Tailgating Tips for the Football Fanatic
August 20, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Dallas
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Tailgating Tips for the Football Fanatic
To call the Lone Star state crazy about football is like calling the sky blue or water wet. Football mania grips the entire state of Texas from August to January. Hundreds of thousands of fans pack stadiums all across the state for action at every level, from high school to college and professional.
And one of the best parts about supporting your favorite team is the tailgating. And tailgating means food, good food. It’s clear that the students at Texas culinary schools spend some time every fall whipping up some great food for their football fan friends and families.
Tailgating Tips and Tricks
Whether you’ve gone to culinary school or not, its not hard to put together a great tailgate party. You just some tips and tricks on what to do. We’ve put together these tips to help you plan your tailgating fun and food:
- Plan Ahead
Shop three or four days ahead of time and cook and prepare your food one or two days ahead of time. It’s easier than waiting until the last minute and give you time to pick up anything you may have forgotten.
- Make Lists
List everything that you want to take. Only check them off when they are safely packed in the car and ready to go to the stadium.
- Keep It Simple
This is a tailgate party not a gala banquet. Think party foods like sandwiches, wings, chips, dips, casseroles.
- Keep Your Hot Food Hot and Cold Food Cold
Don’t let a foodborne illness ruin your weekend fun. You need coolers, ice, hot plates, chafing dishes, and any other food containers that will do the job.
- Make a Permanent Tailgating Supplies Box
If you tailgate regularly, keep all of your supplies together in box, and don’t use them for anything other than your tailgating activities. Suggestions: paper plates, paper towels, plastic ware, cups, charcoal, grilling tools
10 Things Every Tailgate Party Needs
Don’t forget these tailgating must haves:
- Friends. The more the merrier
- Your tickets. The party may be fun, but you actually came for the game
- Sunscreen. We get a lot of sun in Texas. Keep it away from your skin for safety.
- First aid kit. Knives, hot grills, glass bottles and other tailgating essentials can be dangerous.
- Ice. In addition to what you pack the food and drinks in, one extra cooler full should do the trick.
- Trash Bags. Clean up the mess you make. Don’t leave the parking lot dirtier when you leave than when you got there.
- Decorations. In addition to jerseys and hats bring some posters, streamers, etc.
- Something to do. If you show up with the roosters be sure to bring a football, something to read, a portable TV, or any of your favorite activities.
- Appropriate clothing. Autumn in Texas is a mixed bag of weather be prepared for anything from scorching hot to cold and rainy.
- Music. No party is complete without some rockin’ tunes. This is Texas so think about the blues or country. Classic rock is always a good choice.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Dallas. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Dallas offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in Dallas, Texas. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Dallas for more information.
Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at www.chefs.edu/disclosures.
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