Fall Entertaining: The Football Tailgate

Here’s an easy and guaranteed autumn recipe for fun: take one stadium football game; add several friends and family members. Mix in a truck, parking lot, grill, canopy, and delicious food and drink. For extra flavor, add a football or frisbee to the mix. Enjoy up to 2 hours pre-or-post-game.

Food for a tailgate party can run the gamut from extremely easy—open bag of chips and salsa—to more gourmet fare if you are willing to set up a portable grill. The point is to enjoy the festive atmosphere and the season’s last chance for al fresco dining. 

My family spent a recent Saturday having a ball (pun intended) with about 30 good friends in a parking lot adjacent to the Hudson River, prior to the Army vs. Tulane game in West Point. Had we gotten there earlier, we could have laid claim to a more coveted spot on a lively lawn being used as a pre-game practice site for the West Point cheerleaders and marching band. We consoled ourselves by noting our excellent river view.  

Our group feasted on chili, grilled burgers & hotdogs, pulled pork sliders, Bloody Marys, beer and even a raw bar set upon a makeshift tailgate ice cooler (did you know that a Ford F150 truck bed could hold 980 lbs. of ice?!), until it rained, that is. Luckily, a couple revelers had brought canopy tents.

Below are a few game-inspired foods, recipes, and a tailgate gear wish-list for kicking off your own stadium soiree this month.   

TAILGATING GEAR

Tent: Tailgate Gear Instant Up Parking Lot Canopy

Portable Grill: O-Grill 3000 Portable Gas Barbecue Grill. This is a lightweight portable grill with stylish design to boot. 

Grill/Fryer combo: Blacktop 360 Grill & Fryer.  A good portable grill to own when you crave fries with your burgers.

Table: Tailgate Table with Ping Pong Net. This table is available with several team logos.  Use it for the food; afterwards, attach the included net for the table tennis players in your group.

Chair: Picnic Time Portable Reclining Camp Chair.  Not only does this chair recline, but it’s also nicely padded.

Cookbook: Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game at Home, by Debbie Moose

Outdoor Speaker for your tunes: Eco Extreme Rugged Waterproof Speaker 

GAME-WINNING FOOD & DRINK IDEAS 

Pick and choose, but most importantly, try to keep things simple for yourself.

Grilled Sausages or Bratwurst with Spicy Brown Mustard and Potato Salad

Pulled Pork Sliders with Coleslaw: Serve room temperature OR keep the pulled pork warm in covered aluminum container over sterno or a grill. Place the coleslaw in the sandwich - yum!

Soft Corn Tacos with Shredded Chicken and Red Onion-Lime Slaw (see recipe)

Chili with Cornbread and Condiments; Keep the chili warm in a slow-cooker IF you happen to have an outlet available in your vehicle.

Not So Raw Bar: Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Rolls, Scallop Ceviche in tortilla cups; keep these chilled on ice. (see recipes below)

Platter of Sweets: Your choice, but brownies and cookies travel well.

Bloody Mary’s (recipe below)

Bucket of Chilled Microbrew Beers

Sangria

Apple Cider: for the kiddos

RECIPES

Soft Corn Tacos with Shredded Chicken and Red Onion-Lime Slaw

package of corn tortillas

1 store-bought rotisserie (or your own roasted) chicken, shredded

Red Onion-Lime Slaw: mix 2 tablespoons lime juice with 2 teaspoons sugar, and 1/2 cup sour cream.  Mix the dressing with 1/2 head thinly sliced cabbage and 1/2 thinly sliced red onion.

pickled sliced jalepenos, optional

Warm the chicken in a covered aluminum foil container over the grill. Lightly grill the tortillas, and lay them on top of the warm chicken container until ready to fill. Fill each tortilla with the chicken, and top with the slaw and jalepenos.

Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Cocktail Sauce

2-3 pounds large cooked shrimp from fish monger or supermarket

Cocktail Sauce: Mix together 2 cups ketchup, 1 bottle prepared horseradish, and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Lobster Salad Rolls

2 lbs. cooked lobster meat (your fish monger might have this available for you; Costco and other supermarkets also sell frozen lobster meat)

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

1-2 shallots, minced

juice of 1 lemon

freshly ground pepper, to taste

lightly grilled brioche rolls OR buttered hot dog buns

Mix all the ingredients together EXCEPT for the rolls/buns.  Keep chilled until serving in the grilled rolls or buns.

Scallop Ceviche

1 lb. bay scallops, quartered

1 cup chopped grape or cherry tomatoes

1-2 jalepenos, seeded and minced

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 red onion, finely diced

3/4 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

salt and pepper to taste

tortilla cups (Tostito's Brand Chip Scoops are perfect!)

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl (do NOT use aluminum or copper.) Cover and refrigerator at least 2 hours or overnight. To serve, use a slotted spoon to place the ceviche in small tortilla cups.  Optionally, serve the ceviche, without the tortilla cups, in small clear plastic cups with spoons.