The winter tailgate started out of necessity this winter, but has become its own reason for heading out to the ski hills. Some of our friends and family have turned "lunch in the parking lot" into a full après-ski experience, complete with fire pits, heated seats, food, drinks, and of course, tea.
In a winter with no indoor gathering and many days working from home, these winter tailgates have become a highlight, and we hope it's a trend that will stick around long after the pandemic is over!
We collected the best tips and tricks from our most ardent winter tailgate hosting friends to share with you.
Set Up Essentials
- Fire in a Can- its impossible to sit outside in the winter and be comfortable without snuggling next to a fire. There are many propane fire pits on the market. Don't forget to bring the propane!
- Camping Chairs- Jolene a heated chair which is fabulous, but takes up a lot of room in our vehicle, something that folds smaller is great too, just make sure its comfortable.
- Blankets- Perfect to put on top of the chairs to keep the chill out, or for bundling up
- Folding Table- Having a folding table or two makes it much easier to cook and store food and drinks off the ground.
- BBQ or Stove-Top- Hot food and drinks pair perfectly with fresh air and activity, and help you warm up from the winter cold.
- Large Cooler or Crate- for carrying food and drinks.
Kitchen Items to Bring Along
We have a large plastic bin to keep all these items on hand and easy to carry:
- Bbq lighter
- Roll of paper towel
- Plates
- Spoons and forks
- Sharp knife
- Large serving spoon
- Spatula
- Travel mugs
- Tea selection
- Jug of water for making tea, or large thermos of hot water
Feeling Extra?
You may consider bringing the following:- A large carpet or floor mat
- A large patio umbrella or instant canopy
- Table cloth
- Portable speakers
Tasty Menu Options
- Shrimp tacos- Shrimp cooked on BBQ, soft taco shells stacked and wrapped in tinfoil heated on BBQ, sliced lime wedges, coleslaw made in advance and brought in tupperware, hotsauce
- Pulled pork buns with coleslaw
- Hamburgers
- Smokies (a great idea to throw in a couple extra packs in your cooler as needed)
- BBQ Chicken
- Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Great Snacks
- Veggies and dip
- Chips and salsa
- Chocolate
- Cookies
Don't Forget Your Tea
- Any of our Brewster Teahouse tea bags are super convenient for making tea outside.
- Wild Blueberry Rooibos is one of our favourites as a caffeine-free and sweet option. Alpine Peppermint is also extra refreshing when you're breathing in crisp mountain air!
- You can also use the Tea Brew tea filters to brew any of your favourite loose leaf tea flavours on the go
- If you have a stove, we recommend boiling the water at the hill so your tea is nice and hot, but you can also bring it along in a thermos so it's ready any time
