Top Tailgating Potluck Tips
There are many people who think the real point of football is the Tailgate party before-hand. If you fall into this category and you want to take your “game’ to the next level, try these five tried and true tailgating tips to tailgate like a pro!
1. Delegate, delegate, delegate.Whoever said that half of life was just showing up, probably forgot the tongs and the BBQ sauce. One of the most important things you can do to ensure that your tailgate party is a success is to organize in advance. Using SignUp.com’s potluck wizard, set up a SignUp that allows you to create a menu and keep track of all the details around who is bringing what without making yourself crazy. SignUp.com allows you to build your online SignUp in a minute and then share it via email and social media. Guests can access it from their smartphones or handheld devices 24/7 without needing a password –and will receive real-time e-calendar syncing and automated reminders. Get started >
2. Prep the food in advance. Form the hamburgers, and layer them between wax paper in a plastic container. Marinate the chicken and beef skewers the night before. Slice the burger fixings and pack them in plastic wrap to keep them fresh, ditto the drink garnishes. Freeze water bottles, which can take the place of ice, eliminating the extra weight in your cooler and allowing you cold water to drink as they melt.
3. Pack the car the night before. You are not going to want to be up before dawn, trying to remember if you brought the charcoal. Pack the grill and other essentials such as trash bags, paper towels, napkins, cutlery, paper plates, etc. in the car the night before. One genius tip is to pick up a toolbox at a garage sale and repurpose it as a grab-and-go box for all game day essentials such as tongs, can/bottle openers, basting brush, wooden skewers, tongs, sanitary wipes, spatulas and your favorite condiments.
4. Think about after the game. Throw in a large plastic tub for dirty dishes, and thermoses of hot coffee. You can even set aside some trays of desserts for people to munch on while you wait for the traffic to die down. Make sure you have jumper cables in your car, and pack extra chargers for phones just in case.
5. Take lots of pictures, relax and enjoy! You’ve thought of everything! Introduce yourself to your neighbors and work on your friendly smack talk if they support the other team. (Keep it friendly, though, because you never know when you might need them to help jumpstart your car.) Be sure to pack up your trash and recyclables and haul it away.
