Love to tailgate? So do South Carolinians – so much so, they tailgate year round! From football to steeplechase to polo – you are invited to pack your picnic hamper and party like a Sandlapper!
Football
Most everyone enjoys the warm days and cool crisp evenings that football season brings – perfect for firing up the grill, gathering with family and friends and cheering on your favorite team. You can stick with your tried and true menus items – hamburgers, brats, or ribs – but why not try something different? Ricky Mollohan, owner of Mr. Friendly’s in Columbia, shares his favorite tailgate recipe for
Marinated Pork Chop Sandwiches topped with Blue Cheese Slaw and
potato salad on the side – yum!
If you’d like to have a different tailgate experience, join in the fun of a steeplechase event. At a steeplechase, Thoroughbreds race at 35 mph and jump hurdles nearly 5 feet high. The Colonial Cup is the grand finale of the circuit – deciding all of the national titles. But it is decidedly a family event with Jack Russell Terrier Trials, Mule/Horse demonstrations, and boutique shopping.
Fall days might turn a little chilly, so Sara Moulton’s recipe for
Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Chorizo is a perfect pick. Pack it in a thermos and it will stay hot until you are ready to serve.
With the vernal equinox, tailgating goes upscale. Amid a parade of spring fashion, the fine linens, candelabras, china, silver and flowers are carted to the Springdale Race Course in Camden, for the largest steeplechase event in America – The Carolina Cup. This event has been fondly dubbed South Carolina’s largest outdoor cocktail party and it’s considered to be the social event of the year. Here – lovely little bites of country ham sandwiches, pickled shrimp, and champagne form the perfect springtime tailgate menu.
Polo
According to the South Carolina Encyclopedia “polo has been played in South Carolina nearly as long as it has existed in the United States.” The first match was played in Aiken, which has remained the epicenter for the sport. Unlike most sporting events, polo is not just a spectator sport. Guests are invited to “stomp the divots” during halftime – wandering up and down the field stomping down the torn up turf. It’s a great way to meet people and work off those tailgating calories!
In 2008, ESPN 2 will air the Triple Crown of Polo where the third leg will be held at the New Bridge Polo and Country Club in Aiken, SC September 28 through October 12
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Did You Know? Over 30 professional polo players make Aiken, SC their home.
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Whether you have a full blown tailgating rig, or prefer to throw down a blanket for a picnic, South Carolina is ready to make new friends and welcome old friends – come join us!