We are talking about the parking lot parties at sporting events and not referring to an annoying and dangerous driving habit! No longer reserved for pre-game celebrations, these food fests continue during and after the games, with some people never setting foot in the stadium. There are tailgaters who actually watch the event in the comfort of their RV and fore go the excitement of the stadium crowd. And why not, sometimes the tailgating parties are better than the games, especially if your team is losing?  Wherever you watch, whatever your sport, you will need some basic supplies for a successful tailgating experience.

Friends and family, food, drinks, a vehicle, and a parking lot at a sporting event are the basic necessities for tailgating. These celebrations are appropriately called tailgating, because they are held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle, however actual tailgates are optional. Foods can range from burgers and soda to caviar and champagne - it doesn't matter what you serve, it just tastes better in the company of friends with a common interest - food, drinks, a sport, and having fun.

First, you need to plan a menu of easy to store and easy to serve foods, drinks, and snacks. We will not dwell on these choices, but rather offer some great ways to transport, serve, and eat these foods and drinks. Always take a little more than you think you need, as you will surely meet some friends to share your fare, plus you will be eating all day, especially if there are delays or overtime involved in your sport.

Second, round up a couple of coolers - one for the food and one for the drinks. Coolers come in all sizes, shapes, and materials. It doesn't matter which one you use, just be certain it keeps foods cold and is easy to transport. We like the coolers on wheels and like them even more when they include complete table service, but we love the ultimate tailgate kit of a cooler, a grill, and BBQ utensils all packed on one wheeled cart. For those times when you decide to hang around someone else's tailgate, an insulated tote does the trick. Throw in some snacks, some drinks and head off to another area of the parking lot.

Then you must decide the best way to store, cool, and transport the beverages. Although commercials would lead one to believe that sports fans only drink beer, this is definitely not the case (pun intended). Beer, wine, cocktails, soda, and coffee all need to be considered as accompaniments to your meals and snacks. For the beer, wine coolers, and sodas you need a cooler to keep them cold, while a six pack tote will allow you to move around the party scene and take your drinks with you. Wine and liquor are much harder to carry around, but there are a variety of carriers that range from a single bottle to a six bottle carrier. Some wine and spirit tote sets even have the glasses and bar accessories packed neatly inside. However, we have found elegant and practical stainless steel wine and martini glasses for tailgating. These glasses won't break if you get too excited and knock them over.  For the coffee lover, the best thing is a thermos and coffee mug set, which is especially nice if you don't like drinking out of Styrofoam. This keeps your coffee hot and can be used for those non-party times... called work.

After you choose your menu, you will need a way to prepare the meats by way of grilling. We highly recommend a propane grill so that you don't have to leave hot coals burning when it's time to go to the game. As far as BBQ utensils, for tailgating purposes, you will need tongs, a fork, and a turner - more can be better, but usually is not necessary. Having these tools in a handy carry case is especially nice for safety and ease of transportation.

Next, you will need to get some seating, as tailgates are either non-existent or uncomfortable to sit on.  Your chairs should be portable, comfortable, and functional - and we have found the ultimate chair that meets all of these requirements. With easy to clean canvas polyester seats and backs, our favorite chairs have attached side tables and a pocket organizer for storage. Whether you choose an aluminum or wooden frame sports chair, these are sturdy enough to hold a 300 pound sports fan and all their food. Should you need extra room to set out food, a portable folding picnic table does the trick and you can use the seats for serving or for sitting.

Finally, eat, drink and enjoy the game or race AND check out our tailgating supplies in our Shop At Clares eBay Store.