Who knew you could craft a whole lunch menu around shrimp? Host Brigitte Lemmerman and co-host Gerene Leffingwell selected 10 amazing recipes representing the wonderful cuisine of New Orleans, Louisiana. While shrimp played a large role (remoulade, creole, hot dip), we also enjoyed some muffuletta, red beans and rice, black eyed pea salad, crawfish corn chowder, pecan pralines and Cajun cake. A special treat was an authentic "Hurricane" cocktail concocted by Brigitte. We shared stories of pickling ham, making roux, finding crawfish tails at the Butcher Shop and shaping pralines before they set up. Brigitte and Gerene were well organized in all aspects of the event and were the most gracious of hosts. Lots of laughter and great conversation were shared and we all left with an appreciation of this great style of food. Thanks to the hosts and to the cooks. We were all so busy having fun and eating that no photos were taken, but a cookbook cover will have to suffice. See you in January for Cuban food.
