Southern Way: Tailgate of Champions at Williams-Brice
Who has the most enviable tailgate food on game day?
At Williams-Brice Stadium, some of the best over-the-top spreads can be found at the Champions Club. There, in the 200-level suites on the southwest side of the stadium, the university’s highest-level athletics donors nosh on the standard hot dog and burger fare, but also on poached scallops, crabcakes, petit fours, homemade macaroons and handspun milkshakes.
For Southern Way Catering, which provides the dishes, tailgate food is a sport in itself.
“Their food is on a different level,” Southern Way chef Michael Stuckey said.
The company caters at several football venues on game day, but the Champions Club, where annual premiums start at $1,500 a seat, is by far the most deluxe.
The menu planning and logistics to cater an upscale tailgate require weeks of prep and months of planning, Southern Way’s vice president Jesse Bullard said.
“The Champions Club is the place to eat on game day. That’s the experience we try to deliver.”
Everything must be in its proper place, from the largest tray to the smallest garnish, and timing for cooking and serving must be exact. Multiple are spreadsheets involved.
The real trick, however, is adding little “extras” to regular tailgate food to make the eating experience more opulent, Stuckey said. “So if we serve hot dogs, we’ll offer a red pepper relish with it.”
Or truffle butter and specialty salts for the freshly popped popcorn. Or pimento cheese made with blue and havarti cheeses and dill. Or themed paninis like fried gator tail when USC plays the University of Florida.
“Unfortunately, fried tiger tail would not be popular,” Bullard joked.
Of course, there are some foods that Southerners are going to want, no matter how much they pay for premium seating.
“Believe it or not, the most popular item is fried chicken,” Bullard said. “It’s going to be a staple, no matter how casual or upscale the venue is. People love it.”
Fun facts: By the numbers
In the Champions Club, Southern Way Catering has a specialty station every game. A look at some things it might include:
100 pounds: Poached scallops
80 pounds: Hand-pattied crab cakes
500 paninis: Built and made during the game
35 dozen: Petit fours
20 dozen: Macaroons
Tailgate options to go
Don’t want to deal with food prep but still want to tailgate? No worries – there are food options available within walking distance of Williams-Brice Stadium.
Bernie’s Chicken
1311 Bluff Road; (803) 256-2888
What to order: Boxes of fried chicken or wings, chicken salad, egg salad, pimento cheese sandwiches and sweet tea
How to order: A day or two in advance for large orders.
Good to know: Bernie’s opens at 8 a.m. for games starting at noon, 11 a.m. for night games, and closes at kickoff.
Doc’s Barbecue
1601 Shop Road; (803) 799-1532, www.docsbarbeque.com
What to order: Tailgate packages with barbecue, fried chicken and wing combinations; meats and sides by the pound
How to order: Place orders by noon Tuesday for game day Saturday pick-up or delivery. Yes, Doc’s will deliver your order to your tailgate parking spot.
Good to know: Doc’s will have three pop-up locations around Williams-Brice for last-minute purchases. Tailgating orders include utensils packs, plates, cups and serving spoons.
Waffle House
1210 Bluff Road; (803) 544-9685, www.wafflehouse.com
What to order: Waffles, of course – and burgers and salads
How to order: There are no tailgate specials available; 10 percent service charge added for to-go orders for servers who prepare them.
Good to know: Waffle House at Williams-Brice offers one free waffle per customer the day of or day after a home game with a game ticket stub. Restaurant is open 24/7/365.
The Southern Belly
1332 Rosewood Drive; (803) 667-9533, www.southernbellybbq.com
What to order: Barbecue!
How to order: By the pound. Catering available. Large orders need to be placed the Monday before a Saturday home game.
Good to know: Limited tailgating space at the restaurant. Come and sit outside on the patio and watch the game projected on to a 16-foot-by-12-foot screen in the parking lot. Bar closes at 2 a.m.
Seawell’s
1125 Rosewood Drive; (803) 771-7385, seawellscateringsc.com
What to order: Seawell’s has tailgate specials available for pick-up.
How to order: Call Corey Seawell, (803) 960-7373. Orders must be placed by 4 p.m. Thursday before a Saturday home game, or by 4 p.m. Tuesday for Thursday night games.
Good to know: Tailgating spots are available in the paved and grass lots. Contact Gary Seawell for information, (803) 920-1263.
This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 6:17 PM.