From Dumbo Gumbo to Elephant Trunk Po’Boys

No game this season has been more anticipated by LSU fans than this Saturday’s LSU-Alabama face-off, and tailgaters have spent several weeks preparing elaborate menus to set the mood this weekend. The CBT tailgate, a well-established gathering of alums near Lockett Hall and the College of Design, is cooking up an elephant-centric menu that will feed 300 or more anticipated guests. Chad Cole, one of the group’s organizers, says the stars have aligned for an electric day at Tiger Stadium fueled by the intense rivalry, the need for redemption after last year’s National Championship debacle, and the fact that the rematch takes place at home, and most important, at night.

“The thing that’s been missing lately has been big night games, so we’re really excited about how the weekend is going to go,” says Cole. Indeed, the 7 p.m. kick off gives tailgaters plenty of time to do what they do best: cook with a flourish. Expect confident banners poking fun at the Tide and Coach Nick Saban, as well as menu items that include Dumbo gumbo, elephant ribs and more. Cole’s tailgate team has set a budget of close to $4,000 for the Saturday thriller, their biggest of the season, which includes elephant (venison) chili made on site, elephant ear sandwiches with filet medallions and elephant trunk po-boys with smoked sausage.—Maggie Heyn Richardson