Tailgating by Joe Drozda and Bob Bley
(Here are the last five of the Ten Commandments.)
VI. Thou shall not drink (alcohol) too much
Our web site (Tailgatershandbook.com) has a section displaying how much you can drink and stay legal to drive. That blood alcohol count below .08 doesn’t always guarantee that you will be a good host or companion when you drink more than you should. Remember, no matter what you have heard, nobody likes a drunk! A tailgater that consumes too much alcohol causes stress to his or her friends and family.
VII. Thou shall continually upgrade your gear
It’s your duty to search for that item which will improve your tailgate party. This item or items can be anything that will make tailgating easier, faster, safer, warmer, prettier, less expensive etc. That means that you need to look at our site for neat stuff. Shop at appropriate stores that have sporting and camping gear, read catalogs, ask around. Review last year’s tailgating experiences and list the things that weren’t just right. Chances are that somebody has experienced your same problem and has invented or discovered an improvement. You can also contact us and have our staff find a solution. Not only do we get requests of where to park at a school and were to eat, but we also help people with things like flag poles.
VIII. Thou shall prepare for emergencies
Like a Boy Scout/Girl Scout – be prepared. There are many tailgate parties where emergencies arise. Have a first aid kit in case somebody gets cut or burned. Other more common emergencies are for dilemmas like no propane with which to cook, or no corkscrew to open the wine, or even no matches to light a fire. It is wise to carry a tackle box that has a bevy of things like duct tape, bungee cords, corkscrew, all-in-one pliers tool with all the attachments of a Swiss Army knife, packets of salt and pepper, a bottle opener, a can opener, and as many other items that you can think up.
IX. Thou shall practice food safety
Ecoli and Salmonella are dangerous and should be avoided by practicing good food safety. Remember to keep hot things hot and cold things cold. See our food safety section on page 70.
X. Thou shall tailgate after the game (or wait for the traffic to clear)
After a game is no time to join the bumper-to-bumper traffic for a grueling drive home. Just a 30 minute to one hour short rest in the tailgate lot will allow even the most congested lots to clear and the highway traffic to resume normal speeds. When you pack up to go into the game, always think about your postage tailgate. Leave enough chairs and easy-to-serve foods accessible so that they can be easily set up and enjoyed before the trek home. Our surveys have found that the average tailgater in America drives 71 miles one way to the game. So why not kick back, have a snack and visit?
Here’s another warm weather menu item that everyone loves. It’s from the Pasta Shoppe (pastashoppe.com) that makes those pastas shaped like your favorite team logos for both pro and college teams.
BLT Pasta Salad – a favorite!
14 oz. bag Pasta
5 large tomatoes, finely chopped
1 large green pepper, finely chopped
1 lb. bacon (+ some), crumbled (precooked works great)
3/4 cup real or light mayonnaise
1 t. salt (or to taste)
Cook pasta in gently boiling water for approximately 6 minutes, until tender but firm. Drain and rinse with cold water.
For tailgating, make pasta the night before. Toss cooked pasta lightly with olive oil, and store all veggies separately. Add veggies and bacon just before serving to maintain crispness. Serves 6-8.
