The BBQ Blog

Tony Roma’s wants to know - are you ready for football season? If you’ve volunteered to host a game day party, you may be feeling some pressure right about now. Don’t worry - you’ve got this! Just take a few tips from the experts at Tony Roma’s.

• Leave yourself plenty of time. Start planning five days or more in advance, to leave yourself plenty of time to invite guests, plan the menu, shop, cook and clean. When you’re planning your guest list, think about which guests are fans of each team, and try to keep your numbers fairly equal. Prepare as much food as possible ahead of time, so you won’t be exhausted when guests arrive.
• Choose a couple of signature dishes your guests will remember. Let something fun and tasty, such as these Pulled Pork Sliders, made easily and quickly using Tony Roma’s pulled pork, take center stage. Match it with a few yummy side dishes, some staples like chips and salsa, a variety of beverages, and you’re all set! You can also choose to go potluck, providing a dish or two and letting your guests bring the rest, to add variety and really get people involved.
• Consider the allergies and preferences in the room. Are any of your guests vegetarian? What about gluten-free? If you aren’t aware of allergies, it might be good to ask, because some allergies can be quite severe. To play it safe, offer some dishes that avoid common allergens such as nuts, shellfish, eggs and gluten, and provide a meatless option for the vegetarians.
• Remember to decorate appropriately. Game day parties don’t have to be elaborately decorated, but simple touches can make them more fun. Try a football field table runner, made of appropriately marked green paper, with coasters shaped like footballs. Use paper plates and plastic utensils in each team’s colors, to make for easy clean-up.
• Make space for the non-sporting guests. Set up an area away from the television, where those who are uninterested in the game can chat and have a good time. If children will be present, make sure there’s a designated play space, so they can entertain themselves during the game.

No matter what else you bring to the table on game day, don’t forget the Tony Roma’s barbecue. It makes throwing a great party easy, with dishes that can be on your table in about 20 minutes and are sure to please the crowd. To find Tony Roma’s at a grocery store near you, visit the store locator on our website. To connect with the online community, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our mouthwatering Pinterest boards.

Where do you eat your Tony Roma’s precooked barbecue? In your dining room? At a party? On a picnic? How about camping? Consider taking Tony Roma’s on a camping trip, instead of the usual hot dogs and hamburgers. Tony Roma’s kicks your campout style up a notch, especially when you put other fancy fire pit foods on the menu as well.

• Start your fancy camping meal with an appetizer. Why not? Salad in a Jar is a great option, because it can be prepared before you go and kept cool in a cooler until you’re ready for it. Want something a little more gourmet? Try these Foil Roasted Mushrooms with Hazelnuts and Chives.
• Campfire veggies shouldn’t be limited to pork and beans. Give Grilled Brussels Sprouts with Whole Grain Mustard a shot, or try Stuffed Peppers on the Barbie. Another quick and easy side can be prepared by halving tomatoes, then grilling them with a slice of cheese on top. That’s one the kids are sure to love!
• Why eat a bad hot dog when savory pulled pork and precooked ribs are just as easy to prepare? A simple, thorough heating is all it takes to prepare Tony Roma’s precooked barbecue, and that’s easy to do on a campfire or grill.
• Even vegetarians can enjoy campfire eating. Try this Eggplant and Tofu Packet for a delicious and upscale vegetarian offering.
• Think beyond boring s’mores when you do dessert. Sure, s’mores are a classic, but don’t they get a little dull after a while? Try Baked Apples or these yummy Campfire Banana Boats for a change of pace.

No matter where you choose to eat it, Tony Roma’s succulent precooked barbecue is easy to prepare and can be ready to eat in about 20 minutes. To find Tony Roma’s at a grocery store near you, visit the store locator on our website. To connect with the online community, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our mouthwatering Pinterest boards.

Here at Tony Roma’s BBQ, we’ve got the blues, but in a good way. That’s because we’ve discovered the secret of pairing BBQ with blues to make your meal a multi-sensory experience. It’s long been understood that BBQ and blues go together- ask anyone in Memphis or Kansas City! Now, the Tony Roma’s BBQ crew offers you a guide to help you choose the perfect soundtrack for your barbecue at home.

• Chowing down on a Texas brisket? Stevie Ray Vaughn, T-Bone Walker and Johnny Winter offer decidedly Texan blues to go with your pure Texas barbecue.
• Are St. Louis Ribs more your speed? Try some St Louis blues to enhance your meal. Albert King, Lonnie Johnson, Little Milton and Robert Nighthawk fit the bill.
• If your favorite is the spicy tang of Memphis barbecue, listen to blues that makes you feel like you’re smack in the middle of Beale Street. From WC Handy, to Howlin’ Wolf, to Marc Cohn, you’ll find some excellent blues in Memphis. BB King with our BBQ? Don’t mind if we do.
• Whether you prefer the vinegar of North Carolina BBQ or the mustard sauce used with South Carolina BBQ, you can’t go wrong with Carolina blues. Listen to some great Piedmont blues, like the music of Rev. Gary Davis and Blind Boy Fuller.
• Savory Chicago BBQ goes great with raw Chicago blues. What goes better with the music of Muddy Waters, the father of the Chicago blues, than Chicago style ribs?
• Kansas City blues goes well with thick and delicious slow cooked KC Barbecue. Kansas City barbecue will stick to your ribs, while the music of Sonny Kenner, Little Hatch, Cotton Candy, and Brody Buster will stay in your head.

This is just a starter list, and we’re sure you can fill in the blanks to find the right meat and music combo for your next barbecue at home. No matter what kind of blues makes you happy, you can’t go wrong with Tony Roma’s BBQ. Tony Roma’s pre-cooked ribs are delicious and convenient, easy to prepare in minutes. Follow Tony Roma’s BBQ on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest information, tips and tricks related to BBQ.

If you’re heading to a potluck, we at Tony Roma’s ribs want to know what you’re bringing. The dish you bring says a lot about you, from your values, to your lifestyle, to your personality type. So, which type are you? Let’s see if we can guess, based on what you’ve brought:

• Store Bought Cookies: You’re probably a college kid, too broke to buy something really good, with no time to make something from scratch.
• Bakery Cookies: We’ve got you pegged for a working mom, and don’t think you’ve fooled us by putting them onto your own plate.
• Old Family Recipe: You’re probably a grandmother or great aunt, cooking to show your love and share your heritage with those in your family circle.
• Secret Family Recipe: The difference between this one and the last one is in the word “secret.” You’re a sister-in-law or aunt, probably a show-off, and there’s no way we’re getting our hands on the recipe for your signature dish.
• Mashed Potatoes: You forgot to go to the store, didn’t you? If it hadn’t been for this dinner, you’d be saying “Hey kids, let’s have breakfast for dinner!” Again.
• Cutesy Anthropomorphic Appetizers: You brought deviled eggs, but they look like baby chicks. Or, you brought olives done up as penguins or tomatoes that look like little ladybugs. We know exactly who you are - you’re a Pinterest power that loves the occasion to try out a new pin.
• Pumpkin Pie: This can go multiple ways: If it’s store bought, you’re clearly too busy to bake; if you made it yourself, we’re impressed by your homemaking skills, unless you left out the sugar, in which case we’ll assume you have multiple pre-school aged children.
• Tony Roma’s Ribs: Ooh, you’re a keeper. It’s clear that you care about quality and flavor, so even though you’re too busy to put hats on your appetizers, you’re not about to settle for low hanging fruit like mashed potatoes or store bought desserts.

When it’s all said and done, don’t you want to be the one who brings the Tony Roma’s Ribs? Pre-cooked ribs from Tony Roma’s are simple to prepare, making them perfect for every meal, whether you’re hosting a barbecue at home or heading out to a potluck. Find us, and connect with other rib enthusiasts on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest for more updates and fun guides. If you already fit the Tony Roma’s ribs stereotype, click here to find out where to buy them!