Best Tailgating Food
One might argue that the best part of going to a sporting event is the tailgating that happens in the parking lot before the game. Not to mention that making your own hot dog is cheaper than buying one in the stadium. And what used to be simple tailgating foods has now exploded into something much bigger. In order to have a good spread at your tailgating party, read on.
Snacks
You want to eliminate the need for utensils as much as possible. So, chips and dip is always a good place to start. Getting some guacamole with tortilla chips is always a good option. You can either make your own, which is usually better but can sometimes turn quickly, or you can get the prepackaged kind at the grocery store. Other options are chips and salsa and pita chips with hummus. Of if you want to get a bit healthier you can have chopped up vegetable like carrots and celery with hummus.
Sides
Here is where you might need to use a fork. If you're tailgating early, it might make sense to prepare any sides the night before and just refrigerate them until you're ready to go. Making a simple pasta salad (they come in a box) or a potato salad are great sides to go along with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. You're healthier option would be a fruit salad or just some sliced fruit.
Main Dish
You can go simple and grill hot dogs, hamburgers with the cheese inside the patty, and brats with onions. If you want to get a little classier, you can slap a few marinated steaks on the grill. And if you want to go a step above, and still have finger food, a great option is either beef or chicken kabobs.
Dessert
No one is expecting you to whip out a three layer chocolate cake or a crème brule from the back of your car, but having something sweet to munch on is always nice after taking down some burgers. Chocolate chip cookies or brownies are a nice simple dessert that can be easily passed around and eaten with fingers and no forks. You could also serve fruit here too.
Drinks
The main staple of a tailgate party. If it's an early game you may find yourself taking down the morning alcoholic drink of choice, Bloody Mary's or orange juice and vodka. If it's not so early in the morning, the beer of your choice is the easiest option. Try to avoid bottles as stepping on broken glass, or having your car tire roll over broken glass after a great day, would be a real bummer. If there are kids at the party, juice boxes and pop are a good option for them.
Non-food essentials
Don't forget to have plenty of napkins, paper towels, utensils, plates, extra Tupperware for leftovers and possibly wet wipes. It would also be a good idea to have two coolers full of ice. One should be for all your drinks and the other should be for all the food so you don't contaminate the drinks.
Don't forget the charcoal for the grill if that's what your grill uses. Also, fold-up tables are great to have to display all the food and a place to put the drinks. And having fold-up chairs to relax and eat in while you wait for the game to start are essential.
It's not all about grilling and eating though. Tailgating can be an all day outing and it's a must to keep everyone entertained before the game starts. Having bags to play around with is a great idea for getting people involved in a little competition. If you want to buy a special hand-painted cornhole board, Chi-Town Custom Cornhole Boards (http://www.chitowncornhole.com) can hook you up.
What do you like to bring to your tailgate party? Respond below in the comments section.
Rachel Azark is a writer and lives on Chicago's northwest side. Read more of her work on her blog parksandpancakes.com.
