For many people, fall is the best season for one reason — football! And what better way to celebrate your love of the gridiron than with a tailgate party. So how do you throw a successful tailgate?
It begins with preparation. Follow these tips to create a pregame bash everyone will talk about until the Super Bowl.
1. Plan the Menu
Are you thinking meaty ribs or vegetarian cauliflower steaks? Like any party, you need to plan your menu to ensure the flavors complement each other.
You can’t go wrong with hearty turkey chili, especially on chilly fall days. It goes wonderfully with tortilla or pita chips. Pair it with an artichoke or spinach dip or homemade salsa. Add a colorful twist on traditional potato salad by making it with purple taters. You can also use eco-friendly disposable plates made from bamboo.
2. Take Care of Your Ride
Your vehicle is the centerpiece of your tailgate party, so give it some TLC before game day. Give your car a deep cleaning, taking care to get in every crack and crevice. Vacuum up those spare French fries and memories of takeouts past.
If you live in a sunny location, consider tinting your windows. You’ll need to check the law in your jurisdiction to see how dark you can go. The film costs relatively little and can preserve your automotive’s interior and protect your skin while you drive.
3. Organize Your Supplies
You’re going to need to wash your hands before you eat. Fill an old laundry detergent bottle with water. The spigot makes taking care of hygiene easier. Bring some eco-friendly hand sanitizer as well.
Even if you don’t envision yourself using aluminum foil, it’s never a bad idea to have some on hand during a tailgate party. There’s no shortage of uses for this versatile supply, from covering your leftovers to serving as a plate in a pinch.
Count on someone making a mess and bring extra paper towels. Take along some waterproof magic markers, too. You can use these to decorate and label drink containers.
4. Include Tons of Condiments
Sure, you can use plain ketchup and mustard — but getting creative with condiments adds a whole new level of flavor to meals. You can experiment with flavored butter for sandwiches and snacks like popcorn. Who doesn’t love everything avocado?
Make some homemade guacamole to add a zesty kick to burgers. Pro tip — if your guests have dietary restrictions, let them get their food first. This practice minimizes the risk of cross-contamination, which can lead to intestinal upset among other things.
5. Pack Your Cooler
To make the most out of your available space, pack your cooler the right way. Chill your gear overnight and freeze your food before packing it. Place cans and bottles at the bottom where they stay coldest. Are you packing items like tortillas that can turn to mush if they get damp?
Take them out of the store packaging and put them in sturdier hard plastic containers. If you’re taking greens along for a salad or sandwich toppings, wrap them in paper towels. This helps keep them crisp.
6. Food Safety Is Key to a Successful Tailgate
You can’t throw a successful tailgate party if your guests get sick from the food. Follow proper preparation techniques — always cook burgers to medium-well or better to avoid poisoning. Make sure wings cook all the way through with no pink remaining.
Do you have long hair? Tie it back and consider wearing a hat to keep it out of your dishes.
7. Watch the Wind Direction
Sure, your barbecue smells fantastic — but your neighbors won’t appreciate you smoking them out. Check the direction of the wind before you fire up your grill. Try to direct the smoke away from people.
If windy conditions threaten to blow sparks, consider passing on grilling altogether and preparing a slow-cooker meal like hearty stew or chili.
8. Keep Pests at Bay
As the temperatures plummet, insects go back to the ground to hibernate. But flies and gnats can ruin an otherwise successful tailgate. Pick up some non-toxic insect repellent spray for guests old and young. Light citronella candles and Tiki torches to keep pests away from your food.
9. Provide Finger Foods for Snacking
Your barbecue may highlight your tailgate, but guests enjoy snacking throughout game day. Make a variety of dips like this Louisiana hot crab dip to enhance the flavor of tortilla chips. Grilled pepper poppers take only a few minutes to heat up on the grill. And, of course, wings fit into any successful tailgate.
10. Make Cleanup Easier
After the festivities, you need to clean up your mess. Bring along several buckets with lids and label them for recycling purposes.
A can crusher saves considerable space if your guests like to wash down their meal with a brewski or three. You can find biodegradable bamboo flatware to speed cleanup without sending single-use plastic into the ocean.
Celebrate Football Season With a Successful Tailgate Party
The best part of fall is football and tailgating. By following the tips above, you can celebrate the big game day the right way: with a successful tailgate party you and your friends will remember for years to come.
Dylan Bartlett is a men’s lifestyle blogger from the City of Brotherly Love. He runs the site Just a Regular Guide, looking at other topics related to health and wellness, relationships, the outdoors and DIY. You can follow him on Twitter @a_regular_guide to get frequent updates on his work.
