Story by Daniel Schumacher
Cooking in Louisiana is not really about recipes. It’s not about precise measures, obscure ingredients, or short-lived trends either. When the Louisiana Cookin’ team began the process of putting a cookbook together, we aimed to capture the essence of Louisiana: its seasons, its traditions, its unique flavors. In about 160 pages, we had a lot of ground to cover: the classic Creole flavors of New Orleans and southeast Louisiana, rustic Cajun home cooking, and the more Southern-influenced fare of the Bayou State’s northern regions.
While eating seasonally has been a popular mantra across the country for quite a few years now, Louisianans have always cooked that way. Spoonfuls of shrimp Creole when tomatoes are at their peak, raw oysters during a cold snap, and generous hunks of king cake before things get real on Lundi Gras are a joy, and a joy best shared in their season with the people you love best. Throughout the book, you will find meals that suit typical seasons as well as Louisiana’s homegrown seasons (Mardi Gras, crawfish, and football among them).
The recipes in Cajun & Creole Family Table were thoughtfully created with an eye toward tradition, flavor, and ease of preparation, but they aren’t intended to be the ultimate destination. In the beginning of the collection, we included an extensive set of resources, including ingredients and techniques that will particularly help newcomers to Louisiana cooking (such as roux basics and information on the trinity), but even seasoned cooks will find some useful tips.
I started off with what Louisiana cooking isn’t, so let’s finish up with what it is. It’s togetherness. You don’t make a gumbo for two. When you make a gumbo, it’s an event. It’s about getting family and friends around a big table without a screen in sight. You might already have a favorite jambalaya or sauce piquante, but I hope that as you look through the deeply satisfying recipes throughout this collection, you might get inspired to reconsider your tried-and-true versions. Wherever you are in your relationship with Louisiana cooking, I hope these dishes help you create memorable times with the people you love best.
