RECIPES

MARIO DOES... BREAKFAST!: Waking up at the track is a wondrous experience, full of promise for what will no doubt be another glorious day of thrilling racing. But it also means another round of cooking. Starting, of course, with breakfast. ... More

MARIO DOES... APPETIZERS!: Why should I have to make appetizers? How is that fair? I've sprung for steaks, I've got baked potatoes roasting in the coals, I sweated over brownies, and I even bought beer not from any former Soviet Bloc countries. Isn't that enough? Do I really have to prepare appetizers, too?... More

MARIO DOES... CHILI!: There are occasions during a long race weekend, when, for one reason or another, you want to wave the yellow caution flag and not do any cooking for a few laps. ... More

MARIO GRILLS... DOGS AND BRATS!: ...And by this, I don't mean the pets and the kids. ... More

MARIO ON... DRINKS AND DESSERTS!: The two components most often overlooked by the average tailgate are drinks and dessert. I'm the same. I'm so focused on the core part of the meal, assembling the components for the appetizers and making sure the main course is ready to go, that I neglect what comes first and last. ... More

MARIO GRILLS... KEBOBS!: Kebobs Rock: Kebobs are a great thing to serve any time you are grilling. One the best things about kebobs is that they are fully assembled and marinated and only need to be placed on the hot grill to cook. You can layer in vegetables, sausage, or smoked ham to your heart's content as they will only serve to enhance the flavor of the kebob. And in case you get any complaints about not serving any vegetables, you can point to the pieces of pepper or onion separating the cubes of meat and declare your commitment to a balanced diet.... More

MARIO SMOKES RIBS... ON THE GRILL!: In a world where speed is everything, it may seem a bit incongruous to be cooking at a pace closer to the truck that circles the track after a crash to pick up debris. But smoking not only has its culinary advantages, but once you get used to the pace, you may find it a comforting antidote... More

MARIO GRILLS ... CHICKEN!: Pretty much anyone who can tell time and grip a pair of tongs can grill a steak. But chicken is a whole different ballgame. It's like drivers who are used to the oval suddenly having to adjust to a road course. They need to down shift, use their breaks, turn their wheel to the right. ... More

MARIO GRILLS... STEAKS!: Ah, steak. There's nothing quite like it. Few things in life require so little effort and give back so much. I find it requires more work to cook a steak badly than to grill it to perfection. And a grill laden with steaks is the surest way to attract looks of envy from any fellow tailgaters who happen to pass by your space.... More

MARIO GRILLS... BURGERS!: Besides their love of racing, one thing all NASCAR fans have in common is that they like a good burger. From Infineon's Marin County to New Hampshire to Martinsville in Virginia there will be burgers grilling before, during, and after the races. ... More