57 Comments

With this experience coming almost exactly three months after the Lou Oyster Cult collaboration/restaurant pop-up in July, I now firmly believe I need to be involved in a Big Event on a quarterly basis. Brainstorming for January already.

Expand full comment

Nothing says outdoor funtimes like New England in the unpredictable winter!

Expand full comment

"We're going to need a bigger fire"

Expand full comment

Why is Maine burning?

Expand full comment

Olaf knocked over the stove.

Expand full comment

OK, Since ACB didn't want to toot his own horn here, I will - Basically everyone who tried the Sea Serpent raved about it, and the entire Gatorade cooler of it that he mixed up was gone by the time we were tearing down. It was delicious and dangerous, about the color of a good coffee liqueur, heading towards too sweet but pulling up just before the line, and people LOVED it.

Expand full comment

Thank you!! And it was an absolute pleasure finally getting to meet you.

Expand full comment

"Oh hey, there's somebody wearing a Guardians hat!

...Oh, yeah, duh."

It was awesome to meet you and so many others in person for the first time.

Expand full comment

Claire was thoroughly won over by the entire affair. The people, the party, the cultural anthropology, even the football!

Personal mission unlocked: find a meatless gumbo so I can show her what she missed.

Expand full comment

So jealous. Good food. Better people. And decent football. No better way to spend a Saturday.

Expand full comment

This is great writing. After reading this, my takeaway is that this is what it means to be rich. Rich in experiences, rich in food, rich in friends and family. It doesn't get better than that.

Expand full comment

Thank you! And I totally agree. Couldn't buy an experience like this.

Expand full comment

SO JEALOUS

Expand full comment

I'm going to eat a lot more food than usual today because of this. Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment

My work here is done.

Expand full comment

This was awesome -- especially this: "We’re not so different, you and I." (I'm imagining John Mulaney's voice here 🤣 )

Expand full comment

My goodness, that looks like so much fun, and I love the idea that there's just a dibs system of mutual understanding that somehow withstands the test of time.

Expand full comment

In this moment I realize I’m now the age of the kind alumni that would give students a burger or something as we passed tailgates.

Gonna need to buy an RV.

Well, get much more wealthy, then the RV, then I get the burgers.

Expand full comment

Then you get the khakis, and THEN you get the girls.

Expand full comment

I heard your sister’s going out with Squeak

Expand full comment

My stomping grounds! Loved this write-up of my alma mater and former place of employment. Game Day at Tiger Stadium is a religion. And the food will keep you callin' Baton Rouge!

Expand full comment

I loved it! Such a cool place, and everyone was so welcoming. I even got to see Mike the Tiger, which I wasn't expecting!

Expand full comment

While I don't love all things LSU, I love the energy and spirit Tiger fans bring!

Expand full comment

And Mike put on a show, too. He was even up and pacing Saturday morning!

Expand full comment

*pacing because he was sick of hearing "Hotty Toddy!"

Expand full comment

Sounds like a top tier tailgate. Sometimes I wish I had gone to college somewhere with a true college gameday experience - Miami tailgates can be awesome (see below) but it feels like an NFL experience.

I have two tailgates that standout as the best I've taken part in throwing, plus a special tailgate situation to brag about :)

Miami played Florida the year after I graduated, 2013. It was the second week of the season and a noon game. We showed up at about 6 to start setting up and cooking, and had to stay huddled in the car for about half an hour while we got a nice lightning storm - including a strike in the tailgating lot next door. But like most Miami thunderstorms, it was over soon. We had a 5-gallon jug of cold brew, cream, and whiskey to get us going, plus everything for mimosas. Steak and eggs for breakfast., followed by wings that had been marinating since the day before. One of our Hawaiian friends made spam misubi for a perfect pre-game snack. What could be better?

For cold games, which I didn't have to prep for until moving to Ohio, I prefer to make a big batch of chili in advance, put it in those aluminum, disposable baking dishes, and go for an easy re-heat on the grill. It makes it easy to still grill up wings or anything else to accompany. I did this for the Miami/ND game in South Bend, and the number of jealous ND fans looking at our small group as we warmed up with bowls of chili and they ate their sad hot dogs was a delight.

And finally, I thought you'd appreciate that I once tailgated for a roller derby ,match here in Columbus! We were going to the game and had nothing else going on beforehand, and it was a BEAUTIFUL summer day, so we packed up my grill and all our chairs - the looks on the players faces was so great as they arrived before the match. They were simultaneously confused, surprised, and elated. I can't recommend tailgating at non-traditional tailgating sports enough.

Expand full comment

Zach looks like he's dialed all the way in

Expand full comment

He’s a machine. He was locked and loaded from 6am on.

Expand full comment

The precision with which he recited the order he needed to prepare and cook everything was unreal.

Expand full comment

I'd love to do a weekend apprenticeship like that. Can't imagine how many little "ohhh, that's how you do that" moments you get when you're cooking for that long straight

Expand full comment

My interest in college football is minimal, but damn if I don't want to go throw a tent down on Grange Grove this weekend and spend a morning cooking.

Expand full comment

I can't remember the last time I had such FOMO. That looked like an A+ day from start to finish.

And my WORD that gumbo looks spectacular.

Envious of and thrilled for all y'all at the same time.

Expand full comment

Just trying to convince Scott to come down to Texas for a good old Texas BBQ Tour one of these days

Expand full comment

I *very much* want to do this. I have never been to Texas outside of the airports! This is easily the biggest gap in my travels in the Lower 48.

Expand full comment

[eyes grow extremely wide]

Expand full comment

oh no

Expand full comment

Don't worry he is a professional, no way he'll go full ...

Expand full comment