AVON — The owners of Cajuns Café brought more than just their New Orleans-style home cooking to Central Indiana — they also brought their New Orleans Saints’ spirit.

“We’re Saints fans, true Saints fans,” restaurant owner Elgin DeJean said. “But it’s win-win because Peyton (Manning) is from New Orleans. That’s where his roots are from, so it’s a win-win.”

Though the owners, Elgin and his wife, Tish, have lived in Indiana for 10 years, they say they’ll always be Saints fans. Tish DeJean likens their authentic support of the Saints to their home cooking. She said they just can’t be fake Colts fans.

“Do you want me to serve fake food? No, this is authentic New Orleans cooking,” she said.

“We’re 99.99 percent Saints fans,” Elgin added.

Tish said they’ve been waiting for the Saints to have a winning season for 20 years.

“Colts fans are used to winning,” she said. “Saints fans are not used to winning. For Saints fans, we’re enjoying being winners (this season).”

The pair have family in New Orleans and know that the team being in the Super Bowl means so much to a city that has had it’s fair share of heartache since Hurricane Katrina.

“When we talk to them, they said, ‘Tish, we can’t describe it, it’s beyond what you can imagine,’” she said.

And in the spirit of a game that has ties both in Indiana and Louisiana (for both teams — Manning is from New Orleans and Saints quarterback Drew Brees played college football at Purdue University), the Cajuns Café troop has entered into a friendly competition of their own.

“We’ve got a little bet going on with the Blue Crew out in Castleton,” Elgin said.

Randy Collins, owner of the Blue Crew Sports Grill, and the DeJeans have a friendly rivalry over their teams going on, with the benefit being free labor for a day for the winner. The Blue Crew Sports Grill, which has a blue and white 1970 Mack fire truck parked out front and is decked out in blue and white throughout, is on 96th Street in Indianapolis.

They have decided that if the Colts win on Sunday, the DeJeans will go up to Collins’ establishment and work for the day, and vice-versa if the Saints win.

Collins is confident in his team’s ability to keep him from donning a Saints outfit and working at Cajuns Café.

“He’s coming up next week,” Collins said. “I’m pretty excited about that. If (the Saints win), I’ll be out in your area, doing cleaning and washing dishes, and whatever.”

Collins and the DeJeans said they’ll go back to being friends once the game is over.

“We’ve been doing stuff, it’s pretty funny,” Collins said. “But he’s living in some kind of fantasy world (because he thinks the Saints will win). We’ll be friends when this is all over. But if we’re going to lose to somebody, I wouldn’t mind losing to the Saints. We’ve been to the Super Bowl, but one more wouldn’t hurt. We’ve got our ring, but there are 10 fingers on a hand.”

Tish said the attitude of this particular Super Bowl game is one of joy for both teams.

“We have a lot of great customers, and if the Colts lose, they’ll be devastated,” she said. “But it’s the warmest, one of the best Super Bowls I can remember. Colts fans are happy for the city of New Orleans and are happy for the fans. It’s a good thing for the city. There’s just a nice feeling to this Super Bowl. Colts fans know what it would mean for the city of New Orleans (if the Saints win).”

The DeJeans are traveling back home to watch the game with family and friends in New Orleans today.

“If for some reason the Saints did not win, I would be happy for (the Colts),” Tish said. “We love Archie Manning. They are good people. They’re in my heart. There is joy in my heart, no matter what.”





SIDEBAR:

Looking for somewhere

to watch the big game?

Several local businesses and groups in Hendricks County are offering food and drink specials and gatherings on Sunday. Among them are:

n Legends Bar and Grill in Avon

Time: Starts at 4 p.m.

What’s happening/specials: The establishment will be hosting drawings and giving away items like hats, T-shirts, inflatable footballs, and a grill. There will also be $.35 cent wings, $10 buckets of beer, and $3 Bloody Mary drinks.

For more information, call 272-9040

n Bubbaz Bar and Grill in Plainfield

Time: Starts at 4 p.m.

What’s happening/specials: Drink specials include draft Coors and Miller Light for $2, well drinks for $2, buckets of five bottles of beer for $10.

For more information, call 839-1413

n Wings, Etc. on Raceway Road

Time: Open during regular business hours

What’s happening/specials: Lunch specials will run until 2 p.m. Sunday. Beer specials include five domestic bottles in a bucket for $10, five import bottles in a bucket for $15, and $3 Bloody Marys.

For more information, call 273-0850.

n Quarter Mile Pub in Brownsburg

Time: Noon to 3 a.m. Saturday; Noon to midnight Sunday

What’s happening/specials: There will be a pre-game tailgate party Saturday night with drink specials and half-price pizzas and appetizers. On Sunday, the pub will bring back it’s “Best Seat in the House” drawing, for one winner and three friends to enjoy the comforts of a recliner and couch to view the game. There will be $1 hot dogs, stadium nachos, .$25 chicken wings and blue-themed food, including blue margaritas and Jell-O shots.

For more information, call 858-3363.

n Bailey’s Jury Room in Danville

Time: Starts at 4 p.m.

What’s happening/specials: The kitchen will be closed, but patrons are encouraged to bring a covered dish for a pitch-in style viewing party.

For more information, call 745-6424.

n Booney’s in Avon

Time: Starts at Noon.

What’s happening/specials: Food specials will run throughout the day, drink specials include a “Saints don’t know Jack” drink for $3.50, a blue bomb for $3.50, a blue brew for $5, and a touchdown shot for $3. Pitchers of Blue Moon will be on sale for $7. There will also be hourly drawings throughout the day.

For more information, call 272-1839

n Life Church in Indianapolis

Time: Starts at 6 p.m.

What’s happening/specials: Tailgating food will be provided. The address is 400 N. High School Road, Indianapolis.

For more information, visit the website at www.LifeChurchIndy.com.

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com