Chef Spotlight: NOLA Chefs

These events are dedicated to the many chefs who have shaped our culture and our palates. In these "Chef Spotlight Dinners" a specific chef is highlighted where attendees prepare a recipe created by the chef and bring it to share potluck style. During the event, we can discuss our thoughts on the chef, their cooking style/cuisine and the recipes prepared.From these events, you'll take away a better sense of who these chefs were and how they have contributed to the culinary world - not to mention the recipes and a full belly!

In remembrance of Hurricane Katrina that swept through New Orleans three years ago, let's pay homage to the culinary talent that managed to withstand the winds and rains. Those chefs include:

Frank Davis - New Orleans - our own beloved "Strictly N'Awlins Kitchen" in now on line for us all to enjoy. You can get his cook books, fishing lines and much, much more.

Paul Prudhomme - New Orleans - Learn the secrets of this New Orleans Chef's Magic Seasonings. Come browse his recipes and shop his newest catalog.

Scott Boswell - New Orleans - He serves polished European fare with Asian accents and bold Creole flavors.

Tony Chachere - New Orleans - an "Ole Master" of Cajun cooking. His superb cooking ability, excellent sportsmanship and colorful life have made him a legend in the Gulf South. His peers honored him in 1995 as the first inductee into Louisiana's Chef Hall of Fame.

John Besh - owner and executive chef at Restaurant August in New Orleans, Louisiana (twice on Gourmet Magazine's list of Best Restaurants). He was named one of the Ten Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine in 1999.[4] In 2006, he won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Southeast.

Jacques "Jack" Leonardi - Jacques-Imo's Cafe has become one of the hottest food tickets in town, known for its eclectic mix of New Orleans cooking, reasonable prices and its irrepressible ownerchef, Leonardi, who holds court each night dressed in an (often stained) white chef's jacket, shorts and Birkenstock clogs.

Susan Spicer - named one of Food and Wine's 10 Best New Chefs and received the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Southeast Region. Bayona has been featured in Bon Appetit and Food and Wine featured Susan in their 2000 Thanksgiving issue. She has received the DiRoNa designation from Distinguished Restaurants of North America, the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence, and Bayona was voted Number One in Gourmet Reader's Choice Poll of America's Top Tables, New Orleans.

Leah Chase - Known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, she promoted African American art and Creole cooking. Her restaurant, Dooky Chase, was known as a gathering place during the 1960s among many who participated in the Civil Rights movement; and, her restaurant was known as a gallery due to its extensive African American Art collection.

BLOGGERS:
Share a Cajun or Creole inspired dish or one of any of the highlighted chefs above for this blogging adventure!

1) Make a Cajun or Creole inspired dish or one of a New Orleans chef (see above) and create a blog post about it from now until the midnight, AUGUST 9th.

2) Add a link back to my blog within your blog post, Joelen's Culinary Adventures.

3) Send an email with the following information to itsjoelen@gmail.com:
- Title of the blogging adventure in subject line
- Your name
- Your state, country location
- Your food blog name & link to your event entry
- Picture of your entry

You can participate even if you don't have a blog. Non-bloggers can email the above information (sans blog details) and I'll include it in the round up.

But wait... there's also a GIVEAWAY! Participate and you just might receive a giveaway item related to the blogging event. The chosen blogger for the giveaway will be contacted via email when the round up is posted to obtain mailing information. Good luck and hope you can join me in my Culinary Adventures!