Tailgating
The Wide World of Food & Games
By John A. Phillips

There's a world that we live in, you just don't know it yet.

It's that world where 20 of your closest friends are coming over to watch the hockey game tomorrow night. The local team is in the Cup Finals. Fan support is high as people gather to celebrate.

Do you really want to serve pork rinds & warm Fresca again? Nobody wants that swill.

People want food that excites them. Eats help to enhance everything. There's no better way to enjoy great food as you take in that game.

Perhaps you're tired of making the same taco dip for that yearly tailgate trip to State College. Wow your old fraternity brothers with something exciting and new next time.

Serving the standard fare is just… well, standard. There's no fun in that. Tap into that world where we need to feed the fun side of sports: the World of Food & Games.

How do I explain it? Well, it's sort of like this time space continuum thing where the worlds of sports and food meet. Just off the corner of Ravenous and Fanatic.

This is the place where we escape what ails us. We find comfort in what we know and love; Food & Games supply plenty of each for us to enjoy.

So what makes me qualified to discuss such fodder? Who am I? Where are my gold cooking medals?

I'm not a trained classical chef by any stretch. I learned how to work in a kitchen at home while growing up. My mom had me cooking hot meals at the tender age of eight.

She was a cook. For years "Midge" worked at a famous East Liberty location called Bolans Restaurant. They specialized in chocolate candies. Their oversized chocolate covered strawberries were spectacular. They also did exquisite Easter Eggs that may have ranked as their most impressive confection.

Because of my early start in cooking, I found myself enjoying kitchen time. Sprinkle in a healthy dose of my OCD for sports and well…you get Food & Games.

When planning for a larger group (10 people or more), focus on a simpler menu that serves more. Your food can still stand out, but knowing how many will attend allows time to think about what to serve. Your budget will factor in to what's offered as well.

For smaller gatherings, focus on more elaborate ideas. Get creative with dips or appetizers. Instead of burgers & brats, try fillet, tuna or BBQ as a main dish. Again, your budget will help shape the menu.

Not everybody goes all out every time. Bigger games require greater attention and planning as people tend to be more extravagant for special occasions.

The point I'm trying to make is have fun with it the next time you plan to meet friends or family for that big game. Try something new. See how it impacts the people you serve. See what fun you can have.

Everybody has a Game Day Gourmet inside them. People love Food & Games.

An avid foodie, sports junkie and rock thrower, JP has a seven-year-old son whose sole function is to deprive his dad of as much sleep as possible. To learn more, visit www.foodandgamestv.com.