With the lovely chill of fall in the air, the smell of the leaves and the thrill of football on everyone’s lips, TTOTT couldn’t find a better location to highlight for this month’s edition than that of Tailgator’s West.

With the backdrop of Rebel Stadium standing proud in the foreground, walking into this establishment has always struck me as I feel when I’m pulling up a chair at my Mamow’s dinner table on Sunday afternoons. 

The décor is inviting and friendly, warmly displaying the team support of all of the area high schools, colleges and our beloved New Orleans Saints.  The walls are adorned with fleur de lis, and proud moments in the lives of its beloved owners, Jack and Debbie Clampit, along proud attributes to Louisiana Wildlife and game in this “Sportsman’s Paradise”.

Smells emanating from the kitchen take me back to a time when folks weren’t in any hurry to get up and go, but family members would meander over to the couch and lazyboy, find a place to catnap, and doze.  Flaky crusts from scratch made fruit pies, adorned with luscious fruit toppings and dusted lightly with a tender amount of sugar dust, after a meal of chicken and dumplings, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, purple hull peas, stewed okra and tomatoes, homestyle mac and cheese, candied yams, sautéed squash with onions and turnip greens – a stick to your ribs kind of meal just like all the good southern ladies are brought up knowing how to make. These and many more are the kind of meals any patron can expect to receive at Tailgator’s West.

Now if you’re trying to loosen your belt a little before those heavy holiday treats and potluck festivities set in, Tailgator’s also offers a “lighter fare” with such menu items as the “Cheezy Chicken Sandwich” consisting of a grilled chicken breast, cheddar cheese, sautéed onions and served on Texas Toast.  If you’re not much on the sandwich items, their scrumptious salads aim to please!  “Two Legget Chicken” with your choice of grilled or fried chicken mounted atop a bed of crisp lettuce, and garnished with tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, boiled eggs, crunchy bacon and shredded cheddar cheese, served with a side of any dressing of your choice. Should you not be in the mood for “yard bird”, Tailgator’s West offers a vast array of other items from succulent grilled or fried shrimp salads, or even that of the loaded “Touchdown Salad” that comes complete with turkey, ham,  and roast beef! For those diners that are looking to partake of Catfish Jack’s “Supersnappydinowhopping Goodness”, Tailgator’s even offers the “Gator’s Nest”.  This tremendous show stopper will tantalize even the rowdiest of taste buds with diners choice of crispy fried Louisiana alligator (or grilled for those seeking to downsize a bit) brought to your table nestled atop a mountain of lettuce, fresh tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, boiled eggs, and garnished with house made bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese for that “dynowhopping” punch!

But don’t be fooled by the lighter fare, because stick to your ribs vitals aren’t the only thing on Tailgator’s menu that will have your family screaming for seconds at half-time!  With their “Good Ole Po-boys” served with diners choice of ham, roast beef, turkey, grilled chicken, fried chicken, fried alligator, sautéed alligator, sautéed shrimp or fried shrimp there is never anyone in my crowd that ever leaves hungry!

So the next time that you get a hankering for some fast food that doesn’t taste of anything less than that out of your grandma’s kitchen, head on over to Tailgator’s West right across from Rebel Stadium, and don’t forget to tell Catfish Jack and the Gator Girls TTOTT sent ya!

For a palatable sampling of historical eateries one need not travel outside the lovely confines of our own surrounding areas, so start your journey down “Flavor Avenue” with this locale and many more! Just remember to roll up your sleeves and don’t be afraid to dig in to savor the local flavor!