Take it easy and let ATX favorites El Chile, Phonatic, Easy Tiger, Shiner Smokehouse Sausage, Saint Arnold’s beer and NadaMoo! prepare your tailgate cuisine for you.
By Emily Watkins
Football, an official season in the South, is soon to begin. Whether you’re a fantasy football, NFL or NCAA fan, watch parties are bound to occur during the fall months. To ease your hosting worries, we offer a few suggestions below for dishes to serve during a watch party or tailgate that can be found throughout town. We’ve got the menu that will take you through all four quarters and then some.
Warm Up: During the pre-game speculation, warm up the crowd with El Chile’s roasted-jalapeño salsa and chips. With sizzling taste buds, guests will be ready to smack talk the competition and holler for their faves.
First Quarter: When the whistle blows for kickoff, it’s time to start popping caps. Since it’s pretty much official-drink-of-football season, keep the fridge stocked with Texas beers from St. Arnold to (512) IPA.
Second Quarter: As points add up on the board and penalty flags soar, add some heat to your shindig by grilling up some Shiner Smokehouse Sausage. From their signature beer brat to spicy jalapeño cheddar, there will be nothing for the refs to fight about.
Half Time: While the game is on pause, feed the troops with pork bahn mi sliders from Phonatic (available to go and pre-order). Made with cucumber, pickled carrots, jalapeño, daikon and cilantro to help freshen up the brisket and steamed Peking bun, these tasty bundles will have even the most seasoned veteran going back to their playbook.
Third Quarter: With the game picking back up, there’s no time to pay attention to what fork goes where. The homemade beer cheese and pretzels from Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden will have everyone chomping down on crunchy, creamy snacks instead of chomping down on their nails during an intense play.
Fourth Quarter: When tensions are at an all-time high, serve any NadaMoo! flavor ice cream to cool off heated football fans. Add some cookie crumbles or some sliced fruit for those who need to add some sweet to their sour feelings toward the refs.
With all these dishes located in Austin, you can divide up the quarters among your friends and treat the watch party like a potluck. No muss, no fuss.
