Book Review: New Orleans Classic Brunches by Kit Wohl

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Welcome to our first stop with some unique NOLA gift ideas for Mother's Day!

Synopsis: It makes perfect sense that the Big Easy, with its knack for nostalgia as well as its passion for living in the moment and savoring it, would be the home of so many decadent recipes for that most luxurious of meals—brunch. In this gorgeously photographed book, Kit Wohlhas compiled fifty recipes from the city’s legendary restaurants and chefs, complete with straightforward instructions for attaining easy elegance any time of the day.

Included are such classics as Grits & Grillades from Feelings Cafe, Huckleberry Pancakes from Commander’s Palace, and Bananas Foster from Brennan’s, as well as more eclectic favorites like Fried Chicken & Waffles from Lüke, Gruyere Biscuits & Ham Creollaise from the Uptowner, and Eggs & Crabmeat Hash from Mr. B’s Bistro. Of course no New Orleans brunch would be complete without some eye openers to accompany the meal like a classic Café Brulot from Antoine’s, a refreshing Pimm’s Cup a la Napoleon House, or an elegant Bellini Baby from Chef Gary Darling.

This addition to the Classic Recipes Series provides tips, techniques, escapades, and inspirations from these culinary masters. All recipes are adapted with the nonprofessional cook in mind and all have been home-kitchen tested. Many of the dishes are extremely easy to make while duplicating spectacular recipes from beloved New Orleans chefs and restaurants in your own home. Celebrate the week past and toast the one ahead with a New Orleans’ style celebration—brunch!

Review: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cookbook! It has the best of the best local recipes! and the pictures? Well they will have you DROOLING and wishing to be back in New Orleans (if you've left!). You wull find yourself going through the book and checking off places you have eaten at, and the meals you have eaten. Then going back and marking the recipes you want to try next! There is no way you c an go through this book and NOT be hungry! If you're looking for a true NOLA cookbook for a Mother's Day gift, check out this one!


I had to share one of the best recipes in the book- Leah Chase's Breakfast Shrimp and Baked Cheese Grits! In fact, the last picture in the book is a close up of her hands- very stirring and a perfect monument to the women who have changed how NOLA eats! 

Breakfast Shrimp and Baked Cheese Grits


Nationally known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, Dooky Chase chef-owner Leah Chase has been cooking for more than 50 years. In 1946, Leah married Dooky Chase, Jr., and went to work in the restaurant owned by her husband’s parents. Through the years, Leah transformed the menu to reflect her own family’s Creole roots. This dish is attributed to her, but no one knows for sure! At 89 yrs old, she IS a NOLA institution!


Ingredients:

4 tomatoes (very ripe)

1 quart boiling water

1 (4-ounce) stick unsalted butter

½ cup onion, diced

½ cup bell peppers, diced

2 cloves fresh garlic, fine chopped

2 pounds medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 recipe baked cheese and grits (recipe follows)

Directions:

1. In a 2 quart sized pot ½ full, bring water to a boil. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, dip tomatoes into the boiling water for 15 to 20 seconds. Remove, rinse under cold water, slide off peels, core, seed and chop. Set aside.

2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions, green peppers and garlic. Stir (sauté) until onions are transparent (clear). Add tomatoes, shrimp, and paprika, salt, cayenne pepper and basil leaves. Stir 10 minutes or until shrimp are cooked (pink throughout). 

3. Serve over grits and garnish with chopped parsley. Serves 6.

About the Author

Kit Wohl is an author and artist with a passion for the culinary arts. She works with chefs, restaurants, and hotels across the country. Her first book, Arnaud’s Restaurant Cookbook: New Orleans Legendary Creole Cuisine, published by Pelican, received national acclaim. Her previous contributions to the Classic Recipes Series include New Orleans Classic Desserts, New Orleans Classic Appetizers, New Orleans Classic Seafood, and New Orleans Classic Gumbos and Soups. Wohl and her husband, Billy, live in the Big Easy with a trio of Abyssinian cats.







Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from pelican Publishing, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or other, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it