Tailgating

 

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Video Transcript

Chuck Denney (UT Institute of Agriculture)
In Tennessee, we love our football - high school, college, pro - and we love to eat. Before kickoff, it’s time to tailgate.

Tammy Algood (UT Extension)
“One of the things I like about tailgating is that it does spur creativity.”

Chuck Denney
When it comes to food, Tammy Algood always throws a Hail Mary. She and husband George, the Davidson County Extension Director, had us over to their place in Smyrna for this little spread - ribs, baked chicken, beautiful pasta salad. 

Tammy Algood
“It’s what I call throw the garden in the pasta.”

Chuck Denney
Also corn-on-the-cob, fruit - red and blue for the Tennessee Titans. And desserts. A great tailgate party includes lots of variety.

Tammy Algood
“So you’ve got sweet - salty, crunchy - soft, hot -cold. So all of that kind of stimulates the appetite.”

Chuck Denney
Gone are the days of just bringing a bag of fast food to the stadium parking lot. Tailgating itself has become sort of its own competition in modern times. Now fans see if they can outdo each other in terms of food and fun. But you’d draw a penalty flag for sure if one of your guests got sick at a tailgate party. That’s why Tammy emphasizes food safety and preservation - especially early in the season when games are played in warm weather.

Tammy Algood
“You don’t want anything mayonnaise-based, if you can keep away from that. If you can keep away from things like cole slaw and stuff like that that’s not a vinegar-base that would be excellent. Deviled eggs - just leave those alone. So you really want portable foods that have a long shelf life.”

Chuck Denney
Many football fans like to cook at the game as opposed to transporting food. As with any barbeque, Tammy recommends you cook meat thoroughly.           

Tammy Algood
“Your meat thermometer is your best friend when grilling or even baking for that reason, if you’re roasting a chicken to bring to a tailgating party. The main thing is don’t partially cook.”

Chuck Denney
And here’s a clever way to keep other foods fresh.

Tammy Algood
“If you’ve got something you want to keep cold - let’s say this fruit. A really good way to do this is to sit the entire dish over ice.”

Chuck Denney
Well, Tammy and George made all this food, so we volunteered to help dispose of it. With some careful planning, good sense precautions and tailgating creativity, your pre-game meal can be a hit. Your team may not win the game, but your stomach may be doing an end zone dance.

 

END

NOTE: UT Extension experts say foods that work well for tailgating include nuts, cheeses, salsa, chips and cookies and brownies. All can sit outdoors for a while without spoiling.