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Tailgating with flair

Fancy Grill-n-Chill lets fans party hearty
By Jeff Smith, Rocky Mountain News September 4, 2006
Ken Castaneda, of Thornton, says people are always asking him where he bought his Grilln-Chill tailgating setup. The unit includes a good-sized grill, icebox, stereo, CD player, flagpole and its own taillights. It hitches right onto Castaneda's red Cherokee four-wheel drive.

Marc Piscotty News

"It hooks right up and I just tow it with me. It's got everything we need," said Castaneda, his face painted orange and blue, as he and a group of friends enjoyed a Broncos tailgate party of hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled corn on the cob before the recent pre-season game against Houston at Invesco Field at Mile High. It's football season, which means it's time to tailgate. And we're not talking about a sandwich and a bag of chips. We're talking about pulling up to the stadium hours - or maybe days - before kickoff. We're talking about a pre-game party that includes grilling with hot and cold beverages. Maybe throw in a recliner and a television to watch those games with early kickoffs. We're talking about having what it takes to feed an army of fans, or just friends and family. We're talking high-tech tailgating and being the toast of the parking lot. Castaneda said his group usually includes 10 to 12 friends, and his cousin, Jesse, does the cooking.
It's football season, which means it's time to tailgate. Season ticket holder Ken Castaneda, 39, of Thornton, tailgates with his cousin Jesse Castaneda, of Brighton, not pictured, outside of Invesco Field on Sunday before the Broncos' pre-season game against the Houston Texans. The two bring the Grill-n-Chill to every game. STORY TOOLS Email this story | Print MORE STORIES Science shows stores how shoppers shop Proctor: Competition could turn down cost of new TVs That's cool!, October 2 Travel shell game My Cyberlife, October 2 Why go in person when you can meet via plasma Site-seeing, October 2 Top-selling software, October 2 Computer telecom best-sellers, October 2 Libraries boost Internet access but can't keep up Accessibility computes
On Aug. 27, it was standard fare, but during the regular season, Jesse cooks Italian sausages, and Philly cheese steaks made the menu last year when the Philadelphia Eagles came to town. Coors, however, is the constant beverage of choice - Castaneda works there as a power plant operator.
The cooler is big enough to hold several cases of beer, Castaneda said, and "I love the stereo. It runs off a 12-volt battery." On occasion, he also will bring his DirecTV satellite dish to catch earlier NFL games on television. Castaneda found the Grill-n-Chill at Sam's Club in Thornton about three years ago. It initially retailed for $2,200 (a unit now starts at about $2,500), then was marked down to $1,800. Then a friend spotted it for $400, and Castaneda snatched it up. "That was a steal." These days, there are some bigger and better units on the market, "but they're a lot of bucks," Castaneda said.

Tailgate must-haves

Land mobile satellite TV: TracVision from KVH is a satellite-TV antenna system for recreational vehicles, motor coaches and even smaller vehicles - meaning you can catch action from other games while enjoying your pre-game party. The company also offers an Internet service. www.kvh.com, prices vary depending on system A tailgating blender: OK, so it's not exactly high-tech - you provide the power by cranking the handle - but this blender is perfect for tailgating, so we couldn't resist. The GSI Vortex Blender has a two-speed gear system, and the blades spin up to 7,000 rpm. You can chop ice, mix drinks, make salsa - all while the blender is secured to the tailgate with a "C" clamp. There's even a 1-ounce shot cap in the lid for easy measuring. www.llbean.com, $59 Headphones: These Skullcandy Proletariat NC headphones won a design and engineering showcase award at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show. The Proletariat NC cancels noises around the user and also incorporates technology that allows the user to listen to the broadcast of the game (or just music) without surrounding noise. You can also hook them up to your cell phone to take incoming calls hands-free and never miss a play. www.amazon.com, $75.40 A breathalyzer: There's a chance you might have a drink or two at the game. If so, you might want to use the Alcohawk ABI (alcohol breath indicator) Digital Breathalyzer if you're driving home from the game. It uses a highly selective semiconductor sensor to provide reliable accuracy from 0.00 to 0.40 percent blood alcohol content. The three digit LED displays the exact BAC value, not just a range. It's lightweight and portable, just slightly bigger than a deck of cards. www.breathalyzer.net, $99.99Darrell Proctor, Rocky Mountain News

Grilling in style

Cooks BBQ Kitchen, www.cookind.com, $3,546 This unit is said to "take up to two minutes to unfold, while the more experienced user will set it up in just under a minute." Shoot, to have this in the back of the truck, we'd spend four or five minutes setting up. The kitchen includes a 90,000 BTU propane stove, grill and griddle with three heavy-duty burners, a 600-watt microwave oven, a thermoelectric mini-fridge, a stainless steel kitchen sink, and counter space with a cutting-board extension. It comes in a self-contained box that rolls into the pickup bed (minimum 4-foot clearance) like a standard tool box. The kitchen then can be rolled to the tailgate and unfolded when ready to
use. It also can be unloaded from the truck bed and set up with its docking station, creating a portable island kitchen. Its storage compartments have dry storage technology to protect contents from getting wet and a locking silverware drawer that keeps utensils organized. There's a fluorescent light to keep things illuminated for night games. The kitchen uses a standard 110V source or a generator (minimum 1,500 watt) for power, with additional surge-protected outlets enclosed in the rear access panel. Coastal Hoss Grill, www.allrecipeshopping.com, www.cooking.com, $1,025 This grill is made specifically for sports fans, an oversized model that can handle large cookouts but still be carried easily. It has a 525-square-inch cooking surface and can be used for grilling, roasting, steaming, smoking and baking. Freedom Grill, www.mytailgate.com, www.freedomgrill.com, $799 This grill attaches to the back of any vehicle with a standard 2-inch receiver hitch and accepts a 20-pound propane tank. The mounting system allows the grill to be locked in place for transport and then swung out 180 degrees for grilling, allowing easy access to the cargo space while keeping the grill at a safe distance from the vehicle. When you're ready to head into the stadium, swing the arm assembly shut, and the transport lock keeps the grill safe on the back of your vehicle. Its dual stainless steel burners put out 30,000 BTUs. Hummer H2 Grill, www.sportys.com, $260 This grill has a built-in folding stand and side tables, with 286 square inches of cooking area. It can be used with either 1-pound bottles of propane or a 5-gallon tank, and it produces 8,300 BTUs.
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