Tailgating essentials

The Tigers ring in another season with their first home game on Saturday, and what better way to celebrate than metric tons of tailgating treats? Sure, plenty of us cook for ourselves, but we all know there’s no shame in picking up a tub or a plate of something tasty to bring along. Plenty of places around town specialize in this football season phenomenon, and 225 Dine humbly offers our serving suggestions to round out your tailgating experience. Boudin balls from Tony’s Seafood: Crispy on the outside and oh so tender on the inside, these spicy little pockets of fried goodness are a must. Tony’s version is a longtime staple, with three delicious varieties, from the regular Cajun style, to shrimp & crab- and crawfish-stuffed. No tailgater should be caught without. Chicken salad from Calvin’s Bocage Market: Creamy and velvety-smooth, tangy with just the right amount of sweet bite, Calvin’s chicken salad is legendary. Made fresh on-site, there’s no substitute for it. You can use it as a dip or a spread, or just eat it from the tub, but however you choose to present it, it’s sure to satisfy. Brisket from VooDoo BBQ or TJ Ribs: TJ Ribs squeaked past VooDoo this year in our Best of 225 competition, but it was a close-run thing. Both establishments offer smoky, falling-apart-tender brisket cooked to perfection, an essential for the tailgating chow-hound. Cookies from Ambrosia Bakery: No tailgating party would be complete without a sweet treat, and where better to get it than from supreme sweet purveyors Ambrosia Bakery? They might be more famous for their strawberry cakes, but fresh-baked cookies are ambrosial as well, and they offer plenty of cookie tray packages for convenient carry-away. But don’t take our word for it: we want to know what you think. Click here to comment and tell us what take-along tastes you just can’t do without.