What is it about tailgating?

It's tailgating season, and it hits every one of your senses: the team colors dance off your eyes, the fight song plays in your ear, the feel of the pigskin rubs across your finger tips, the smell of fresh grass hits your nose, and the taste of stadium food favorites like fresh grilled burgers and potato salad are savored with every bite. It's not just a game, it's an experience, and you get to enjoy it with a former group of strangers that, for at least the next few hours, are now part of your community.

Every part of the tailgate experience amplifies the atmosphere for fun, enjoyment and camaraderie. But no element--besides the game itself--is a bigger part of the experience than the food. Food, as it turns out, is the reason for the coined term, "tailgate" to begin with. It is believed the term was coined by fans of the Green Bay Packers in 1919, when Packers fans would park their pickup tracks around the field, sit in the truck bed and enjoy foods with fellow fans such as ham, potatoes and custards. 

Modern day tailgates generally include a hand-held entrees like sandwiches, breakfast burritos, hamburgers, hot dogs or fried chicken, but those with more tailgate swagger--and generally a tailgate-friendly RV to cook in--will dabble in more sophisticated culinary adventures like tri-tip, rotisserie chicken, chili--almost anything goes! 

For sophisticated, next level taste that will impress any fan without the heavy-duty prep time, tailgates all over have found the secret: Kobe-crafted Waygu beef, perfectly formed into a ready-to-grill burger, courtesy of our expert beef handlers at Steakhouse Elite. It's juicy, firm in texture, beefy, bold and savory. Sandwiched between a soft bun and topped with any assortment of gourmet toppings, it's burger perfection with all the taste of a steakhouse burger right at your tailgate. 

For the best tailgating burger experience, there are a few tips we--as seasoned tailgaters ourselves--can offer for the optimal tailgating experience:

1. Don't waste time on the stuff that doesn't matter.  Fancy football-shaped napkins are cute, but nothing more than a place to wipe that condiment and burger juice, and nobody seems to notice the design. Simple will do just fine, and that goes for the paper plates as well--they are covered with food as soon as you set them out and then tossed into the garbage, so put your efforts into the food and not the frill.
2. Don't choose being a grill master over a fan! Sure, it's great to push the smells of the grill across the stadium, but you don't want to be stuck there all day. Some grilled dishes can leave you attending to the grill all day long, instead of enjoying the pregame vibe, complete with trash talking the other team (only in fun of course; good sportsmanship only!), complimenting your neighbor on their decked out vehicle, and taking bets on the final score. Don't miss out on the pregame because you're stuck in the kitchen or behind the grill. Opt for simple and delicious pre-pressed Steakhouse Elite burgers you can just throw on the grill and enjoy a few minutes later.
3. Preparation is key to the win! On game day, the focus should be on the game, not kitchen chores. Prepare ahead of time by chopping veggies, prepping the side dishes and putting condiments in convenient, ready-to-serve containers. Bonus points for using disposable or ready-to-serve bakeware which makes clean up a snap so you're not late to the game!
4. Handheld foods make for less mess. No-utensils-required means no utensils to clean. That's a win-win! Choose from handheld tailgate favorites like burgers, chicken wings, burritos, taquitos, veggies and ranch, fried chicken, hot dogs, sliders and chips.
5. Don't forget the after-party. You can burn a lot of energy being the twelfth man on the field! Be sure you have something to eat when you get back from the game. You'll need to get your energy up for next week's game! Easy snacks for the aftermath are much appreciated and often consumed, and it can be as simple as some hot dogs, pizza or leftovers from earlier!

The yells of fans can be heard. People are dressed in a sea of coordinating colors. The deep beat of drums is thundering through blocks around the stadium. The football is being tossed. And that's all before the game even starts! Keep up the tradition of a fantastic, food-focused tailgate and add to the sights, smells, sounds and tastes by offering up simple, easy, and delicious tailgate food options this football season. Go team!