For the most part, Cajun food is perceived to be rural fare cooked in a black iron pot, and while that summation is partly correct, it misses the big picture. Cajun cooking is steeped in the tradition of sourcing the freshest ingredients available, of layering those ingredients into multi-tiered flavors and textural contrasts, and spicing…
Cajun Rice Bowl with Griddled Shrimp
Brown rice isn’t my thing, but my daughter Lo (remember, she moved to La La Land) recently teamed up with Roxanne to add a healthier regimen to my Acadiana Table. Ok, so roasted pork belly, bacon-wrapped meat loaf, and boudin gravy need to be brought into balance with a few healthy choices; although I don’t…
Cajun Shrimp Skillet
As the height of the Louisiana shrimp season approaches with the opening of inshore shrimping, I start my annual craving for all things shrimp. Sometimes I feel like a character in the movie Forrest Gump as I reel off my list of favorite Cajun recipes: shrimp gumbo, shrimp Creole, shrimp jambalaya, fried shrimp, stuffed shrimp,…
Fried Green Tomato Shrimp Rémoulade
When I glance at a menu and see anything featuring rémoulade sauce, I’m salivating. Usually, it’s a straightforward shrimp appetizer served on a bed of shredded iceberg that in the hands of a cook that has their rémoulade repertoire figured out is well worth ordering. But recently I was astounded to find a spin on shrimp rémoulade…
Kale Caesar with Grilled Shrimp Skewers
For the past few years, fresh kale has been on a run showing up on restaurant menus all over America. Even here at my Acadiana Table, I’ve tossed it into soups, braised it in stews and served it pan sautéed as a side dish. So, this weekend I stumbled on a neat trick while making…
Coconut Shrimp with Cilantro Mango Cream and Jasmine Rice and Beans
Spending two weeks in Hawaii is good for the soul. “Recharge the batteries,” my wife Roxanne says, “reboot your operating system,” my daughter Lauren likes to call it, but my personal favorite is “clean out the cobwebs.” Whatever. As a Louisiana-based food writer covering culinary culture, I find myself on a lifelong journey of sorts. …