When you get together to tailgate and watch a baseball game what do you feed your hungry baseball fans?

Chips and salsa can’t be everything. Just bean dip? Nope. Pretzels. Sure, but there has to be something more.

Baseball tailgating deserves a MEAL. A real meal.

Hot dogs make sense, for sure. They’re all-American and synonymous with baseball. Steaks are incredible. They make everything a special occasion.

But how about going at it from a different angle? Why not create a really special dining experience for your crew?

Try a tailgating burger bar! It’ll have everyone talking the whole season long.

We all know there are all kinds of ways to enjoy a steakburger. So gather up some great recipes and let your guests have at it. Serve up lots of different variations on the burger and everyone will be happy. Even the kids and your pickiest baseball fan!

Try this recipe for a Cuban Burger. It has a decidedly flavorful essence and the great surprise is the addition of ham! How can you go wrong adding delicious ham? That’s not your everyday burger, for sure. Now we’re talking.

Another way to create a very different burger experience is with a burger sauce. This recipe for Jamaican Beef Pattie Sauce is a new twist on an old-fashioned burger. Made with coconut milk, shallots, curry and habanero peppers it’s got quite a kick!

Offer up some additional sauce choices and there will be something special for everyone to enjoy at your tailgating burger bar.

Be sure to include all the condiments anyone would need – relish, bacon, ketchup, mustard, mayo, cheese of all kinds, pickles, you name it! Don’t leave anything out.

And if you really want to go all out, offer different bun options. Brioche is a nice departure from the everyday white. But be sure to have those on hand, too.

Have fun with your very own baseball tailgating burger bar!

Springtime is here and my favorite sport is back! I love the artistry of baseball. And watching it is one of the joys of my life. We are what you might call a “baseball family” at my house.

So what do you think of when you think about baseball?

Warm, sunny days, perhaps? The crack of the bat? Childhood memories? Connecting with Dad? Cracker Jacks? Baseball caps? Crowded stadiums? Summer?

So many wonderful things come to mind. The competition of the athletes dedicated to the game is fun to watch. We can’t discount that. But like in all experiences in life, ya gotta give special props to the food. Food makes EVERY experience better. Especially if you’re a spectator. You have to have something to do while you’re watching. And baseball fans really know their food – and they really know what they like.

It’s not JUST about peanuts and popcorn. Although those are important.

The baseball fan expects all-beef hot dogs, for sure. That one is a must. It’s on the top of the baseball fan favorites list. In a stadium, in a parking lot or in your backyard – hot dogs are a perfect fit. They’re so easy to grill up anywhere.

But when you’re baseball tailgating at home (or even tailgating in a parking lot), steaks have to be on the menu. The fans at my house demand them. The smell of the grill going adds excitement to any get-together. You’re in your own home so anything goes. The menu possibilities are endless!

For example, you don’t have to be a Royals fan (but, hey, it helps!) to insist upon Kansas City BBQ. It’s a crowd favorite. And we want to please our crowd. Baseball fans get hungry and they must be fed good food!

What are some baseball fan favorites that come to mind for you? Tell me all about it! (I’m drooling in anticipation.)

Let’s say you were forced to create a “Top 3 List of Best Baseball Tailgating Cities.” What locations would you pick?

Well, so much is all in the interpretation. And personal biases happen to get in the way. I know some pretty rabid fans who are passionate about their cities and their teams.

It’s like asking someone to choose the best cut of steak. Everybody has their own ideas of what makes steaks great. And, really, no one is wrong.

So this is a tough task. A lot of thought and preparation went into this (okay, I MAY have gleefully tailgated in these locations before – among others – so I’ve got first-hand experience to draw from). But here are MY picks for the best baseball tailgating cities. You tell me yours!

1. HAS to be Kansas City. I mean, the Royals. Kauffman Stadium. World Series. Kansas City BBQ. Enough said, really. Great baseball, great location, great food. What other ingredients do we need for an amazing tailgating experience? Can’t think of one.
2. Gorgeous scenery. Laid-back, friendly atmosphere. Mountains. Beer! You have to include the Mile High City on your checklist. The stadium is right in the middle of beautiful downtown. And it’s all so walkable. Yeah, Denver is a fabulous place to tailgate.
3. Arlington, Texas. The Rangers seem to give everybody a run for their money lately so the baseball is exciting. And Texans know their beef so you know the grilling is going to be top-notch and the weather is great – even at the beginning of baseball season when the rest of the country is thawing out. Plus, this is a must-see ballpark.

Okay, so those are my top three. I KNOW I will have some naysayers. So, tell me, what are YOUR top three best baseball tailgating cities and why?

Remember, there are NO wrong answers.