Cats in Motown

First, something must be said for what Jay Wright has done on the main line. He took over a program that was in a lot of trouble and did what he had to do to bring in big players and put the Nova name back on the map. From all of us here at Tailgate Philly we would like to wish the best of luck to them in the Final Four and congratulations on an already amazing season.

If you are heading to Detriot for the weekend, bring warm clothes and tailgating material. It is going to be very cold and windy outside of Ford Field. As of now, it does not look like it is going to rain which is a plus. Below, you will find a recipe for your enjoying pleasure from the Washington Post.

Jimmy the B's Wildcat Barbecue Spice Rub

Summary:
This rub tastes better than store-bought brands we've tried. Use it with BBQ Quesadillas With Jay's Quick and Easy Barbecue Sauce.
Makes about 1/4 cup

Ingredients:
3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted*
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted*
2 1/2 pieces dried chipotle peppers, toasted*, broken into pieces, seeds removed
2 teaspoons diced sun-dried tomatoes, not packed in oil (optional)
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns

Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a food processor or spice grinder and pulse until the spices are well blended. (Remove the large pieces of sun-dried tomatoes, if using.) Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
To toast the cumin and coriander seeds:
*Note: To toast the cumin and coriander seeds, place a small skillet over medium heat. Add the seeds (do this in separate batches) and toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until the spices are fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cool completely. To toast the dried chili peppers, place them in a dry skillet over moderate heat for 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully so they don't burn.

If you are headed out to Detriot, send us or post your stories when your back. Have a blast and Go Cats!!!

Photo from the AP

Opening Day and the Final Four

What a great weekend we have coming up. Saturday to Monday is Final Four weekend in Motown with Phillys own Villanova Wildcats taking part in the action and Sunday night the defending World Phucking Champion Phillies will start their season.

This week we are going to look at both events and their possible tailgates. Tuesday we will focus of the Final Four, Wednesday we will cover Opening Day, and Thursday we will have last minute suggestions as we look at the weekend weather.


Check back with us tomorrow and get ready for a great 3 days.


Photo from DailyLife

Game Preview

Today, we are going to do something that we do not normally do and that is take a look at the game that a lot of our readers are attending tonight. The Villanova Wildcats will be playing the Duke Blue Devils. This is a game between two very historic teams. Both have won national titles and both always seen to be near the top in the national rankings.

We are picking Nova and not because they are a Philadelphia team or because some of us here have them in our Final Four in our brackets, but because of the match ups. It is simple, SIZE WINS and Villanova has it and Duke does not. It should be a great game.
The game is on CBS tonight at 10PM. Enjoy!


Our prediction - Nova 85 Duke 77

Sweet 16 Tailgates

For those of you headed up to Boston to cheer on the Villanova Wildcats on their quest for the Final Four, here are some tips for you to remember.

• Bring some warm clothes, Boston is always colder than Philadelphia


• If you want to tailgate, get prepared there. Unless you are driving to Boston, then go all out.


• As far as food and drinks for your tailgate, do not take anything that will need heat to enjoy. Keeping it simple will ensure that you have the best time with the least amount of supplies.

If you are headed up to Boston or just hanging in Philly, remember the game is set to tip at 10PM on Thursday. Good luck Villanova!


For those of you lucky enough to go, tell us your stories about your trip!

Tailgating Stories by You the Readers

This weeks tailgating story was sent to us by Jack from Newtown.

Last Thursday my Dad and I took off of work and headed down the the Wachoiva Center for the opening rounds of the March Madness tournament. It is something I will never forget. Not because we are both alumni of Villanova but because of what we did between the two sessions of games.

We made an old fashion Irish tailgate. Using most of the suggestions provided here, we had such a great time and it really is something that I will never forget. Thanks for everything and we are looking forward to our trip to Boston this weekend for the Sweet 16.

Send us your stories and we will post the most interesting ones.

Tailgating Recipe of the Week

This week's recipe comes from Heinz Field Red Zone

Kansas City Barbecued Ribs

Ingredients:
4 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 large onions - thinly sliced
1 tbsp. dried thyme
1 cup bourbon
2 cups Heinz Hickory Smoked Barbecue Sauce
4 baby back racks, cut into halves

Directions:

For sauce: In the vegetable oil, sauté the onions until they begin to soften. Add the thyme and the Bourbon and simmer until the mixture is reduced to a glaze. Mix in the Heinz Hickory Smoked Barbecue sauce and bring to a boil.
Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Roast them in a 350-degree oven on a rack. Do not cover the ribs. Turn them once and cook them until they are tender and cooked through.
When ready to serve - preheat your dacor grill to a medium high heat. Put the rib rack halves on the grill and brush them with the barbecue sauce. Grill them until they are well glazed and browned. Serve the remaining sauce along side of the ribs.

Photo from BBQ Ribs

March Madness Tailgating Alternative

If you are going to be in South Philly for the games this weekend and are not tailgating, we are going to suggest going to Chickies and Petes. Chickies and Petes is the best sports bar in Philadelphia, according to many publications and media outlets. It is located on Packer Ave, minutes from all of the sports complexes.

They are known for their Crab Fries, and trust us, they are amazing. Have a great time at the games. Let us know about your experiences.

Weather for March Madness

It looks like it may rain on Thursday. Dont let that spoil your tailgate! It is going to be in the 50's which means that it will not be to hot or to cold so all you will need to do is get a tarp from any tailgate supplies stores from our suggests list.

Saturday is going to be great, so enjoy! Have fun at the games, let us know what happens if you are attending. Good luck to everyone in their brackets.

Food and Drinks for March Madness

If you are attending the opening rounds at the Wachoiva Center on Thursday and Saturday, here are some suggestions to make your tailgate better.

In honor of the Villanova Wildcats...

Food:

Wildcat Carmel Brownies

Ingredients:
Package German Chocolate Cake Mix

1/2 container Carmel Fruit Dip (warm in microwave, so it’s pourable)

3/4 c. melted butter or margarine

1/3 c. evaporated milk, undiluted1 c. chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips (optional)1 c. chopped nuts (optional) Combine dry cake mix, butter, milk, and nuts. Stir by hand until dough holds together. Press one half of dough into a 9×13″ greased & floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for six minutes. Remove from oven and let set a minute or two.

Steps:

Pour/spread on Carmel fruit dip, make sure it’s pretty soft, or if you try to spread it will tear up your brownies. Sprinkle chocolate chips over Carmel. Put remaining cake batter over the top of Carmel and chocolate chips.

Tip:

I find the best way to do this is to take an egg-sized ball of batter- it sets up really fast- in my hand and flatten it like I’m making a hamburger and place it on top of Carmel/chips. Continue until you use all of the batter-there will be small spaces between batter.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes more. It may appear that it is not thoroughly cooked, but once it cools, it will be soft and chewy. Cut into small squares.

In honor of St. Pattys Day...

Drinks:

The Shamrocker

Ingredients:

2 oz Three Olives® vodka Raspberry

1/2 oz melon liqueur

1/2 oz triple sec

1 splash cranberry juice

1 splash orange juice

Steps:

Mix with ice, and garnish with lime

Recipe from Tailgating Recipes and Drinks Mixer

Photos from Google

NCAA Touney Week

Well, its finally here. First, let us give a congrats to the Villanova Wildcats and the Temple Owls for getting to the big dance. The Wildcats had a great season earning an at large bid in a very talented Big East conference. The Owls did it the old fashion way winning three games in three days to win the Atlantic 10 title, their second in as many years.

Stay tuned all week as we will lead you up to the opening rounds, some games taking place here at the Wachovia Center.

Tuesday we will have some food and drink suggestions to make your tailgate amazing.

Wednesday we will look at the weather for the upcoming three or four days and make sure it wont get in the way of your tailgate.

Finally, Thursday, we will look at places to attend before, after, or between games at the Wachoiva Center if you do not plan on having a tailgate.

Weekend Suggestions

This is a great weekend for college basketball lovers. Everyone needs to head down to Atlantic City for the Atlantic 10 Tourney. Local schools Temple, La Salle, and St. Joes will be fighting for a spot in the finals game Saturday night for a chance to go to the NCAA Tourney. All of the games are held at Boardwalk Hall. Last year Temple beat St. Joes in the finals to advance to the NCAA Tounrey for the first time since 2001. The Tourney tipped off Wednesday but there is still plently more great basketball to be played.

If you want to Tailgate, just find a bunch of college kids playing beer pong on the Boardwalk and join up with them. These games are always fun and memorable. For more information about tickets, directions, and the times of games and who is playing, click here

Tailgate Supplies

This week we are going to take a break from food and look at a great place to get all the supplies you need for a great tailgate. Tailgate Pros is a website that is "Your one stop source for all of your tailgating needs. If you have outdoor party needs you have come to the right place. We have tailgate supplies for the big game at the stadium as well as the family get together in the back yard. The Tailgating Pros have supplies for everyone," according to their website.

Their website allows you to search for items by categories such as BBQ accessories, sunglasses, flags and much more. One of our favorite features about their site is the Featured Product section. They give you a good tip to really improve any tailgate. The site is run by John M., an Eagles fan and a wonderful tailgater. If you have any questions or would like more information about their website, e-mail John at thetailgatingpros@hotmail.com

Pictures provided by John M. and Tailgate Pros

Weekend Suggestions

This weekend, there is a sweet concert at the Electric Factory. The concert, Rockstar Taste of Chaos featuring Thursdays, Sour Years Strong, Bring me the Horizon, Pierce the Veil and Cancer Bats is set to start at 7:00 PM, and the doors open at 6:00PM.

Since you are at the Electric Factory, as most of you know from reading these past post, there is not such room for a tailgate. So, we are going to suggest a restaurant to eat before you head to the concert. Give The Spaghetti Warehouse a shot. It is located on 11th and Spring Garden. There is free parking in the back and the food is not that expensive and not bad either. Let us know how the show is if you are going and what you think of the food.

Photo from Livenation

Tailgating Stories from You the Readers

This was sent to us from Amy who is living in London after being born and raised in Atlanta.

I have been in London for 3 years after being in the states for 22 years. I never went to a sporting event here but attended a few while home. Nothing was as exciting as the Manchester vs Chelsea friendly that I went to. The game was great but before the game was even better.

We ate some really cool food. We ate fish and chips, which is fried fish and french fries along with some good old American beer, Miller Lite. We also had some good veggies and these wonderful cookies that can only be bought in Golders Green. I loved the tailgate and game so much, I may come to some more.

Photo from TopNews

Send us your stories and we will post the most interesting ones.

Personal Reflection

Normally today we would post an update on news that is going on in the tailgate world. However, we can not sit by and just ignore something that happened over the weekend. Brian Dawkins, an Eagles for 13 years, signed with Denver on Saturday. I don't care why he left. Money, contract years, wanted a change, or he felt like he needed to go, the bottom line is the Eagles should be ashamed of themselves.





I have been an Eagles fan my entire life but now I don't know. How do you let your heart and soul just get up and leave? The Eagles should have given him anything short of renaming the stadium after him to keep him here. There is no use crying over spilled milk, but I can say without question that part of me wants Dawkins to win a Superbowl before the Eagles to prove a point. WIP is trying to get everyone who will be at the Eagles first regular season game to wear a Dawkins jersey and I am all for that. Do it. Good luck Brain, we love you!

Let us know what you think.

Tailgate Recipe of the Week

This weeks recipe comes from AOL Food



Grilled Chicken Under Bricks



INGREDIENTS:
2 large, whole, boneless, skinless chicken breasts (12 to 16 ounces each) or 4 half breasts (each 6 to 8 ounces)
1 teaspoon Coarse Salt
1 teaspoon Cracked Black Peppercorns
1/2 t teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon Garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Fresh Rosemary, chopped
Juice of 1 Lemon
1/4 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
4 bricks Each Wrapped in Aluminum Foil
Oak chunks for building the fire, or 2 cups wood chips (preferably oak), soaked for 1 hour in cold water to cover, then drained






COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:
If using whole breasts, cut each in half. Trim any sinews or excess fat off the chicken breasts and discard. Rinse the breasts under cold running water, then drain and blot dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the breasts on both sides with the salt, cracked black pepper, and hot red pepper flakes. Sprinkle the breasts with the garlic and rosemary, patting them on with your fingers. Arrange the breasts in a non-reactive baking dish. Pour the lemon juice and oil over them and let marinate in the refrigerator, covered, for 30 minutes to 1 hour, turning several times.

Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. In the best of all worlds, you’d build your fire with oak chunks. Alternatively, use gas or charcoal, plus soaked wood chips for smoke. If using a gas grill, place all the wood chips in the smoker box or in a smoker pouch and preheat until you see smoke.

When ready to cook, brush and oil the grill grate. If using a charcoal grill, toss the wood chips on the coals. Arrange the chicken breasts on the hot grate, all facing the same direction, at a 45 degree angle to the bars of the grate. Place a brick on top of each. Grill the breasts until cooked, 4 to 6 minutes per side, rotating the breasts 90 degrees after 2 minutes on each side to create an attractive cross-hatch of the grill marks. To test for doneness, poke a breast in the thickest part with your finger. It should feel firm to the touch. Transfer the breasts to plates or a platter and serve at once.

Photo from Eating Well