How to throw the perfect pre-game party
Have all the essentials ready for the perfect tailgate party — Photo courtesy of SDI Productions / E+
Fall is synonymous with football, and football is synonymous with tailgating. Otherwise known as the original act of pre-gaming, tailgating is when groups gather in designated parking lots outside sporting arenas and prepare for events with grilled food, themed drinks, and party games. It’s a rite of passage for many college and professional football games.
Though tailgating is about camaraderie, frequent tailgaters know this pre-sport ritual requires some unofficial etiquette. We talk to a few tailgating experts who explain everything, from tailgate food and drink ideas and time management tips to the one item everyone forgets to bring.
Tailgating takes planning
According to Phil Beck, an avid tailgater who perfected the art of it during his time at the University of Miami, meticulous planning ahead is required for a seamless tailgate. You can’t just show up; you must make a shopping and packing list and delegate tasks to responsible attendees. For others, he says, “just tell them how much money they owe.”
Prepare for the unexpected by keeping a sturdy canopy in the car in case the weather turns and rain begins. Also, for the potential loss of phone service due to large crowds, download a killer playlist that will last for the duration of your tailgate without repeating songs to keep the party going.
Get the tailgate grill ready early
“Nothing is worse than waiting on the grill to get hot enough, especially on a cold day,” shares Row 34 chef and owner Jeremy Sewall. Avoid waiting and being unprepared by lighting the grill shortly after you arrive so it’s ready when folks are ready to eat.
Tailgate food should be easy to eat
Keep tailgate food easy, like finger-friendly snacks and skewers — Photo courtesy of LauriPatterson / E+
Avoid using knives and forks (more items to pack and keep track of) and stick to finger foods at tailgates. While burgers, sausages, and hot dogs are popular, skewers, protein-heavy dips (like hummus), and sandwiches can be just as easy and add some variety to the standard grill grub.
“I love doing shrimp skewers for folks. Prepping the shrimp at home and marinating them the night before in your sauce of choice is always a win,” says Sewall.
Don’t overlook breakfast at tailgates
Because you’ll arrive just after breakfast for early afternoon games, starting to drink on an empty stomach would be a mistake. Keep breakfast foods in mind for tailgating.
“My homemade breakfast sandwiches are a staple for 1 p.m. Patriots games,” says Trisha Pérez Kennealy, culinary educator, diehard tailgater for the New England Patriots, and owner of the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, Massachusetts. “Our crew is often one of the first cars in the lot. With the excitement of going to the game, breakfast can be easy to forget, but it is important as we tailgate for a long while before the game.”
Kennealy serves breakfast sandwiches on homemade biscuits that she bakes before leaving for the game. Once parked and stationed, she cooks the sausage on the portable grill and eggs on a propane burner. “With a little ingenuity, you can cook anything just about anywhere,” she advises.
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What to drink at tailgates
While beer is the effortless go-to, the most impressive tailgaters offer a signature cocktail. Pre-made batched cocktails are the way to go.
“You can typically batch a cocktail the night before your event and refrigerate it overnight so it’s completely chilled when it’s time to serve,” says Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager for Pittsburgh’s Lucky Sign Spirits. “Look for an insulated cooler beverage dispenser, such as an Igloo, for easy transport and serving and to keep your cocktail nice and chilly.”
Make sure you don’t make a batched cocktail that’s too spirit-forward and avoid heavy fruit purees or syrups, as you will need to stir them to ensure you have a consistent beverage, adds Steven Huddleston, managing director of beverage and education for the Tennessee-based Square One Holding restaurant group.
“I like to ice down my cup that the beverage is going to be in rather than packing the ice dispenser; this helps keep the cocktail from being overly diluted,” he says.
Keep it clean
Don’t forget the little things for your tailgate, like garbage bags, hand sanitizer, and extra water — Photo courtesy of Jupiterimages / The Image Bank
You can never have enough hand sanitizer, but even with this quick fix for a hand wash, Sewall advises the person on grill duty to bring a few sets of rubber gloves to keep their hands clean while handling raw meat, as hand-washing facilities are typically sparse.
Also, labeling your cup is a way to keep track of your drinks and minimize waste by reusing them. That’s why Sewall always carries a Sharpie on game day — to label the biodegradable cups he brings as a more earth-friendly alternative to the red Solo cup.
Trash can often get overlooked in the fun and games of tailgating, but be a good samaritan and establish a garbage bag immediately. Sewall suggests using the backs of two camp chairs to support a garbage bag.
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Don’t forget water
Whether or not you’re tailgating with alcohol, it’s essential to stay hydrated while standing on your feet for two to three hours before entering a sporting event. Additionally, stocking your vehicle with enough water to put out a fire — should the grill catch fire — is “one thing people always forget to bring and wish they had,” says Sewall.
Watch the time
“Set a time to start packing up before you head into the game,” says Beck. Furthermore, he adds: “Set an earlier cut-off time to stop cooking.” At the University of Miami, his golden rule was always 45 minutes before kick-off to allow for 15 minutes to pack up and 30 minutes to get to his seat in time for kick-off.
