Review –
The Ultimate Tailgater’s Handbook
Edited by Stephen Linn
By
Ivette Ricco
October 1, 2006
Who knew?
There is a sub culture out there, a world of tailgaters
many are simply unaware of.
I knew. I knew because I was one of those “rookie”
tailgaters who showed up at the game in a Mazda Miata with 2 sand chairs a tiny
grill and not much else.
As my hubby and I looked around in surprise we
realized that this tailgating gig was serious stuff.
Over the course of
6 years we’ve become seasoned tailgaters. We aren’t yet at the point
where we have our own port-a-pottie or a satellite dish but we and our tailgating
buddies (who have been at it for 17 years) now have a carpet covering the asphalt,
two TVs that allow us to watch twice as much football, tables, chairs, grills,
and lots of food, wine and a Femmefan.com banner.
We learned from our friends,
Tony and Gwen, but we learned the hard way, by forgetting things or not planning
in advance, a sure sign of rookie tailgaters.
Had we had a copy of this
handy little guide we might not made the obvious rookie mistakes.
The purpose
of this book is to help you have more fun at your tailgate. Keeping in mind that
a tailgate is a party, and fun is the operative word.
“…the
ultimate purpose of all this knowledge is to help you have more fun at your tailgate.
You’ll host a better party, wear better clothes, eat better food, and become
the ultimate tailgater you’ve always wanted to be.”
I’ve
always wondered if tailgating was an American phenomenon. According to The Ultimate
Tailgater’s Handbook, tailgating got its start in the wild, wild, west,
when covered wagons were used to carry grub and tailgaters to their destinations.
But
as per the Ultimate Tailgater’s Handbook …
“The modern
tailgate likely has its roots in college football
Combining football, food,
fun and a party seems to be a natural evolution in America.”
This
book is an impressive source of information for anyone who has tailgating questions.
Among
the areas covered:
Tailgating gear, grills, grill tools and accessories.
The
Bar.
The Basics.
Dressing the Part.
Tailgating Setups.
Tailgating
Etiquette. (Yes there is such a thing!)
Tailgating Cookbook.
Venue Guide.
The
Commissioner of Tailgating.
Joe Cahn is the self-appointed Commissioner of
Tailgating. He has traveled the nation covering tailgate parties.
“In
1996 Joe Cahn sold his New Orleans School of Cooking and decided to try his hand
at a cooking show. The idea was to tailgate at every NFL stadium in one season.
The show hasn’t hit the air, but Cahn’s been hitting the road ever
since.”
The Commissioner’s Top Ten Tailgating Mistakes.
- getting drunk
- not having a checklist
and forgetting things
- not bringing trash bags and not
cleaning up after your tailgate
- not bringing enough food
- not
bringing enough ice
- not treating visitors with courtesy
just because they’re wearing the colors of the opposing team
- using
obscenity – verbally and by means of clothing, like wearing a t-shirt insulting
your opponent rather than supporting your team
- not being
dressed properly for the weather
- leaving your radio,
TV, or other item on and running down your car battery
- not
having jumper cables to help people who leave their radio, TV or other item on
and run down their car battery
I enjoyed this handy guide, and with
220 pages of good solid advice for the rookie and the seasoned vet, it is a great
little gift for the tailgaters in your family.
For more information or to
purchase a copy of the Ultimate Tailgater’s Handbook, go to www.theultimatetailgater.com
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