Tailgate! The San Diego Holiday Bowl

mmm-yoso is not on vacation.  Cathy is blogging away and Kirk is taking a day off.  You checked in, so stay and read for awhile.

Hello again.  Football.  College football.  Bowl games. Yes, its that time of year.  Ten years ago there were only 18 Official Bowl games, now there are 32.  The Holiday Bowl is played here in San Diego. 

The Mister and I have gone to every Holiday Bowl  since 1984....we meet with "100 of our closest friends"and have a feast in the parking lot before the game.  One couple smokes a turkey, looking for a 30 pounder every year.  We don't care who is playing.  We eat, go in and watch the game, then come back out and fire up the burners, have hot cider, turkey soup, Irish coffee and leftovers and watch the parking lot empty.  Yes, we go for the food.

Our little group, comprised of  some great people from all over the world: Australians, Canadians, Japanese, plus a few good Lions, Optimists, Rotarians, Aggies, Bears and long time friends, gets together, each bringing enough food for themselves, plus a little more to share, in our "miracle" potluck feast.

So, yesterday we started cooking: Six pounds of bread dough to make rolls:

Which, when finished, were wonderfully browned and soft, light and just a tad crispy on the top:

Then, we have about 9 pounds of cross rib roast, 3 pounds of tri-tip and 7 pounds of ribs...

We usually buy small end rib roast, and its usually on sale between Christmas and New Year, but not this year and we kind of need a *lot* of meat...and we can cook roast beef, no matter the cut.  Those 100 'close friends' don't really know our names, but they know that we are the "roast beef people"...and, trust me, all of this beef will be gone.

So, the infamous recipe: garlic, oregano, paprika...made into a paste with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Um, how much you say...well that's 3 pounds of fresh garlic...and a liter of olive oil...and then the rest...to taste.

Oh you should smell my house right now!

You put the paste on the meat, into the oven that had been at 500° and drop the heat to 300° and put a thermometer in and wait for 118° and take the meat out of the oven.  It continues cooking, trust me. We pre-slice and its, you know, medium rare.     

Our seats will have this same view this year.  I'll report back about the rest of the food, later.  Gotta pack up the pick up!

OK...its about 11 p.m. and we are home.  here are a few photos of food from the tailgate.... the infamous 27 pound smoked turkey with rice stuffing and the waay infamous sweet potato casserole

There were 133 of us this year and it seems that everyone brought something, from tangerines from the yard and cucumber salad, lasagna, pizza, Subway sandwiches,  chicken, chips, many-layered dips and desserts galore..to the chili, hot cider and Irish coffee we had while waiting for the parking lot to clear.

Oh, the game was good too and the opening ceremonies, starting with a moment of silence for the military who have died in the war as well as for President Ford was moving.  The flyover of the F-18's after the Star Spangled Banner was exciting and loud.

Halftime was as loud and bright as ever with fireworks and a show put on by local schools and their marching bands and dance teams.

I hope this sort of gave you a small glimpse into what a Southern California tailgate is like.  I need to sleep now!

Comments

[nhbilly]

Intresting rub...I usually do coarse salt and pepper rub with alot of rosemarry...Something new to try thanks!

[cathy]

Your rub sounds good too, Billy...the paste stuff we make is also edible on its own...and some people just dip the bread in it and eat it that way...I am unsure if the cooked rosemary would be the same...but I have this GIANT bush in the backyard and am always looking for new ways to use the rosemary.

[clayfu]

drooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool.

[nhbilly]

WOW talk about FOOOOOOF overload!

[cathy]

I agree, Clayfu
The photos aren't even close to showing how much food was there, Billy. There were ten tables and each was packed with food...

[nhbilly]

oops I forgot to mention olive oil as the glue. The rub I mention is not fully edible, unless you grind up the rosemarry and pepper finely and easy on the salt. But it sure smells good when its in the oven.

[Chubbypanda]

I've always wanted to go tailgating. Now I really *really* want to go tailgating.

- Chubbypanda

[cathy]

Cool CP...just know, its not always as good as ours is..we are kinda experts at it...but I can give lots of tips after years of practice....:)