Conversations, estimations, and prognostications for the upcoming LSU Tigers football season has gone from a meow to a roar.
Football fans- this is not a drill.
If you haven’t scouted the recipes, planned the menus, decorations and tailgating tablescapes ideas we’ve got something to talk about as well.
Football fans and the tailgating nation from conference to conference, division to division take their football and tailgating times serious.
Football fans here in the South surely do, and come rain, sunshine, humidity or hurricane, we let the good tailgating times roll.
Tiger Stadium
Tailgating planning and execution is a process that rivals that of an elaborate dinner party.
The selection of a tailgating tablescapes theme and the perfect decor accessories and tablewares can be an entertaining success from parking to parting.
The Local Palate
Tailgating has come along way from the hibachi and red Solo cup days, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Tailgaters decked out in team attire and colors believe in getting the party started early in game day style.
The old adage football is a religion in the South has a lot of truth to it.
The shall we gather at the stadium loyal gather together to get the pregame ritual kicked off in true Tiger style.
Game day chic includes both a pregame bag and a clear bag compliant with stadium policy.
Team logo and tiger chic flats and sandals bring style and comfort to the look.
For the away games to college towns where fall is actually fall, gold metallic espadrille slip-on sneakers or warm lined suede boots fit the bill.
Eye of the Tiger
To every sport there is a season, and to every tailgating tablescape there is a reason.
If real estate is all about location, location, location tailgating tablescapes is all about display, display, display.
Pitch your tailgating tent in a prime location, hang a focal point chandelier, and proceed to impress the crowd with your tailgating tablescapes skills and style.
I begin by dressing the table in whatever choice of table linens fits this weeks theme.
Burlap is the tailgating accessory that consistently tops the tailgating tablescapes must have table linens list because of its durability and inexpensive price tag.
Versatile for table covers and table runners, burlap, the on-trend farmhouse chic fabric, is a very forgiving fabric.
There’s no crying in football or spilled chili, dip, gumbo, cocktails, etc…
Spills happen.
If a stain should occur, cover it up with a serving tray or platter for the duration of your tailgating soiree (a hosting trick).
Between tailgating times, head over to a fabric store or online retailer to pick up or order a couple of more yards of this tailgating friendly fabric.
I really like this artificial grass table runner option.
Dress it up or dress it down style on the field.
Decorating your tailgating tablescapes with pieces in team colors, seasonal accents, and holiday du jour decor never fails to impress the crowd.
My game changer tablescape works with a casual yet elegant theme.
It brings a bit of juxtaposition to the tailgating tablescapes mix with stoneware plates paired with inexpensive faux wood chargers.
Gold Faux Wood Charger
Wreaths make fantastic candle rings for tailgating tablescapes, and when football season is over you can use these for home for the holidays decorating.
Louisiana tailgating must include several lanterns in the New Orleans architectural styles design .
Birch slab round tree slices, woven trays, and baskets make the extra point as serving pieces and decorative additions for the fall football tailgating tablescape of it all.
Natural Wheat Stacks make the starting lineup for fabulous tailgating tablescapes accessories.
Good look, great height.
Easy to work with centerpiece options include a team mascot figurine, collectible helmet, and a bronze poly-stone football player sculpture.
Arrangements of fresh or faux flowers and plants of the season set a festive and colorful scene.
Crotons, hydrangeas, garden mums, marigolds, branches, decorative feathers, dried lotus pods, magnolia leaves and sunflowers give a festive nod to fall and transport well.
Vases and containers can be as simple as a collection of empty vegetable-sauce-bean cans to dollar store metal vases with rope accents to craft pumpkins to a football cut to accommodate a can in which to house fresh flowers.
When selecting vases and containers, I keep ease of transport, the unique factor, and avoid breakage at all times in mind.
Natural Birch Bark Zinc Planter Pots
Boston ferns hanging baskets placed in plastic urns or simply placed tabletop add a touch of casual elegance.
Fresh, decorative, painted, carved or football- the pumpkin is a decorative powerhouse.
Simple serves a purpose, a hungry crowd, and an easy cleanup detail.
I keep my eye of the tiger on these 5 gallon college buckets from Home Depot.
I like to pick up several of these tailgating gotta have it staples to use as a carry all, cool all and basic catchall.
Tailgating tablescapes wow factor serveware suggestions include cake stands stacked for a tiered effect.
Stacked cake stands work great as serving pieces and chic displays for cheeses, fruits, crackers, breads, muffins and of course, cake.
Be sure to shop end of season sales and clearance sections for all your tailgating tablescapes needs.
The very fall and Halloween color choice appropriate Corin melamine serving collection in spice orange is on clearance at Crate & Barrel.
The Lodge cast iron bowl is a tailgating must have when serving chili, soup, stew or Frito chili pie.
Vintage wares make chic tablescape pieces.
The vintage wood crate is a tailgate tablescapes dream to work with as a flatware caddy, wrapped food holder, cocktail garnishes, or condiment holder.
Stainless Steel Garnish Branches
Antique Shoppes At 1100 Barksdale
These versatile and sturdy crates add just the right amount of vintage to the look and ease to tote, travel, and tablescape.
Chili and chilly is a delicious tailgating combination for fall game days.
A woven crate basket can pull triple duty as a tailgate supply tote for a hot chocolate with all the fixings, turned upside down and used as the aforementioned fixings display, and holder of fleece throws in seasonal or team colors.
I like items that pull double tableware duty.
Is it an urn for a fall foliage centerpiece or is it a stylish beverage tub?
Tailgating recipes for barbecued anything, Creole seasoned popcorn and lemonade with a kick, cold or hot dips, salads, sandwiches, soups, stews or chili, and tasty tailgating appropriate desserts always satisfy a hungry tailgating group.
A sugar mold also makes an excellent condiment holder.
Whiskey Barrel Burgers ~ Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens
Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Regional cuisine ranks high in taste and popularity with hungry fans, and the cook friendly one pot principal scores extra points for easy.
Places In The Home Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Gumbo or deer chili served with homemade buttermilk cornbread with pork cracklin’s has Louisiana c’est si bon written all over it.
Toups’ Cracklin’s
Ingredients
5 pounds skin-on pork belly
4 cups lard
Peanut oil, for frying
Cracklin’ Spice (recipe follows)
Directions
Place pork belly skin side up on a cutting board, and cut into 1-inch pieces.
In a large Dutch oven, place lard and pork belly. Do not layer pork belly in more than 3 layers. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently; reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring frequently, until skin blisters and turns golden brown. Transfer pork belly to rimmed baking sheets, and refrigerate until cold.*
In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 4 inches, and heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 380°. Add pork belly in batches, and fry until puffed and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Let drain on paper towels, and liberally sprinkle or toss with Cracklin’ Spice.
Cracklin’ Spice
Ingredients
½ cup ground chile de árbol
½ cup popcorn salt*
¼ cup ground white pepper
¼ cup minced garlic
¼ cup celery salt
¼ cup sugar
Directions
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.
-Isaac Toups, Toups’ Meatery, New Orleans as featured in Louisiana Cookin’
Fans are always looking for a way to celebrate their team(s).
Tailgating gives us a great excuse to get to the stadium early for pregame food, fun and fantastic times.
Fire up the grills and set the tailgating tablescapes, football fans.
It’s tailgating season!
