Tailgating Times - The Best...

Transformers II opens tomorrow in IMAX and that can only mean one thing...Megan Fox projected on a screen 2 stories tall.  She is the hottest thing in Hollywood right now.  Who can forget this image from the first movie?

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Since a lot of people's favorite Transformer is Bumblebee and because I couldn't find a single cocktail called the Optimus, this week's drink is the Bumblebee Shooter.  It's a layered drink so grab a spoon and a large shot glass.

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Bumblebee Shooter

• 1/2 oz. Bailey's
• 1/2 oz. Kahlua
• 1/2 oz. Sambuca

Pour the Bailey's Irish Cream into the shot glass and then carefully layer the Kahlua on top by pouring very slowly over the back of a spoon or down the side of the glass. Finally layer the Sambuca on the very top and you should have a drink that resembles a bumblebee.  Enjoy!

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Megan Fox Shot of the Week (What you really came here for.)

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As a bonus, here's another shot to get you through the week.

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With a woman this ridiculously hot there's not a whole lot of need for commentary.  Have a great week and Stay Hungry My Friends. 

This is the time of year when everyone breaks out their Father's Day Gift Guides and runs down a pretty standard list of things you should buy for dad.  I wrote up a short list last year here. Once again what I'm looking forward to the most is spending a day with my kids and grilling some good grub.  They're still too young to actually buy me a gift so I got myself a new Canon SD1200 from Costco. 

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There are so many gift guides for Father's Day written every year that I'm somewhat hesitant to make any recommendations but I do have a few ideas that might help some folks out.

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Steaks and other gourmet meats - lately I've been seeing a bunch of TV ads for a skillfully arranged fruit bouquet for Father's Day.  Really?  Are they serious?  Why would any guy want a bouquet of cut up fruit? You'd have to eat it that day so it wouldn't go bad.  On the other hand, a basket of ribeyes, tenderloin, and t-bones, is something I woudl enjoy.

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A nice bottle of booze - obviously this depends on the individual and won't be appropriate for everyone but a really nice bottle of booze is generally appreciated. I personally like Patron Reposado, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia, 10 Cane Rum, Belvedere Vodka, and Macallan 12. 

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Tailgating games - I really haven't ever bought any tailgate games even though I'm out there every week.  With all of the options from beer pong to cornhole, washers, and ladder golf I really should gear up for some outdoor fun.  I wonder if we'd get in trouble playing in the Lowe's parking lot while we wait for the gates to open at the Chargers games?

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Restaurant gift cards are better than getting $25 to spend at Best Buy.  About all I can get with $25 is a DVD or a couple of CDs and 9 times out of 10 I'll end up using the card to get something for my kids so it's not much of a gift for me. At least a restaurant card saves me some coin when I go out.

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Cocktail Shakers - because really you just can't have enough of these if you mix a lot of drinks.

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Honda Generator - with a good generator you can power almost anything you desire outdoors. TVs, blenders, and even microwaves can go with you to tailgate parties and campgrounds. Honda's generators are quiet and efficient.

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Of course there are thousands of other things you can get dad for Father's Day.  When it comes to gift giving the key difference between a great gift and one that comes up short is getting something that shows you know the recipient because it is the thought that counts and if you're just going to grab whatever's closest to the checkout counter that doesn't count for a whole lot.  Then again maybe sometimes that's really all that's necessary. Happy Father's Day everyone!

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This past weekend one of the posts over at Tailgating Ideas caught my attention.  Dave mentioned being questioned about the contents of a red cup at a tailgate party and the hassles associated with attempting to have a beer before the game on campus.  That brought back memories of sorority girls drinking vodka from Evian bottles in the back row of my classes at SDSU back when we were the number 3 party school in the country (which apparently we are again this year). 

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First things first...if you're going to drink beer out of a red cup you might as well just leave it in the can. The only thing anyone drinks out of a huge, cheap, red plastic cup is booze.  SOLO might as well change the name to "Party Cup".  You aren't fooling anyone with that cup.  There are however many alternatives to the red plastic cup that will provide you with effective cover for your liquid courage, social relaxant, or other adult beverage.

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My next point and one I don't make likely is this...I do not condone any of these methods if your intent is to break the law. If you're out drinking beers on the road or getting hammered at the mall you are one of the idiots responsible for the shortened hours during tailgating, alcohol bans on the beach, and other restrictions of freedom we face today.  I'm talking about ways to enjoy a beverage when you're having brunch with the in laws, walking on the beach, or waiting for the little league game to end.  Be responsible and obey the law.  All that being said...on to the tips.

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Top 10 Ways to Hide Your Drinking

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1. Starbucks Cup - everywhere you go people are drinking out of these cups.  You can't tell me you've never thought of adding a little Bailey's or Jameson to your morning Joe. Any time you get hot coffee ask for a double cup and save the outer cup and lid. Or pick up some disposable coffee cups at the grocery store.  Hold the coffee and pour in your other favorite brew. Just keep the lid on and no burping. 

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2. Insulated coffee mug - this is the same concept as the Starbucks Cup except it's insulated and reusable.  I have a 24 oz. "Big Joe" thermal mug by Copco from Amazon.com.  I drink my coffee in it every day...yes just coffee.

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3. Stainless Steel Water Bottle - with all of the concerns about plastics and bottled water these are becoming all the rage for eco consumers.  Now you can do double duty and have a cold beverage at the ready all the time.

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4. Plastic Water Bottle - you can find some pretty cool water bottles at just about any sporting good store.  They also have great ones at bike shops.  Some of them have linings that allow you to freeze the bottle ahead of time so your drinks stay cold.

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5. McDonalds Cup/ Slurpee Cup, etc. - Some people just go straight for the main event by grabbing a coke or seven up and adding their favorite booze right into the drink.  Captain and Coke, 7&Seven, Jack and Seven, or the college favorite, vodka and Crush.

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6. Camelback - I'll admit this one is pretty out there.  It's a commitment to buy a $60 hydration pack and then fill it with alcohol and you really have to make sure to clean it thoroughly after each use.  I know a few people that actually do just that when they go skiing though.  They say it's perfect.

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7. Canteen / bota bag - here's another camping supply that can come in handy in the right situations. You have to use it in an outdoor setting though.  You can put whatever you want in them but people will give you some pretty strange looks if you're just cruising around town drinking out of a canteen or a bota.

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8. Coke bottle / Monster Can - This one is along the same lines as the McDonalds/7-11 cups where you drink some of the beverage and then add to it.  The Coke bottle has the advantage of being able to put the lid back on where with an energy drink can you're going to have to drink it right away.

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9. Gatorade / Juice bottle - With Gatorade or fruit juice the most likely additive is going to be vodka though I'm sure you could also go with rum if that's more your preference. You do have to be sure you don't add so much that the drink gets too clear or you'll give yourself away.

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10. Hard plastic cups - With this one, the nicer the better. Cheap cups are a dead giveaway but with an opaque, quality cup you have some chance of pulling it off.

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The one thing almost all of these recommendations have in common is lids.  Anytime there's an open cup people get to wondering what's in it.  Also, the whole idea behind stealth is misdirection.  That's why the beverage cups work so well.  As long as you're being responsible and you're not staggering, slurring your words, or otherwise acting like a drunk clown, people will have no reason to think you are drinking anything other than Gatorade in your Gatorade bottle. If you do go out and use these tips and act like a buffoon or get yourself arrested you will ruin it for the rest of us so please don't.  Breakfast with inlaws is so much easier with a 6 shot Venti Latte with Whip when 2 of those 6 shots are Jamesons.

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If you need tips on how to be even more discreet with taking booze places check out my post on boozing at the game from last year.

Just yesterday I found out that Johnsonville is making Bratwurst patties.  Of course that means this afternoon I was making brat burgers for everyone at the office.  We couldn't let this new product go untested. 

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Double Brat Burger with Cheese

• 1 bratwurst patty
• 1 all beef hamburger patty with 20% fat
• 1 slice smoked gouda cheese
• 1 sesame seed bun (or even better, a Kaiser roll)
• 1 dab of brown mustard
• 1 spoonfull of sauerkraut

Grill the hamburger and bratwurst patties over a hot grill for a couple minutes on each side until the juices run clear.  Toast the bun and place the gouda over the hamburger patty to melt.  Place the burger with cheese on the bottom bun and stack the brat patty on top.  Top with just a bit of yellow mustard and a spoonful of sauerkraut then put the top bun on the sandwich and enjoy.

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The gouda's smokiness brings out the meaty flavor of the brat and this was an awesome burger.  Now when someone asks if you want burgers or brats at the tailgate party you can easily answer "Both". 

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As a side note we were shooting a TV spot for German television this morning about how much American's love to grill and the producer said that the Johnsonville Brats were almost as good as theirs and that they were 4 times as big as the ones from home. We definitely showed them how we grill.