WASHINGTON — A parking lot packed with popped trunks; a sea of fans, decked out in team colors; and the smell of smoke and charcoal coming off the grill — it’s just another weekend afternoon of tailgating. And while most present at tailgates are there to warm-up for the big game, tailgates are about more than the sports.
A study out of the University of Notre Dame shows that tailgate parties, which are rooted in ancient harvest festivals, build community and nurture tradition. And just as tailgates have evolved from their ancient festival roots, so have the food options.
WTOP food contributor and food expert Mary Beth Albright says while hot dogs and hamburgers will likely always have a presence at tailgates, more sophisticated platters — such as meat and cheese trays and vegetable salads — are common on game-day spreads.
“If you’re going to be outside with people for a long time, and you’re going to be sort of cold, I mean, why not prepare a great feast outside? Why not bring every kind of delicious food that you want?” says Albright, who says a dish such as a corn salad is seasonal, festive and holds up for an all-afternoon affair.
“It is a moveable outdoor cocktail party that anyone can crash.”
Speaking of cocktails, don’t be afraid to expand the drink list beyond beer. For fall football tailgates, Albright suggests making an apple sangria — “especially because at the end of it, you can have fruit at the bottom that you can eat that’s a delicious brandy and wine-soaked fruit. That always goes over well.”
But whatever the spread, Albright says the best part of tailgating is spending an afternoon outside with friends.
“The most important thing about this is that the connection you feel with other people in that moment,” she says.
Want to step-up the food spread at your next tailgate? Try some of these recipes:
- Fresh corn salad
- Honeycrisp apple sangria
- Barbecue chicken pizza
- Game- day pork and black bean chili
- Hot dogs with cheddar and sauteed apples
- Cinnamon spice Rice Krispie treat s’mores
