Krewe de Chew
ulathletics.net/krewe-de-chew
LOUISIANA La. -- Nine-month-old Lilianne Stephens swirled around the grassy dance floor in the arms of her grandmother, Rosemary Benoit. Nearby, her big sister, Kassiel Stephens, 2, was perched on top of a chair stirring a pot of Crawfish, Tasso and Sausage Fettuccine.
The girls were the youngest members of a group of football fans who call themselves the Krewe de Chew. The University of Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns are well-known as the "joie de vivre" tailgaters of ULL's fans.
Church Point native Charlie Daigle initially started tailgating near the ULL baseball field more than 10 years ago. Daigle and Randy Monceaux moved to another location when the school needed to renovate the athletic facilities. And as the group began to grow, they needed three lots.
"It grew -- there were so many people involved, we needed some organization," Daigle said.
The core members decided their tailgate crew needed a name, so they called their group Krewe de Chew. On the Krewe's Web site, the members claim, "We are not a formal organization. There is no charter, no officers, no dues, no written rules or regulations. The only perceived rule is that dishes are 'made from scratch.' "
There are 28 members of the group with names that have deep roots in Cajun heritage. Members are: Alex and Katie Mottram, Randy and Nat Monceaux, Pat and Teresa Fontenot, Ben and Rosemary Benoit, Matt, David and Bobbie Fontenot.
Others are: Glen and Marie Raggio, George and Linda Brouillette, Steve and Brenda Menard, Jamie and Lisha Monceaux, Carl Bueto, Al Comeaux, David and Judy Dugas, Charlie and Gwen Daigle, Charles R. and Aimee Daigle, Dave Ardoin and Ken Ardoin.
While the Krewe doesn't have written rules, it claims that organization is the key to a successful tailgating event. Each spring, members host a crawfish boil to talk about the next season. Members say they "tailgate all year long."
"Three people are in charge of cooking for each home game," Daigle said. "There are three entrees. The rest of the people bring the side dishes. From one game to the next, there's hardly a duplication."
In addition to the fettuccine, other entrees on the menu for the Oct. 1 game were Chicken and Artichoke Acadienne au Gratin and Chicken Bucktown.
Krewe members agree that everybody pitches in; nobody slacks off. On the day before they tailgate, approximately 10 members will set up the two large tents.
Other tailgaters from neighboring parties stroll into the Krewe's tent.
"They know where the good food is," continued Daigle. "We invite the opposing teams to eat with us. The coaches have an open invitation to our tailgate party."
A sign posted at the entrance to the Krewe's tailgate party reads "Welcome to Ragin' Cajun Tailgating -- A tradition of joie de vivre -- where the road kill meets the roux -- at the hands of the Krewe de Chew."
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ADVOCATE
By DOROTHY TRICK
Special to Food
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