Recipe Weekend/ Book Review: Broussard's Restaurant and Courtyard Cookbook By Ann Benoit and the Preuss Family

And now for the final NOLA cookbook on our Mother's Day guide- 

we saved the best for last!

Synopsis: Broussard’s, one of the “Grande Dames of Creole Cuisine,” grew out of a love story and that tradition has defined the legacy that the Preuss family now nourishes. Broussard’s pays homage to its nineteenth-century roots while embracing a new generation’s esthetic. As a leader in New Orleans cuisine, Broussard’s continually re-creates the Creole tradition, bringing about a flawless melding of time honored classics with modern flavors and contemporary trends.

With a mélange of flavors and influences, the table is set and the environment delights. The courtyard is home to the oldest wisteria in the French Quarter. The interior rooms are a sensory explosion of custom-designed, hand-painted wall tiles by New Orleans artist Charles Reinike, tulip chandeliers à la Marie Antoinette, a collection of exquisite Venetian masks, and elegant place settings. 


Through delightful stories and luscious photographs, each chapter serves up a feast for the senses complete with house recipes accompanied by wine and music parings to recreate the romance of the Broussard’s experience. From Crawfish Broussard served to Pope John Paul II, to the sophisticated Poached Pears Madame Preuss, more than seventy original recipes are revealed to the aspiring home cook. These pages provide a unique tour of one of the most modern establishments in New Orleans imbued with the ambience of its romantic history.

Review: WOW- if you love NOLA, you are gonna LOVE this book for the pictures of the city alone! They are just stunning! Then there is the recipes and history of Broussard's! if you only take ONE cookbook home with you from NOLA, take this one! This is definely one of those books where the pictures tell more than the recipes! The history of the restaurant is interwoven in the lovely intro section, and continues through the pictures- be sure to read the notes on the pictures! 

And the recipes? BEYOND yummy- most are not that hard or time consuming. IF you've ever eaten at Broussard's, you'll be very happy with the recipes that are included. You'll want to keep this cookbook out on the coffee table for sure, which means it is THE perfect gift for Mom!

And speaking of Mom- one of Broussard's famous recipes is very close to the one that my Mom makes, so I knew it was the perfect one to share! Mom adores this book, so I know your Mom will too!

Broussard's Crawfish Etoufee:

Ingredients

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell peppers
• 6 yellow Creole onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 teaspoon tomato sauce
• 1 pound peeled crawfish tails
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 cup chicken, fish or crawfish stock
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
• 3 tablespoons minced parsely
• Broussard's Creole Seasonings Mix (see below for recipe)

Directions

1. In a large sauce pan over medium high heat, melt the butter, but do not brown. Add bell pepper and saute for 2 minutes. Add onions, celery, and tomato paste, and saute until soft.  Add the crawfish tails. 

2. Dissolve cornstarch in stock (or water, if not available) and add to onion mixture, stirring constantly. Season to taste with the Creole Seasonings.

3. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook for 15 minutes.

4, Add green onion tops and 2 tablespoon of the parsley, and mix well. Garnish with remaining parsley, before serving.

Broussard's Creole Seasoning Mix

Ingredients

1/2 cup paprika

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (red pepper)

1/2 teaspoon dried Thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoons dried Tarragon, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon dried Basil, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all ingredients well. Store in airtight container. Mixture can easily be doubled/tripled, and is perfect for gift giving as well (Teacher Appreciate week is fast approaching!)

About the Authors:

Ann Benoit is a food historian inspired by her respect for the Creole tradition of New Orleans.

Gunter Preuss is an award-winning chef profiled in the PBS series Great Chefs of New Orleans. His wife, Evelyn Preuss, is integral to the elegant atmosphere of Broussard’s. Their son, Marc Preuss, serves as the restaurant’s general manager.

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