How Food Network Stars Tailgate

Discover what Food Network chefs consider their most impressive game-day culinary feat then judge for yourself who deserves the bragging rights.
eddie jackson

Photo by: Eddy Chen ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Eddy Chen, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Tailgate or home-gate: Which is better? In the October issue of Food Network Magazine, we learned that Guy Fieri, Aarón Sánchez  and former NFL player Eddie Jackson chose the parking-lot party. So did Sunny Anderson (who would rather be at the MetLife Stadium sipping a coffee spiked with a shot of whiskey). But most Food Network chefs prefer to be at home yelling at the TV during the game.

Read below to learn what they consider their most impressive game-day culinary feat then judge for yourself who deserves the bragging rights. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or more like Katie Lee, who admits she’s too busy stuffing her face with nachos to yell at anyone, you’ll find inspiration for your Sunday spread.

Eddie Jackson
  • Root For: My alma mater’s Arkansas Razorbacks
  • Against: Any other SEC school
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: 50 slabs of ribs
  • Signature Dish: My Spicy Rum Chicken Wings are always a big hit.
katie lee

Shot_01_194.tif

Photo by: David A. Land

David A. Land

Katie Lee
  • Root For: The home team
  • Root Against: Whoever the opponent is
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: My buddy and I set up two outdoor deep fryers so we could simultaneously fry turkeys.
  • Signature Dish: Buffalo chicken quesadillas, nachos, hoagies, chili-cheese dip
jeff mauro

Photo by: 2013 Anna Knott

2013 Anna Knott

Jeff Mauro
  • Root For: Chicago Bears
  • Against: Green Bay Packers.
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: 20 racks of baby back ribs
  • Signature Dish: Sausages with a sideof sausages! Brats, jumbo Polish sausages, Italian sausages
trisha yearwood

Lakeside Campout

Photo by: Ray Kachatorian ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Ray Kachatorian, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Trisha Yearwood
guy fieri

Photo by: Jeremiah Alley ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Jeremiah Alley, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Guy Fieri
  • Root For: Oakland Raiders
  • Against: Anyone playing against them
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: Someone once brought a 125-poundwhole hog.
  • Signature Dish: Wings (brined, dry-rubbed, roasted and fried with a cornucopia of sauces), jambalaya in a big pot — enough to feed 100 people
michael symon

110918_03_039.tif

Photo by: David A. Land

David A. Land

Michael Symon
  • Root For: Cleveland Browns
  • Root Against: Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: Rotisserie-style chicken hung on a string to cook over a grill
  • Signature Dish: Smoked pork butt, brisket, Polish boys (kielbasa sandwich topped with fries, coleslaw and barbecue sauce)
sunny anderson
Sunny Anderson
  • Root For: New York Giants
  • Against: The world
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: Lobster tails. Any time you bring the surf to the turf, it’s a celebration!
  • Signature Dish: Any of my chili recipes and a sick toppings bar
aaron sanchez

Photo by: David Lang ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

David Lang, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Aarón Sánchez
  • Root For: New Orleans Saints
  • Against: Carolina Panthers
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: Making churros in a FryDaddy
  • Signature Dish: Carne asada and whole smoked pork shoulder for tacos with salsa and guacamole
marc murphy

Photo by: Heidi Gutman ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Heidi Gutman, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Marc Murphy
  • Root For: My son is a New York Giants fan, so we root for them.
  • Against: We are not a Jets household.
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: A 20-pound pig on my grill’s rotisserie
  • Signature Dish: Lobster-stuffed twice-baked potatoes or deviled eggs with fried oysters
Geoffrey Zakarian

CQ_Chopped_EP1403_035.jpg

©2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Root For: Tiger Woods
  • Against: Anyone else
  • Most-Impressive Game-Day Feat: An 8-foot hoagie
  • Signature Dish: Charcuterie and anything grilled (served with rosé)

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