First, may I start by saying I’m not a drinker. In fact, I’ve never been a drinker, but I know plenty of them, which is why I was super excited to be able to cover the Coors Light Magic City Classic VIP Tailgate in Birmingham, Alabama during the 74th Annual Magic City Classic football game. I was excited because I knew my friends would enjoy the festivities and Coors beer, and they did. I knew I would enjoy being able to do what I love to do and that’s eat good food, meet new people, hear great music and write all about it. And I did! It was a win-win for all. And speaking of wins…Yay, Hornets!

Let me just cut straight to the chase. Celebrity Chef Jason Ellis is a beast! And by beast, I am in no way referring to how he towered over my friends and me while we posed for an impromptu photo which slowed up the food line and warranted us a few side-eyes from the eager feasters.

The menu, worth the 35 minutes we waited in line, consisted of fish fried and seasoned so perfectly it practically oozed with a buttery taste and was so filled with flavor I forgot the two slices of soft white bread I’d picked up to accompany it. There were grits so delightful we played a round of “guess what’s in these grits” at my table and still couldn’t figure out what made them better than my Mama’s on her best day (and my Mama can cook everyday!). He served us rice, laden with large and succulent crawfish, hot-off-the-grill grilled chicken as pleasing to the eye as it was to the palate, and fresh, crunchy cole slaw with a spicy kick which snuck up on the back of your throat with the surprise attack of an adolescent playing an old-school round of hide and go seek, yet it made you want more and more.

Topped off by ample Coors brand beers and other stronger elixirs, crowd-wowing concerts by acts like Young Joc (who put on quite a show, by the way), academy award winning artist and my sisters “boo in her head” rapper Juicy J and others, so much mingling in an atmosphere best described as electric, and a surprise visit by Magic City Classic Ambassador Anthony Anderson, the event made it hard for me to leave to go in the game.

I don’t know what the intentions of the celebrity chef known for his stint on Season 7 of Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen were when he entered Legion Field, but thanks to Coors Light he came. He served. He satisfied and he left us sleepy in that “I just devoured some slumber-inducing, good, old-fashioned soul food” kind of way. He also left this blogger in need of just one more piece of fish. Kudos, Coors Light and their team of coordinators for putting a bit more magic in the Classic! And kudos all the more for the proverbial cherry on top in the form of your very generous $10,000 donation to Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University. This Magic City Classic Coors Light VIP Tailgate experience was certainly one for Facebook and the record books!

@AngelaMMoore316