Tailgating Munchies

Fall is always the best time of year. Your summer has dwindled away into a distant memory, the weather changes into a mixture of warm days and cold nights, but the most important thing is the return of football! I love football for two reason--- entertainment, but more importantly the food! Being a life long San Diego Chargers fan, I've been to way too many games to count. My family has had season tickets since the mid 1970s, and growing up as a bolt fanatic I've also seen a number of tailgating parties.

Almost every Sunday since my conception have been spent in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium. I love the feeling of tailgating, what can beat eating and drinking with family-- I do consider all Charger fans to be part of my family. The feeling of pigging out on dishes that are heart stopping  and spending those few hours before the game is something that everyone should experience once in their life---even if your not a football fan. 

But before you take the risk of jumping into the world of tailgating, you need to know some essential items to ensure and fun-filled time. The first thing of course is a car capable of taking your supplies to the stadium. I've gone to a few games without a car and its hard too join other tailgating parties without anything to contribute. Along with a car, is some sort of canopy or cover to designate your spot. Its never an easy situation when other fans encroach on your tailgating area. 

The most important item is a grill!!! I cannot stress the value of a good bbq when tailgating.There are a variety of options, but my favorite is the car attached bbq. My family has a costume built one that attaches to the hitch of our car (pictured right).

Along with the grill, it is essential to have-- a cooler, tables, chairs, banners, games (my favorite is corn-hole), beer-pong table, a football, and any team-gear deemed appropriate.

But lets get down to the brass tax, and that's the munchies. A key to any successful tailgating party is to have lots of drinks--- I mean a lot of drinks. You cant get those drunkies without tipping back a few. Its good to have a variety of drinks for all ages, but more importantly the drinks of an alcoholic nature.

Another successful item is to make one item that is already prepared the night before. It's always easier to have some thing homemade and ready to go. My family always make ribs before any game, we cook them the day before and then BBQ them the day of the game. It gives them that charcoal taste and doesn't take hours too cook. It saves you time and effort, as well as having some good munchies to eat before the game.

Chips and dip are crucial! These are corner stones of any tailgating party. It's always a good idea to have hot dogs and burgers, but that's too simple. Try and branch out and be creative with your munchies. My family always cooks ribs, but we try and bring something different to every game--- mostly side dishes and type of drinks. So don't be afraid to experiment! There are a number of ideas, resources, and tips on what is considered good tailgating munchies online!

So the next time your looking for something fun to do on a Sunday, look no further than a parking lot full of crazy fans and some good food before a football game. It's a touchdown of success.