Tailgaters Go Gourmet
According to the latest Weber Tailgating Study(TM), half of today’s US tailgate grillers are no longer satisfied with standard fare before the big game. An impressive 50 percent of those surveyed report that they consider themselves to be either “gourmet” food grillers or “between a gourmet and a basics” food griller (22 percent and 28 percent, respectively).
While “basics” tailgate grillers spend an average of $441 in groceries per year for their parking lot parties, “gourmet” tailgaters spend an average of $1,001–a whopping 127 percent more. This comes out to an average of $106 per tailgate for the basics group vs. $165 among the gourmets.
When it comes to favorite foods, gourmet grillers rank their favorite four parking lot foods as chicken (43 percent), ribs (39 percent), brats (37 percent), and steak (33 percent) while basics grillers rank their favorite foods as hamburgers (70 percent), brats (45 percent), chicken (42 percent), and hot dogs (42 percent). Also, basics grillers (60 percent) are more likely to mention meat as the food they would like to learn how to grill better compared to gourmet grillers (56 percent). On the flip side, gourmet grillers (51 percent) tend to cite fish and seafood items more than basics grillers (41 percent).
Additionally, gourmet grillers’ tailgates attract more people – they say they host an average of 20 people per party vs. basics grillers saying they host an average of 14. Gourmet tailgate grillers also are more likely to take a full-size grill to cook their feasts at the game (46 percent) compared to basics grillers (24 percent) and those who rank themselves as falling in between the two styles (33 percent).
While the 2010 Weber Tailgating Study revealed that the favorite grilling accessories overall among parking lot cooks remain the same as shown from the last Study in 2008–a set of tongs (90%), a spatula (77%), and a grill brush (70%)–gourmet tailgate grillers today have a higher likelihood of using more specialized accessories. These include skewers (gourmet at 62 percent vs. basics at 40 percent), wood chips (49 percent compared to 30 percent), or a meat thermometer (45 percent vs. 29 percent).
Want to make your Local High School or Lamar football tailgate party a winner? Then check out Webers free tailgating guide here for grilling up some pre-game fun!
About Weber
Weber-Stephen Products Co., headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the world’s premier manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories and other outdoor room products. In 1952, founder George Stephen sparked a backyard revolution with his invention of the Weber® kettle. More than 50 years later, the family-owned company remains the industry leader with its Weber®, Weber® Q(TM), and Ducane® brands. As a leading exporter of grills, Weber brand products are sold worldwide at select home centers, hardware stores, department stores, patio stores, and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT®); Weber’s On The Grill(TM) mobile applications; and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and original Weber recipes at www.weber.com®. (The Weber Grill-Line and Weber Customer Service are closed on Christmas).
