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