Yesterday, I didn’t watch a single minute of football. I was downtown helping with a work
event. I missed vegging out on the couch
with Pat (and this would have been the week to do it—a Steelers and an Eagles
win in the same day). I missed concocting
something tasty to fill our bellies. I
made up for some of that by stopping by a local pizza place we love, Mr. P’s, and
arriving on Pat’s doorstep, smiling, fresh-baked Stromboli in hand. In lieu of an attempt at tailgate-awesomeness,
I offer up this menu of links to tailgating resources.
TAILGATE [teyl-geyt] DEFINED
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailgate_party
(My favorite line) “It is also common for fans to bring out stereo equipment to tailgate parties to dance and let loose.” Seriously, folks, don’t forget the Boom Box.
GENERAL TAILGATING
ADVICE FROM THE FOOD NETWORK:
I have recently found myself becoming more annoyed by this channel by the minute (this probably has to do with the totally unnecessary exponential increase of dumbass cupcake/cake shows/competitions) but Guy Fieri’s one of the few “food stars” I like, and his 10 Rules are really great basics for starting out in the tailgating realm. Plus there’s a link for 50 Dip recipes. Roasted Garlic Bacon Dip? …uh, did you really even need to ask?
I have recently found myself becoming more annoyed by this channel by the minute (this probably has to do with the totally unnecessary exponential increase of dumbass cupcake/cake shows/competitions) but Guy Fieri’s one of the few “food stars” I like, and his 10 Rules are really great basics for starting out in the tailgating realm. Plus there’s a link for 50 Dip recipes. Roasted Garlic Bacon Dip? …uh, did you really even need to ask?
RECIPES
- Learn how to spit roast a pineapple, control gassy-ness from baked beans and make a Jell-O shot inside of a strawberry. Tailgating Ideas.com
- Come on, it’d be remiss of me to NOT put a recipe paying homage to my shiny golden locks on here. Blondes have more fun. Join the party. Platinum Blondies Recipe
- The Jumbo Greek Sub sounds awesommmmme! Taste of Home.com
- For some “Indoor” Tailgating, straight from the
manly site itself. These 8 recipes are
kind of…obvious. But, I mean, they’re
writing for men soooo…*ahem*
Ask Men 8 Great Tailgate Foods - Not a whole lot of stuff-I’ve-never-seen-before. This site made the cut because there’s a completely gratuitous photo of several people (who I can only assume are implied to be drunk college kids) with long straws drinking from the same large bowl of booze-soaked fruit. Top 10 College Tailgate Foods
PENN STATE
Ok, so they were ranked the 2nd Douchiest University by Maxim. A fairly dubious title…frankly, one they rightly earned. But one thing you cannot knock the Nittany Lions for: they have unbelievably loyal fans. And those loyal fans know how to freaking tailgate. On game day, State College, PA becomes the 3rd largest city in the state; fans on pilgrimages from all corners of the state. It’s an almost surreal experience, to be amongst hundreds of thousands of people, all grilling, and drinking, and commiserating, a literal sea of blue and white. What most might consider just a pastime, tailgating is an art form to PSU folk. This is serious business. Seriously tasty. Make sure you bring some High Life with you, one must always have the champagne of beers with them. You know, just to make sure it stays classy.
Ok, so they were ranked the 2nd Douchiest University by Maxim. A fairly dubious title…frankly, one they rightly earned. But one thing you cannot knock the Nittany Lions for: they have unbelievably loyal fans. And those loyal fans know how to freaking tailgate. On game day, State College, PA becomes the 3rd largest city in the state; fans on pilgrimages from all corners of the state. It’s an almost surreal experience, to be amongst hundreds of thousands of people, all grilling, and drinking, and commiserating, a literal sea of blue and white. What most might consider just a pastime, tailgating is an art form to PSU folk. This is serious business. Seriously tasty. Make sure you bring some High Life with you, one must always have the champagne of beers with them. You know, just to make sure it stays classy.
- Fairly straightforward recipe ideas, with ingredients that college kids would likely be able to get a hold of pretty easily. Penn State Tailgate Recipes
- A long time ago (1988), someone printed a book of PSU Tailgate Recipes. For whatever reason, it’s no longer in print. But, there’s a link on the bottom right hand side that provides you with some of the most popular recipes right out of the book itself! This is just a fun look back at the classics, most with Nittany-centric names. Personally, The Old Main Omelet sounds delish. Old School PSU Recipe Book
- Scroll down and you shall find a Toll House Pie recipe courtesy of Suzanne Pohland Paterno herself! Toll House Pie
- You’ll find a recipe for Ham and Cheese Pinwheels on this site, and quite frankly, those sounds pretty tasty! Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
- This was my favorite of all the PSU Tailgating Food sites I was able to find. The Gouda and Beer Cheese Dip sounds fantastic, as does the Polish Spaghetti—there is NOTHING wrong with the marriage of Keilbasa and noodles. Ultimate PSU Tailgate
PHILADELPHIA
Even though I’m not an Eagles fan, I love my city. And just like PSU, Philadelphians know how to throw a party. To me, it makes perfect sense that a city whose most notable culinary accomplishments revolve almost entirely around things inside of crusty rolls (cheesesteaks, sausages, hoagies), would be well-regarded as one of the greatest tailgating cities around.
Even though I’m not an Eagles fan, I love my city. And just like PSU, Philadelphians know how to throw a party. To me, it makes perfect sense that a city whose most notable culinary accomplishments revolve almost entirely around things inside of crusty rolls (cheesesteaks, sausages, hoagies), would be well-regarded as one of the greatest tailgating cities around.
- Dinner Impossible: Philadelphia Eagles Tailgate Challenge Dinner Impossible Part 1 –Part 2 is up on the right top of the list
- Top 5 Foods for an Eagles Tailgate? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Top 5 Foods
- One creative journalist used the tailgating traditions of Philly and Hotlanta to predict the winner for the game this year. “Philly wins this one pretty easily,” he said about the food. Well, duh. We live here, we know all about the transcendence of the heavy-on-the-meat-and-cheese tailgate diet. Cheese Wiz practically runs in our veins. Sorry, but grilled peaches will never hold a candle to a cheesesteak. It’s just NOT possible. But the guy that wrote it is a Giants fan, so we also know that there’s a piece of his brain missing. He picked Philly to win the game, too. I won’t rub salt in the wound by commenting on that result; let’s just stick with kicking ass in the food department. Eagles vs. Falcons
FUN
Essential Tailgate Games, the nature of which should be able to handle the rapid deterioration of one’s gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination as the beer mysteriously disappears from the cooler.
Essential Tailgate Games, the nature of which should be able to handle the rapid deterioration of one’s gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination as the beer mysteriously disappears from the cooler.
- Cornhole: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornhole
- Beer Pong: http://www.bpong.com/
- Ladder Golf: http://www.laddergolf.com/ladder-golf-official-rules
- Flip Cup (my favorite): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_cup
Hopefully, you’ve found a resource or two that with enhance
your Gameday Grubbing experience. I mean
seriously, if football does anything for our country, it gives us an excuse to
come together around a common cause, and celebrate. Relax, eat some freakin’ tasty food, throw
back some beers, and laugh with your friends.
Hopefully, your tummy will be full, your cheeks nice and rosy, and
hopefully you are privileged enough to witness something as special as
this: Be glad you're not this guy.
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