Tent Talk: Setting the Tailgate Table

Now that we've discussed some gameday essentials, I thought now would be a good time to throw out some suggestions on how to set an inviting tailgate table.  Full disclosure: Being an Ole Miss fan & "tailgater", my point of reference is somewhat skewed. Tailgating at Ole Miss is an art form, and we are consistently ranked as a top tailgating spot in the country.  Probably because we tend to go a bit overboard (tents, chandeliers, bands, flower arrangements...you get the idea).  Well, see for yourself:

(Image courtesy of Southern Living)

Pretty impressive, right?  But the purpose of this blog is to educate and elevate your gameday experience, regardless of whether its from the back of a truck, in a tricked-out tent, or at your house.  And the following tips are to help you set the scene for the festivities.

First and foremost, you need something to contain your napkins, cutlery & extra serving ware.  You gotta' have something to eat with right?  Our "tent hostess" uses a set of pretty blue & red buckets.  Buckets are great for this task because they hold quite a bit, so you aren't constantly having to replenish things. You can get small galvanized buckets at your local hobby or home improvement stores.  I've also seen small ones at the dollar store.  If you want to go really fancy, Pottery Barn has this lovely set for $25:    http://www.potterybarn.com/products/galvanized-metal-three-section-condiment-set/?pkey=cgalvanized-entertaining

A bit pricey, but you'll get a lot of use out of them!  There's actually a website that sells nothing but galvanized products, in all shapes, colors & sizes!  So there you go!    http://galvanizedpail.com/ 

You can also use some small wicker baskets in the same manner.  Give it a bit more rustic look.  This is an area to be creative - hit the dollar store or Big Lots and be creative.  Just look for containers with a bit of height and 4-5 inches of circumference.

Serveware:

You'll be amazed to discover that when family & friends learn you have become a tailgating/sports fanatic, you'll start receiving platters/bowls/etc. with your team's emblem/logo for birthday/Christmas gifts.  Woohoo!  But in the meantime, I highly recommend going with simple white ceramic or silver serveware.  Glass trays/platters look too "blah" on a table; the white really pops and showcases the food, which is the star after all.  (I generally try to steer away from plastic trays.  Most of them look cheap, some cost almost as much as ceramic (but don't last as long), and take up just as much room as the other, although they are lighter to carry.  However, if you are doing a more laidback tailgate and concerned with breakage, Party City has some nice reusable trays/bowls, in awesome bright colors.)

Tip on finding affordable platters: try discount home furnishing stores like Home Goods (or its sister stores, TJ Maxx or Marshall's).  I bought a square white ceramic modern platter for under $20 from TJ Maxx, paired it with a white ceramic square bowl from Walmart for $4, and voila!  Perfect for veggie/dips or chip & dip and great for any occasion, fancy or casual! You can also use just the platter for sandwiches or desserts.  This is what it looks like:

See?  Nothing fancy, but elegant at the same time.  I've used it for everything from BBQs to bridal showers.  You can also help your older female relatives clean out their china cabinet.  My mother-in-law has been trying to pack up her home, and I just inherited A LOT of silver serving pieces (not complaining!).  You'd be suprised how many people get that stuff over time, but never use.  They'd probably love for you to have it or at least, borrow it.

Plates & Cups:

I already addressed cups in my previous post. Solo cups or personalized styrofoam cups are the easiest way to go.  As far as plates, colored ones in your team's colors are ideal.  Or you can do some heavy duty plastic plates.  It's important to take the tailgating menu into consideration.  If you are having chili, bring bowls and spoons. 

Lagniappe:

As you can see from the first photo, we love our centerpieces at Ole Miss. However, if table/tailgate space is an issue, food is the priority.  Without great food, the tailgate is bust - but that's a topic for later.  Even if you don't have table space, you can always be creative.  Hang battery-powered paper lanterns from your tent (or in your backyard trees if you're hosting a game-watching tailgate, which I am doing in 2 weeks - I'll be posting those pics afterwards!).  These are great for night games, when you have post-victory festivities.  Pier 1 has a 3 pk of white ones on sale for $9.  http://www.pier1.com/Battery-Paper-Lanterns---White/2343313,default,pd.html   I got mine from Bed, Bath and Beyond - a packet of 6 for $12, I believe. (sorry, I can't find them now)  They fold down so they're a snap to bring along.  You can use regular lanterns, but I think the risk of fire/burns and a trip to the first aid station isn't worth it. 

A big benefit to decorating & individualizing your tailgating spot is that it makes you easily identifiable to your tailgating guests.  When you have hundreds on tents in a concentrated area, that could be a lifesaver.  Cell phone service is iffy on gamedays, and all tents start to look alike.

See what I mean!   My friends at LSU, who don't fool with a lot of tents and fussiness, even have a tall LSU flag they put up for the game to make it easy to spot them. Have fun with it!  Like I said, take some time to peruse the discount stores.  Try a disco ball, Party City has some disco balls for less than $10.  

Tailgating is a communal activity.  If you create a inviting atmosphere with your tailgate table, you'll meet a lot of new friends!  Enjoy!