Ellington

Writer: Merrell McGinness

This football season, rethink the term “field to table.” As many Americans demand more from their dinner plates, it’s high time the tailgate table received some attention too. This year, don’t settle for third-string cuisine such as pre-pattied burgers or soggy bean dip. Because even though you can’t control what happens on the field, you can create a winning season at the table. We’ve scouted the following items to help you score a touchdown for taste buds everywhere.

Salmon burger

from Greenlife Grocery

301 Manufacturer’s Road, 423-702-7300

If it just isn’t game day without a grill, try cooking a different sort of burger this year. Greenlife’s pre-made salmon patties feature ground sockeye salmon mixed with salt, pepper, egg, bread crumbs, onions and lemon juice. You’ll want to wrap them in foil before they hit the grill, but it’s worth the extra step to add this talented new player to your tailgate roster.

$12.99 per pound for quarter pound patties

Jalapeno Cole Slaw

from Taco Mamacita

109 North Market Street

423-648-6262

As the competition heats up, so should your slaw. Made with a blend of green and purple cabbage, yellow corn and cilantro, this tailgate staple is kicked up a notch with diced, pickled jalapenos and a mayo dressing laced with green Tabasco, garlic and black pepper. Usually a sideline item on Taco Mamacita’s menu, you’ll want to make it a starter for the big day. Allow a few hours warning when ordering in bulk.

$6.99 per pint (serves four)

Lobster and Shrimp

Mac n’ Cheese

from Bluewater Grille

224 Broad Street, 423-266-4200

Chef Bill Heckler tasted more than 20 cheeses before finding the perfect match with lobster. Turns out, it’s havarti. And when this buttery cheese is blended into a cream sauce, it becomes the quarterback of the dish, holding together other players like lobster and shrimp, farfalle pasta and freshly grated parmesan. So forget “dead ball” macaroni that’s rubbery or gritty, and enjoy a version that’s a true champion.

$21.95 for dinner-sized portion (serves two)

Chicken and Steak Tacos from Taco Roc

6960 Lee Highway,

423-653-1001

Two words: homemade tortillas. These authentic Mexican tacos are sure to become the first round draft pick of your pre-game dining. Owner Mario Leal and his two sisters make them from scratch, using a blend of secret spices for the meat and grilled vegetables, which are topped with mozzarella cheese and wrapped in two corn tortillas. Each player determines his or her own heat with a variety of homemade salsas.

$ 1.95 each

Fried Chicken

from Southern Star

1300 Broad Street, 423-267-8899

Fried chicken and football can be a winning combination, but you’ll have to ditch the drive-thru first. Homemade from the owner’s family recipe, this fresh and simple version is salted and iced for 24 hours, rolled in flour, pepper and salt, then deep fried to perfection. But this golden bird isn’t a staple on Southern Star’s menu, so allow at least 24 hours notice when ordering from the downtown or Signal Mountain location.

$52.50 for 15 people

Chips and Salsa

from Taco Roc

6960 Lee Highw ay

423-653-1001

One bite of these homemade tortilla chips, and you’ll never want to eat them from a plastic bag again. Made fresh every 20 minutes, these thicker than usual chips have the bulk to stand up to any dip. But their perfect pairing is the homemade salsa that accompanies them. Recruit some for your next gathering and cheering and clapping will most likely ensue.

$1.50 per serving (serves 2)

Kobe beef sliders from Blacksmith’s Bistro and Bar

3914 St. Elmo Avenue, 423-702-5461

While bigger is usually better, these bite-sized burgers can tackle even the manliest taste buds. Their bold flavor starts with American Kobe beef from a Texas ranch. After being seared on the griddle, the tender beef is topped with ketchup, Dijon mustard, and gherkin pickles then sandwiched between a toasted Niedlov’s bun. Since every two-ounce patty is made by hand, allow 48 hours notice for your order.

$60 for 30 sliders

Smoked chicken wings

from Sing It or Wing It

412 Market Street, 423-757-9464

It’s almost sacrilegious to not have chicken wings at a football game. For variety, try these smoked versions from Sing It or Wing It, which are rubbed with a special blend of spices, smoked for four hours, then finished on the grill. Fans can opt for a mild, sauce-free version or go wild with “Hurts So Good” medium or “Bring on the Pain” hot.

$20.99 for 30 wings

Rumballs

from Rembrandt’s

Coffee House

204 High Street, 423-265-5033

Forget rum and coke…this adult-only dessert is a much more decadent way to enjoy football’s favorite liquor. For chocolate fans, scraps from Rembrandt’s Buttercream, Sonata and Decadence cakes are mixed together, soaked in rum and chocolate, and rolled in chocolate vermicelli sprinkles. For team coconut, the unused edges of the Italian cream cake – which is a pecan vanilla cake with coconut and cream cheese icing – are soaked in rum and rolled in candied coconut.

$1.75 each