-Tailgating Made Easy-
Hi recteq Family! I’m Chef John and I’ve been cooking professionally for over 30 years. I’ve cooked every type of food imaginable, and I’ve come to realize that cooking food is more than just following a recipe. It’s about bringing family and friends together, over quality activities like choosing and preparing meals. The experience is truly in those moments we spend together, even more than the tasty outcome. Tailgating season is the perfect time to celebrate all that we have together; bringing family and old friends together, and possibly make some new friends (if your food is good). I’m going to be taking you through my Tips & Tricks to make you the Tailgating King or Queen of your next event.
-Know Who You’re Cooking For-
The first thing I do before preparing my menu for each tailgating event (because they are all different) is ask myself, “hey self, who’s going to be at this tailgating event and how many of them will there be?” It’s a great time to think about your guests and the demographic they fall into: kids, older people, my beer drinking buddies, more ladies than gentlemen, etc. These easy questions will help you create the perfect menu for the people eating your food and as the host, that should always be your number one concern. Now I know who I’m cooking for, let’s get the tools we will need to cook our food. These are the tools I use at most of my tailgating events.
-Recipes and Food Prep-
Ready? I’m going to share a few sure-fire, bang-up tailgating recipes that never fail at a tailgating event. When considering options to make, think of who you’re cooking for like we mentioned, but also think about logistics like how to transfer the cooked items. Ask will you do all the prep first and cook everything on site? recteq gives you multiple options that are tried and true. From the Road Warrior which is a tailgating beast and always ready to ride out, to the Backyard Beast 1000 which will turn you into the “King or Queen of the Cul-de-sac”! Both are great but which one fits your lifestyle best?
If I’m cooking off site, I like to have all my “food prep” done and everything packed up, iced down, and loaded the night before I leave for my event. What does that mean exactly? I’ll prep and cut all meats and sometimes season them and store in zip-top plastic bags or recteq full and half steamer pans. Herbs cut, seasonings measured, sauces placed in travel safe containers, aprons, knives, serving utensils, hot box, recteq cooler, chairs, tents, fans… Whatever it is, I liked to be packed and ready when traveling to a tailgating event. When I’m hosting the games at my house, I find it much easier having all my equipment close by, that way I never forget anything when at my house either. When I can hear the smooth hum of the recteq cycling pellets into the firepot and see that PID controller holding the temp exactly where I set it at, and the smell of smoke and meat, I feel like the “King of the Cul-de-sac”! Here are my favorite recipes for Tailgating events:
If I’m cooking off site, I like to have all my “food prep” done and everything packed up, iced down, and loaded the night before I leave for my event. What does that mean exactly? I’ll prep and cut all meats and sometimes season them and store in zip-top plastic bags or recteq full and half steamer pans. Herbs cut, seasonings measured, sauces placed in travel safe containers, aprons, knives, serving utensils, hot box, recteq cooler, chairs, tents, fans… Whatever it is, I liked to be packed and ready when traveling to a tailgating event. When I’m hosting the games at my house, I find it much easier having all my equipment close by, that way I never forget anything when at my house either. When I can hear the smooth hum of the recteq cycling pellets into the firepot and see that PID controller holding the temp exactly where I set it at, and the smell of smoke and meat, I feel like the “King of the Cul-de-sac”! Here are my favorite recipes for Tailgating events:
This football season, whether you’ll be at the game in the parking lot or watching the game from the comfort of your living room, these Tips and Tricks will have you ready to be the ultimate host; so call up your family and friends and let’s make this tailgating season one to remember.