Buy Supplies Online for Your Pittsburgh Steelers Tailgate Party

To the members of the Steeler Nation, the only event nearly as important as a Pittsburgh Steeler game is the tailgate party beforehand. Thousands of rabid fans pack the parking lots around Heinz Field before every game, grilling, drinking and gorging on traditional favorite foods. Some even decide what vehicles to buy based on how well they'll work for tailgating.

One segment of the Pittsburgh faithful has to deal with the genuine Steeler tailgating experience differently: the ex-pat Pittsburghers who made the unfortunate decision to move out of town. Still part of the Steeler Nation, they create Steeler bars in cities all over the U.S. Cities in North and South Carolina and Florida have lots of them, but almost every state has a place where fans gather to watch the Steeler games on TV and tailgate in the parking lot.

How can these folks enjoy the true Steeler experience with party supplies and food bought in other cities? Eating Cleveland bread or Raleigh sausage just isn't the same! Online shopping to the rescue!

Here's a list of beloved Pittsburgh retailers who have made the effort to supply Steeler goods to people all around the country via online shopping. Keep in mind that shipping perishable foods isn't cheap, but flying home to the 'Burgh for a game is pricey, too. If you bleed black and gold, it's worth it.

Mike Feinberg Company, in the Strip District, bills itself as the Party King and it carries more Steelers merchandise than you knew existed. Here's the authentic place to stock up on every type of party supplies, tableware, decorations, black and gold pompoms, garlands, and dishes. They even carry a Steeler cover for your grill's propane tank.

Most traditional Steeler tailgate menus features either hot or sweet Italian sausage or kolbassi. Parma Sausage, a family business for five generations since 1954, is the favorite of Pittsburgh food lovers and they've got the shipping worked out for you. Their products are shipped via FedEx Ground and FedEx Express. The Web site gives details about how the perishables are sent in insulated boxes with ice packs. A small charge for the packaging is added onto the regular FedEx prices. While their biggest seller, the hot Italian sausage is fantastic, try the spicy Sicilian with extra whole fennel seeds and black and red pepper. This is also the place to get hard to find Italian specialty meats like sopressata, coppa secca, and coteghino.

Ah, Mancini's bread! No Pittsburgh ex-pat ever forgets Mancini's bread. No bread on the planet matches Mancini's for a Pittsburgh Steeler tailgate party, or just about any meal for that matter. The original Mancini bakery down the Ohio River a few miles in McKees Rocks has been creating this old world delight since 1926. While the bakery makes 10,000 loaves a day for homes and restaurants all over the city, the Mancini bakery Web site explains that it requires 4 hours and fifteen minutes for the creation of this indescribably luscious Italian staple, made with no preservatives or stabilizers. Pittsburghers love to stop at the 24 hour bakery in the Rocks for hot bread and the heavenly aroma. There's another retail location in the Strip District.

The 'stix' come in several length and are the best choice for your Italian sausage or kolbassi. Here's the only problem: Mancini's bread is highly perishable. One of it's main virtues is it's freshness, and two days later, it isn't the same. That's what Pittsburghers use for toast and stuffing ingredients. In order to ship Mancini's, the most expensive, fastest options must be used, like overnight air express, and the cost is very high. Because of their commitment to quality, the folks at Mancini's don't encourage long distance ordering, but they have had well-heeled fans ask for it and if you've got the money, call them.

These tastes of The 'Burgh will make a memorable party for yinz ta enjoy yer Stiller party n'at. (Don't ask if you can't translate.)