McCormick appeals to tailgate cities

SPARKS, Md. — McCormick is appealing to football fans who enjoy tailgating, and identified the Top 10 Tastiest Tailgate cities in the U.S. to promote its Grill Mates seasoning.

In a joint venture with Bert Sperling, a leading "Best Places" researcher, McCormick Grill Mates analyzed 31 cities in the U.S. with professional football teams to identify the Top 10 in the country.

"We scored each city based on the Tailgating Food Index, which took into account regional foods and flavors, and the Tailgating Experience Index, which focused on stadium atmosphere and traditions," said Sperling. "Other criteria included team success over the years and tailgating rules and regulations."

The 10 cities are:

1. Houston, Texas

2. Kansas City, Mo.

3. Green Bay, Wis.

4. Buffalo, N.Y.

5. Baltimore, Md.

6. Boston, Mass.

7. Cincinnati, Ohio

8. New Orleans, La.

9. Philadelphia, Pa.

10. Charlotte, N.C.

McCormick is also encouraging tailgaters to share their specialties — from tried-and-true grilling tips to pictures of their food — with other fans by joining the Grillerhood on Facebook.

McCormick & Company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry — retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses.

Bert Sperling and his studies appear regularly in the media, and he is the author of bestselling books, such as Cities Ranked and Rated and Best Places to Raise Your Family. He has profiles in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal regarding his studies of quality of life in cities and towns. His research firm, Sperling's BestPlaces, operates the website www.bestplaces.net which provides information and features to more than 1.5 million visitors each month.