Kevin Belton's Cookin' Louisiana: Flavors from the Parishes of the Pelican State

by Kevin Belton, Denny Culbert (Photographer)

Overview

Cook your way across Louisiana with beloved chef Kevin Belton’s newest cookbook!

2021 Foreword Indies, Honorable Mention: Cooking

Kevin Belton’s fourth cookbook and television series focuses on the amazing food found throughout Louisiana. The star of New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton heads to multiple parishes found across Louisiana to explore dishes and unique flavor profiles associated with each area of the state. Kevin Belton’s Cookin’ Louisiana has 78 recipes (3 from each episode of the coordinating TV series) along with a generous helping of Kevin’s captivating stories and humor. Recipes include Smoked Meat Loaf with Sweet Glaze, Louisiana Fish on the Half Shell, Cane Syrup Cake, Pumpkin Soup, Fried Alligator Bites, and Shrimp Scampi Risotto.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423658382
Publisher:	Smith, Gibbs Publisher
Publication date:	08/31/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	71,841
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Kevin Belton is a nationally and internationally recognized chef and educator as well as the star of PBS/WYES’s New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton, and now Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen. Belton is known for his expertise in creating New Orleans cuisine and sharing the culture and culinary heritage of the greatest city in the world. He resides in New Orleans.

Denny Culbert is a commercial and editorial food/travel photographer located in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is also the cofounder of Runaway Dish—a nonprofit supporting the culinary community of Lafayette.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Kevin Belton's Cookin' Louisiana 9

Lafourche Parish and Lafourche Crossing: Kevin's Family 13

St. Martin Parish: Crawfish Capital 19

Iberia Parish: Sugar Cane Country 27

Lafayette Parish: Epicenter of Cajun Cuisine 35

Acadia Parish: Rice Central 43

St. Landry Parish: Prairie Sampler 51

Evangeline Parish: Cajun Heartland 57

Rapides Parish: Heart of Louisiana 63

Avoyelles Parish: Smack Dab in the Middle 71

Toledo Bend: Lake Country 79

Natichoches and the Cane River 87

Red River Riches: Northwest Louisiana 93

Sportsman's Paradise 101

Delta Delights: Northeast Louisiana 109

Louisiana State Beverage: Milk Does a Dish Good 115

Baton Rouge: Red Stick Capital 123

Cameron and Vermilion Parishes: Coastal Culture 131

Calcasieu Parish: Lake Charles 137

Fisherman's Paradise 143

River Parishes: Côte des Allemands 149

Sensational Seafood: Louisiana's Crowning Glory 157

Pick-Your-Own: Louisiana's Family Friendly Farms 163

Plaquemines Parish: Louisiana Citrus 171

Florida Parishes: Cultural Crossroads 177

St. Bernard Parish: New Orleans' Most Historic Neighbor 187

New Orleans: Cookin' in the Crescent City 195

Glossary and Guide to Knowing, Loving, and Understanding Louisiana 202

Index 204

Editorial Reviews

06/21/2021

Cajun cooking gets a worthy celebration in the inviting latest from Belton (Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Celebrations), host of PBS’s New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton. He groups his recipes by the city, parish (Louisiana’s version of a county), or region each is influenced by and provides historical and cultural context for each section; for instance, he explains how Canary Islanders brought along mirliton squash when they settled in St. Bernard Parish in the late 1700s, then follows with a recipe for mirliton stuffed with shrimp and ham. Other missives are anecdotal: before sharing a recipe for fried catfish with dipping sauce, he recalls fishing with his dad along the Mississippi River and meeting a fisherman who caught an 80-pound catfish. Additional highlights include crawfish burgers from Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish, “the Crawfish Capital of the World”; smoked meat gumbo from Avoyelles Parish, where there are annual Cajun pig roast festivals; and a shrimp boil inspired by the abundance of rice grown in Acadia Parish. Readers who aren’t acquainted with Louisiana’s rich and varied cuisine will enjoy the straightforward instructions and a glossary to “understanding Louisiana,” which explains, for instance, the region’s Creole-influenced terms, such as cher, “the Cajun word for dear.” This is an excellent introduction to recreating dishes from Cajun Country. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Cookin’ Louisiana is an exuberant tasting tour of the state’s sixty-four parishes.

[It] is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn more about regional American food traditions or who may be contemplating a foodcentric road trip to the Pelican State. Its endearing storytelling, tempting recipes, and evocative photographs are a beguiling combination.

Rachel Jagareski

Even collections that have numerous Creole and Cajun cookbooks already in their holdings will find these parish-arranged dishes exceptional, and their accompanying color photos mouth-watering.

Donovan's Literary Services

… a cookbook filled with mouthwatering recipes that will have you craving more. Kevin Belton has done it again!

Southern Kissed - Lynda

Kevin Bolton’s expert guidance unveils Louisiana’s incredible variety … .  [Y]ou will find many recipes to give you a taste of what Louisiana cooking is––delicious!

Seattle Book Review

… a mighty fine cookbook that explores the cuisine of Louisiana parish by parish, including all kinds of local and regional specialties you might not find in your average Southern cookbook.

Magnolia Days - Katie Moseman