ]

Okay, I'm completely off my game here. What does one pack for tailgating? Food stuffs, prep, I'm clueless. Anyone out there with experience to share? Recipes that really work? How to pack the car? Am I better off stopping at the nearest deli, lol!

[Snowflake]

A quick visual survey of tailgators at Gillete stadium would indicate that you should bring a TV (there are other football games on), depending on the climate - 2 massive jars full of your best homemade bloody mary (2 jars - 1 mild, 1 warm the bones hot), full size gas grill (charcole takes too long to get ready, you'll be paying the fellas next to you for a bite of their burger), marinated steak tips, chips dips, really good clam chowder kept warm in a thermus, Big plastic cups for your beverage of choice, lawn chairs and plenty more marinated ready to cook food for after the game while you wait for the parking lot to thin out. Just remember, someone will have lobsters, some will have steak, some will have chili, be prepared to wish you'd brought something else, but always have all your drinks in the lot and save yourself from the $8 bud from the counter!

[Infomaniac]

A gas grill is a must if your cooking anything. A folding table or tables with chairs. I like bringing and making things you can eat with your hands, where you don't have to be sitting down cutting each bite. Make the gas grill the last item you put in the car so it is the first thing you take out.

[ESNY]

It depends what you like. Will you feel like grilling or just want to bring a bunch of sandwiches. What is your favorite drink? How many people.

If you are planning on grilling there, I suggest you do all the prep before you leave, so essentially all you have to do is cook the food. Try to avoid foods that you have to cut. Bring as much disposable products, paper plates, plastic forks, as possible. Also, you can never have too much beer and soda.

[HillJ]

CH's thanks, this is very helpful. Forty friends total.

Stupid question: given all the new regulations about security are knives allowed? For my first time out, I'm a bit hesitant to bbq but I'm grateful for all the suggestions. Any fav links to recipes that are ideal for TG'ing?

[Janet from Richmond]

There are all ranges of tailgating. We go to all the VT games and some of our tailgating is based on tradition, some one time of game and also weather. If it's a late afternoon or night game, we bring the portable grill and have either burgers or brats or BBQ or burgers. We always have cold fried chicken and someone picks it up from Hardees the day of the game. One man always brings a sub tray (Italian subs) from a local deli that makes great ones. We bring chicken salad on rolls from a local place that has great chicken salad and makes their own rolls. Someone usually brings a Mexican dip and chips. One woman is the baker of our bunch and makes great cookies and brownies, so she's in charge of sweets. Also we usually have nuts, or trail mix or Oriental mix. And often (if the weather is cool) we'll have shimp and cocktail sauce.

Lots of beer...usually Bud Light, Miller Lite and Heineken. Red and white wine and champagne. And oj for mimosas and Bloody Mary fixins...lots of vodka and for cool/late games a nice big bottle of Makers Mark.

Also lots of bottled water and Diet Coke.

Make sure you have trash bags, knife, corkscrew/bottle opener. Our friend has a big Rubbermaid box and keeps the tablecloths, napkins, plates, cups and plasticwear in that.

[BeanCounter]

Wow Janet,
I am like so siked to go tailgating. You guys have it going on. I went to my 1st tailgate party last year. Never really got brave to try some of the crazy stuff beyond brats and burgers. BUT I am ready for a new football season and a bunch of tailgating BBQ's
Never ever thought about going Mexican I can hardly wait THANKS Go UK!!

[duck833]

Been tailgater for years in Oregon. Lots depends on the game start times, 12:30pm kickoff will mean much less of a tailgate than a 6:00pm kickoff. We used to do bbq with a big pit and have over 200 folks attend. Now we have downsizes and I do the bbq at home and transport in Cambros (an ice chest can do the same thing). Some games are ribs, others will be brisket or bbq beef. I have done large Paella's before and wine and cheese tasting. We have also just done sandwich boxes and drinks.

I usually have one box with just liquor and wines, kind of a mobile bar. I use it for every game and just restock booze as needed. Usually always a cooler with micro brews and a little bud and miller light. Don't forget soda's and water for non-drinkers.

One of the best tailgaters we did was an old fashioned shrimp boil, worked great.

Cheers!

[jeanmarieok]

The stuff we have learned to bring, beyond food, beer and booze, and plates etc:
a couple of rolls of paper towels, good for everything
a gallon container of water, for clean up
SOS pad for grill clean up
wet naps for clean hands
a couple of heavy trash bags
one big cooler just full of ice (can never have enough ice)
sunscreen
case of water

We tailgate for NASCAR, and we usually start at 9 am, for a 7 pm race, so we do two meals, and always hotdogs after the race, while the parking lot clears out. We have a flattop propane grill/griddle that we prefer for tailgating. We've done EVERYTHING on this - bacon, eggs, pancakes, grilled sandwiches, italian sausages with peppers and onions, quesadillas, grilled chicken sandwiches, steak, even baked beans. We just swish it off with some water and an SOS pad, and it's ready for the next meal.