David Bertrand runs Shucks seafood house in Abbeville, Louisiana with an eye for detail. Along with his partner Bert Istre, they share a keen understanding of the tastes of their South Louisiana customers. This is not a tourist haunt, and it’s not an upscale, white-tablecloth eatery with a big-name chef. In fact, David is quick…
Baked Oysters with Collards and Cajun Hollandaise
With this Baked Oysters with Collards and Cajun Hollandaise, the salty Gulf oyster hides underneath cloaked in a Rockefeller type covering of bacon-infused greens and a spicy hollandaise for a perfect one-bite dish that will send you back for more. Another dozen, please. If you’ve never been to the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama,…
Chicken Wings with Alabama White Sauce and Grilled Peaches
These chicken wings fly deep into the South where the smokehouse infuses dark hickory flavor, and the BBQ sauce lightens it up with a tangy balance. Spicy and full of chicken flavor, these wings have a smoky finish, and when slathered with a vinegary sauce and paired with grilled peaches, it just may be the…
Curried Meatballs Skillet
Hot and spicy, smooth, and saucy, one bite of this Curried Meatballs Skillet will bring your guests back for more. Meatballs meet Asian spice in this Curried Meatballs Skillet, my addictive party food recipe. Curry is one of those ingredients that have a wide following; I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love it. And in…
Cheese-Crust Shrimp and Mushroom Pizza
This carb-friendly Cheese-Crust Shrimp and Mushroom Pizza is the best thing since sliced you-know-what. The crackle of the cheddar crust is the first signal that this is no ordinary pizza dough. As the ooze of the melted mozzarella cloaks the earthy and ocean combo of Gulf shrimp and button mushrooms, this simple (and quick) recipe…
How To Build a Charcuterie Board For Your Next Party
So, what do you do when you don’t know what to cook? Don’t cook. Yes, I said it: This is a post on my food blog that’s advocating not to cook. No recipe, no pots and pans, no hot stovetop, and no fuss. This Charcuterie Board will change the way you think about entertaining with…
Crawfish Hand Pies
I love hand-held savory pies. And I especially crave them when stuffed with spicy crawfish filling and baked golden brown to crispy perfection in a puff pastry crust. These Crawfish Hand Pies are what I call “perfect pies” with a spike of heat, full of flavor, and the elegance of buttery, flaky pastry. Hand pies…
Unbridled Brie Jammin’ with bacon
Crispy golden brown pastry on top, flaky piecrust on the bottom, and a velvet creaminess oozing mellow flavors spiked with the porky flavor of bacon—that’s my Bacon Jam Baked Brie — a down-on-the-bayou, French Louisiana version of a classic baked brie. Baking a round of brie cheese in pastry has been around for decades, and…
The Italian Side of Cajun
There’s no appetizer more dramatic than an Italian Stuffed Artichoke in all its regal glory. Each tender olive oil-laced leaf holding onto a treasure chest of Italian ingredients, and all baked just long enough to meld those exotic tastes together. This simple Cajun recipe version makes a culinary statement and packs a wallop of flavor. I’ve…
Fire-Roasted Red Pepper Pimento Cheese
In the Deep South, pimento cheese is the mortar that holds society together. Whether sandwiched between two slices of white bread or elegantly stuffed in a stalk of celery, no Southerner worth his salt would be without a basic pimento cheese recipe. And my recipe for Red Pepper Pimento Cheese ups the ante with Creole…