Tailgate Tips
   Here are a few quick ideas for tailgate chefs that can
   make your next tailgate a pretty good time.

   THE BIG TIP OF THE DAY!!!
   Don’t Worry About Grill Envy!!
   Any tailgate can be great! Most of my family tailgates
   are done on a portable gas grill and griddle. The
   pre planning and food prep before the tailgate is
   what is important. Don't worry about having the
   biggest grill in the parking lot. Worry about having a
   good time with friends and family!

   #1 - KEEP IT SIMPLE - As much as you want to
   impress your buddies, and tailgate rivals, a simple
   menu that can be prepared quickly and served quickly
   is always a winner. Now this does not mean you can't
   have great ribs or anything else. It just means don't
   spend all day cooking at the tailgate without producing
   some food! Your HUNGRY guests are waiting! You
   could pre-smoke some ribs and pulled pork and even
   some chicken. Use your grills or smokers to reheat
   the final product. Or stick to brats, burgers, wings and
   such. That way you can add in secret recipes for
   sauces and sides to knock your tailgate buddies
   taste buds out! Of course if you want to spend the
   whole tailgate doing nothing besides cooking while
   everyone else pre-game parties...
   then knock yourself out!

   #2 - COLD & HOT - During the early months of
   football tailgate season the weather is often brutal
   here in the South. Plan your menu to reflect the
   temps and weather conditions. During Hot weather
   go with menus that are not too "Heavy." Sandwiches,
   salads, pasta and such. Look at traditional picnic
   items for suggestions. When cold weather rolls
   around that's when I get the ribs, brats, Italian
   sausage sandwiches and pots of chili, stew and
   gumbos. Keep cold food cold and hot stuff hot!!

   #3 - PRE PREP - My wife, Ally, is a tailgate prep
   master. Growing up on the plains of Alabama
   watching the Auburn Tigers and tailgating to
   extremes has made her the perfect tailgate planner.
   Almost 90% of everything we cook at a tailgate is pre
   chopped, diced, sliced, marinated or even cooked.
   Need chopped onions, peppers or extra pineapple
   for grilled apple deserts? Just reach in the cooler
   and pull out the storage container. Of course, the
   storage container is properly labeled. I love that lady!

   #4 - DOING THE QUE - I love barbecue! But smoking
   real barbecue takes time. Thank goodness for
   warming trays!! If I cook barbecue on site it simply
   boils down to a time in a day equation. You may not
   have enough time before a game to cook ribs for
   hours and hours. So precook and reheat the items,
   or grill them. The health department where I live
   requires that all commercially sold food reheated and
   served needs to have an  Internal temp of 165
   degrees. While that makes everything well done, it
   does lessen the chance of food related illness.

   #5 - GRAB THESE THINGS - Here are some things
   that will make any tailgate go smooth. Have plenty of
   ice, water and beverages. Have clean wipes,
   napkins and paper towels. Take garbage bags,
   bug spray, band aids and antacid. Dress for the
   weather. Take a poncho, sweater, blanket or for hot
   days an extra shirt. Check your grill, gas, propane,
   charcoal or wood. Extra chairs, a covered area
   and some game day music would be great.
   Don't forget a football and a radio for the pre-game!

   #6 - CHECK FIRST - Every stadium and school
   has different rules about tailgating. If you're going to
   a new place for an away game, get online and
   check to see what, when and where you can tailgate.
   You also want to look and see if they have
   regulations about open flames.

   #6 - KEEP IT CLEAN - Besides wiping your hands, 
   keeping things covered from bugs and putting
   garbage in the proper containers make sure you
   watch your behavior and act like a decent group!
   You don't want to be that jerk fan shown on the news
   being obnoxious to other fans or the guy that
   generates a million calls on talk radio for being a
   bad fan, idiot, poor example for children. Heck, some
   organizations are banning fans that cross the line.
   Like I tell my son... "You don't want to be the jerk in
   some Disney movie or after school special." Go to
   the game or race, fire up the grills and have a good
   time with fellow fans, friends and family!

   Kent Whitaker
   www.thedeckchef.com
   thedeckchef@hotmail.com