By Roger Grossman
News Now Warsaw
If you read the headline, you immediately think, “Here comes one of Roger’s famous columns that covers several topics in a single edition,” right?
Well, you’re wrong this time.
We are actually going to talk about food — specifically my favorite tailgate foods.
Now, I admittedly don’t get to tailgate a lot anymore. I don’t go to as many Notre Dame games as I did when I was single and even fewer since the kids came home.
And I certainly don’t eat in the parking lot before the high school games. I ate too close to one game broadcast early in my career and basically missed the whole game with food poisoning (No, I will never ever tell that story on these pages. Never. Ask me about it sometime and I will give you the shortened version of that dreadful night).
But I still like the food that traditionally is served in the parking lots of football games before kickoff, and just because I don’t eat out there doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
I am not the most creative, adventurous eater, so the point here is not so much to teach you new and creative things to serve, but to remind your tastebuds of how much fun tailgating can be.
First, we start with the main course.
I can go one of two ways on this: I am totally good with a traditional cookout or with chicken wings.
A cookout is simple, and technology has advanced to the point where there are a lot of portable propane and butane grills out there that are compact but still give you plenty of cooking space to feed a group of people efficiently.
No matter what the makeup of your group is, the combo of burgers, brats and hot dogs is virtually guaranteed to hit the mark.
However, ask me what my favorite pregame food is and I will always answer chicken wings.
Now, we are talking about the traditional, bone-in wings and not the boneless wings. I have nothing against boneless wings, except for the fact that they aren’t “wings” at all—they are chicken breasts chopped up into bite-sized pieces and prepared like wings. And I eat boneless wings a lot! So if that’s what you like, have at it!
But on the tailgate, I want bone-in wings.
Wings do come with their own set of problems, starting with how to do you make them for a tailgate? And what do you do with the bones?
If we’re talking about a high school game or you live close to the game site, then it’s no big deal. But if you are a Purdue fan, for example, and you are making your own wings to take, that’s a long way to drive while trying to keep your wings warm in crock pots or a big cooler.
If you have the ability to run a small generator to plug your stuff into, that’s a game changer.
And make sure you have plenty of dipping flavors on hand. I prefer spicy barbeque and mild buffalo for my wings, but that’s where you have to know who’s coming and what they like.
There is a third option, which is chicken breast. I recommend either buying the thinly cut breasts from the store, or taking a whole breast and splitting it in half lengthwise to help it cook easier.
When it comes to sides, chips are plenty for me, but a lot of you have a go-to dish you like—like potato salad or egg salad, for example. But baked beans are next level.
If you really want to be a big hitter at the tailgate, try potatoes. I am talking about a crock pot filled with broasted potatoes seasoned with a hint of garlic.
If you go the chip route, make sure you have some dip to go with it.
Again, my favorite in the parking lot is a chili cheese dip, but you have lots of options here.
Now, next level tailgating when it comes to sides or chips is the addition of pulled pork or pulled chicken to your dip. For example, adding shredded pork to your mac and cheese or your cheesy chip dip should be a big hit. Having a bottle of high-quality barbeque sauce nearby is also essential for this stop in the food line, even if you don’t have pork or chicken shredded to add in.
Then we need to cap off your pregame meal with dessert.
Again, a lot of ways you can go here, but when you are talking about a football tailgate party, I don’t know that there is a better way to finish off your pregame than with a giant cookie. We’re talking one of those big cookies in the shape of a football with letters written in frosting on top.
Of course, you can always have a collection of various kinds of fruit, and that will be great. But the football-shaped cookie that is cut into squares will feed everyone.
As far as beverages, know your audience and the site. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at high schools — period.
For college and professional games, please remember that you have a responsibility to those you will be sitting nearby to act in an appropriate manner and not ruin their enjoyment of the game. And make sure someone is the “designated driver” to get your people home safely.
Start meal planning accordingly…and pass the wings, please.
