I like tailgating. You like tailgating. Everybody likes tailgating!

So, besides the steaks, what are the funnest parts of tailgating? (For our purposes here, “funnest” is, indeed, a word.)

Picture this: You’re in the parking lot of your home stadium. Your best buddy is manning the steak on the grill (he’s got all types of steak from strips to filets to ribeyes), the tent man got there early to pick a primo spot and set up the shade, a group is playing cornhole, another is flipping cups, the DJ has the perfect game-time music blasting and your truck is providing the perfect seating for all the festivities.

This is shaping up to be the best tailgate ever. It’s a tradition that has some murky beginnings – no one really knows for sure where and when it started. But tailgating has swept the country over the years and we’re all getting in on the fun.

So where is it the funnest? (See? I did it again.) Well, inthenation.com says the top 5 best cities for NFL tailgating today are:

1. Baltimore
2. Denver
3. Houston
4. San Diego
5. Cincinnati

And, as you can see from this list, it doesn’t even matter how good the teams are. Sorry, Chargers. It’s all about the food and party. Sweet!

So, no matter the outcome of the game, your goal is to win the pre-party. And win it, you will!

That same site says that there are an estimated 50 million tailgaters in the U.S. Now that’s a lot of burgers! And up to $12 billion is spent on the revelry every year. I mean, what a huge industry.

Plus, up to 35% of those tailgaters are so dedicated to the art of the tailgate that they don’t even set foot inside the stadium. So it makes perfect sense that that party in the parking lot better be a good one!

What are your favorite tailgating traditions?

What do you like to eat when you’re tailgating?

Are you the quick and easy type? Steakburgers all around with chips and condiments and beverages.

Or do you like to go crazy with something a bit more time-intensive like, say, Kansas City strip steak? Or filet mignon?

I’m cool with that. And I’ll bet your friends are, too.

Maybe pair those steaks with sides that will knock their socks off like gourmet mashed potatoes or asparagus or twice-baked potatoes?

Either way, I’m game. (No pun intended. Okay, the pun WAS intended.)

Sometimes you just want to whip up something you know will be tasty and will please just about everybody – in a short amount of time.

Enter burgers.

But other times, you want to experiment. Play around with your food. Try new things. Mix it up a bit.

That’s when you break out the steaks and make it a MEAL!

Who says your tailgate party can’t be gourmet at the same time? There are no rules here, except that the food must be delicious.

And, believe me, you’ll get no complaints either way. It’s just a matter of how you’re feeling that day.

Are you feeling burgerish or steakified?

Maybe it depends on the game. A pretty routine game that your team is sure to win perhaps calls for some good old-fashioned burgers.

But an important rivalry? Or a playoff game? That might necessitate you pulling out all the stops. Bring on the filets, the strip steaks, the T-bones, the ribeyes.

Your team needs you – and you need to be fueled properly.

So, do you take tailgating as seriously as me? Is there a lot of thought put into your menu or do you just grill it and go?

Whichever method you choose, I think we’re on the same team – TEAM TAILGATE!

We all know that baseball season is just another excuse to tailgate. And that makes me so, so happy!

Watching America’s pastime while eating a steakburger is pure heaven for me. And gathering friends to tailgate together makes it that much sweeter.

Since the weather is starting to warm up, we like to take it outside and throw some steaks on the grill. And burgers, too!

A really nice twist is some delicious sirloin steak sandwiches. Sandwiches are always a hit. But put some steaks inside there and you’ve got fans for life!

What are your favorite baseball tailgating treats?