Tailgating Tips with Chad

Tailgating Tips with Chad Duesterhaus
by Katie Bigley

It’s football season and that means it’s tailgating season! Whether you come for the game or the food, Quincy native Chad Duesterhaus is our tailgating expert, and he will share his tips and tricks on how you can make the most of the experience from the essential items to tailgating etiquette. Chad has all the knowledge from coaching, scorekeeping, and attending countless high school, college, and pro football games, no one knows the world of tailgating better than Chad! 

When I asked Chad about his favorite tailgating memory, he took me back to the 90s when he recalled his first Chief’s game. On the game day, Chad and his buddies loaded up the car and headed out of Quincy. When they arrived at the stadium, Chad could not believe his eyes. “There were trailers with smokers and like I said, this is ‘95/’96 and just stuff you’ve never seen before.” The world of tailgating has certainly evolved over the years and now it has become common practice to load up your smoker or grill for the big day. Chad also remembers the atmosphere – people arriving 5-6 hours before the game, the excitement, everyone sharing food and laughs and just having a good time. 

THE BASICS 

Hamburgers, hot dogs, wings, dips, & chips – These are all classic foods you will most likely find at a tailgate party. Chad shares with me that his favorite thing to do for tailgates is to take a pork loin and trim some of the fat off it. (Be sure to leave some fat on for flavor) Next, he will either marinate the pork loin overnight or he will cover it with his favorite seasonings. Then, on game day, Chad and his buddies will either grill or smoke the pork loin and slice it up for sandwiches. So simple and easy, yet delicious every time!  

There is no right or wrong food to bring to a tailgate so whether you stick to the tried-and-true fan favorites, or you have a game for something new – make sure you have a plan in place beforehand for things like transporting the food/ingredients, cooking and storing the food, and of course, the cleanup process afterward. Be sure to have plenty of cooler space and extra ice as well! 

I asked Chad what his most essential tailgating items were and let me say, cleaning items were at the top of the list. “This goes back to my coaching days, but you can never have enough garbage bags, napkins, utensils, paper plates,” says Chad. “You can never forget the stuff on the other side of things. You always got to have enough sauce, you got to have enough seasonings, a couple of extra spatulas, and pans.” Chad adds. Essentially, it never hurts to bring extra of everything. You never know when an accident may happen, and as the Boy Scouts motto goes – “Be prepared!” 

HOW TO $AVE 

The big day can get expensive if you are buying food and supplies for a crowd, but thankfully, with Chad’s years of experience, he has the science down for tailgating on a budget. Chad recommends watching for sales on the essential items leading up to the big day. If you see a good deal on meat, don’t be afraid to buy extra and stock up your freezer. Chad says this is his go-to move as meat is often the priciest item on the grocery list. Don’t hesitate to stock up on basic supplies like paper plates, plastic utensils, cups, etc. when they’re on sale as well as they won’t go bad. Also, it is never a bad idea to divide and conquer if you are tailgating with a large group, as you can help cut down the grocery bill by assigning everyone an item to bring. This will not only save money, but it can also help with the stress of making sure you have everything that you need! 

FIRST TIME ADVICE 

New to the tailgating world? No problem! I wrapped up my time with Chad by asking for some advice for someone who hasn’t been to a tailgate before. Chad’s biggest things were to be friendly, be gracious, and just have fun! Chad also mentions that if you are meeting up with friends always ask if they need you to bring anything. “You know the big thing is just bring something, not yourself. Because even if they don’t ask you to bring anything, the fact that you stopped and got cookies or brownies, cupcakes, or whatever shows that you’re appreciative,” says Chad. It’s also not a bad idea to pack your cooler with your favorite drinks for yourself and some for your friends if you know what they like to drink. 

Overall, tailgates are pretty simple - don’t show up empty-handed, and be friendly and respectful to your fellow tailgaters. At the end of the day, nobody wants hard feelings, and everyone is there to have a good time! 

Thank you to Chad Duesterhaus for being a part of this blog!