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How to Throw a Rockin' Tailgate
Planning a party in the parking lot? Here's advice from a pro.
Sports, food and a party you can have right out of the car -- that's tailgating, a pastime that clearly was invented by men. But as these parking-lot picnics grow in popularity with women and for sporting events across the board -- the American Tailgaters Association says that more than 20 million Americans set up camp for pre-game revelry each year -- they have grown more and more elaborate.
"I think it's really about building community, at the root of it," says author David Joachim, whose cookbook series, starting with A Man, a Can, a Plan made cooks of thousands of regular Joes. He considers Penn State's pavement parties the best: "They have 80,000 tailgaters, and the team spirit is really deep," he says of the college football team.
In his newest effort, The Tailgater's Cookbook Joachim serves up recipes and advice for rookie and veteran tailgaters alike. Here are his tips for a rockin' tailgate party:
An actual tailgate is not de riguer. You need only wheels and space -- enough to haul a grill, two coolers, a bin of service items and any revelers along for the ride. "A truck is the preferred vehicle. I think it's a guy thing," Joachim says. If you're going all out, "you can even create your own 'battle wagon', as they're called: Paint your car in your team's colors, get matching carpet, and add comfy seats."
Timing is everything. You should arrive at least three hours before the game if you're cooking on the grill. "That's time to heat up the grill, light the coals if you're using charcoal, cook, eat, clean up and let the grill cool down," Joachim says. "If you're using a camping stove to make chili or jambalaya, you can lop off an hour and a half."
Charcoal or gas?Charcoal takes a little longer, but it adds a smoke flavor you can't get with gas. And many gas grills max out at about 500 degrees, not quite hot enough to get a good sear on a steak," Joachim says. "Get the best of both worlds by using wood chips with a gas grill -- wet them, wrap them in foil, poke a few holes and let them smolder on one burner. Put your food on the other and close the lid to trap the smoke."
Sharing is part of the game."Take the initiative and bring the next car a beer or a bowl of your spiced nuts," Joachim says. "No doubt they will open up their pot of chili or whatever they're cooking and offer it to you."
Explore the scene."That's the fun: different music, different smells -- there will be someone cooking fish here, another with ribs smoking over hickory, and then cigar smoke. You'll hear rap in one set of spaces, then indie rock, then Alabama or Lynyrd Skynyrd. You really get to see people in their element.
Taken from the USA WEEKEND, written by Frappa Stout
While at your tailgate party, ride around to visit others either on your X-Treme Electric Scooters or your X-Treme Gas Scooter. The X-Treme Scooters are the best made scooters available. You'll be the talk of the tailgaters!!
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