Latest news with #EmerilLagasse
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
5 Luxury Items on Sale at Sam's Club To Buy for Wedding Gifts
Finding the right gift doesn't have to come with a high price tag. Sam's Club offers a surprising selection of luxury items that are perfect for newlyweds. Read More: Find Out: Whether you're shopping for kitchen appliances, a cleaning tool or a home projector, these deals make it easy to give a memorable gift without overspending. Price: $129.96 With 10 different cooking functions, the Emeril Lagasse French Door AirFryer, which normally sells for $169.96, makes the perfect gift for the couple who loves to cook but has limited time in the kitchen. The 360 Air Crisp Technology will also cook food that is frozen to the perfect temperature with high-speed super-heated air. A whole meal can be cooked simultaneously in the 26-quart capacity chamber. Discover Next: Price: $164.98 Give the gift of clean floors and time saved to the newlyweds. bObsweep Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop uses SLAM technology and LiDAR navigation to map out rooms and keep track of the surroundings and location as it cleans. Download the app to customize the cleaning routine and schedule to personal specifications. The bObsweep can easily switch from vacuum cleaner to mop whenever it is needed. Save $335 off the regular price of $499.98. Price: $69.98 Couples who love espresso or cappuccino will love the gift of the De'Longhi Espresso and Cappuccino Machine. It has two thermostats for water and steam pressure, an Advanced Cappuccino System with the ability to maintain the exact temperature to brew cup after cup and an adjustable tray for different size cups. The regular price is $119.98. Price: $249.91 The Mogo 2 Pro Portable Projector, which has a regular price of $298, is a great gift for newlyweds with its ability to connect to Android TV and Chromecast. It also features built-in surround sound speakers and the D65 color temperature standard used in Hollywood to ensure a professional entertainment experience at home. Price: $279.98 For the couple who loves to bake, the KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer comes with four attachments, two different-sized bowls and a spatula. The three-point locking bowl and bowl lift design allows for twice the power and stability when mixing dense or heavy ingredients. This KitchenAid Mixer even has a half speed to ensure fruit or other ingredients, like egg whites, get folded into the batter instead of overbeating them. Save $100 off the regular price of $379.98. Editor's note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location. More From GOBankingRates Do These 5 Things Before You Book Your Next Trip 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses This article originally appeared on 5 Luxury Items on Sale at Sam's Club To Buy for Wedding Gifts
Buzz Feed
21-04-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
33 Products To Help You Discover Your Inner Home Chef
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. I can hear Ina Garten's approval from here. 1. An Emeril Lagasse dual zone air fryer over combo with precise temperature control for both sides so you can cook two very different items at once (and in two different ways). It has the capability to air fry, bake, cook pizza, reheat, dehydrate, roast, broil, grill, toast, keep items warm, slow cook, and can be used as a rotisserie. Bam! Emeril is still killin' it! Promising review:"What a great product! We love the duality of this oven. We can toast on one side while baking on the other. Simple to use, no fan or door issues that others reported. It was delivered about a month ago, and since then, we have used it several times a day, every day. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS!!" — B Fox Get it from Amazon for $329.99. 2. Or a Ninja Crispi Air Fryer system that'll have you feeling like you've just become an American Ninja Kitchen Warrior. Throw your go-to lazy day meal of nuggets and fries into the glass container, attach it to the air fryer, then enjoy the fruits of your labor straight out of the same container. Amazon, Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Crispi Air Fryer System in action. Each air fryer comes with the "PowerPod," two containers (a 4-quart and a 6-quart), and lids. The PowerPod has auto-shutoff and four modes: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp. The "feet" are heat-safe, so you can prop it on any surface, no problem. Promising review: "I got my Ninja Crisper today and reheated some stuffed bread with feta cheese and spinach, and it did a wonderful job. I t was like it just came out of the oven the first time. Nice and crispy outside, but the inside heated just right. I love that the bottom glass can be covered with the lid it comes with. They come with a metal plate you can put in the glass bottom part, and it actually fits into the lid, so it doesn't get lost. The glass makes a difference in the taste, too. It is a great product and well worth it." — Jennifer Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in three colors). 3. A grape, strawberry, and tomato cutter will help you slice 'em up so gorgeously that a charcuterie board will hate to see you coming! Reviewers have also noted using the tool to cut meats and bagels evenly (which is no easy feat!). Amazon, Rapid Slicer is a small business! Promising reviews:" My husband and I use this almost every day. We love cherry tomatoes and green olives in our salad. Using the rapid slicer cut our slicing time down to about one minute! Love this product!" — Scout Get it from Amazon for $15.95. 4. An oil mister that'll help you perfectly cover your ingredients without getting your hands covered in grease so you can promptly get back to aimlessly scrolling your phone while your veggies cook. Promising review: "What a nice set for spraying oil and vinegar. I love that the containers are glass and very durable. The set comes with two little funnels for filling the bottles and a brush for cleaning the bottles. The bottles are not too big, so they don't take up too much room on my counter. The set is so nice that I might get another set for a second type of oil and soy sauce." — LB Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.99. 5. A clip-on strainer for any pasta fiends tired of trying to locate their colander in the back of their kitchen cabinet while their rapidly boiling water threatens to overflow — al dente noodles are at risk here, people!!! It also works great for draining excess oil out of deeper pans! Promising review: "I have a lot of kitchen gadgets, but this one gets used virtually every day. The rest come out once a season. This is great and saves space in kitchen storage, you won't need a big colander anymore." — Pen Name Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six colors). 6. A Yonanas fruit soft-serve maker to help you satiate your cravings for a sweet treat while *also* giving you an extra way to use up all the fruit you bought before it goes bad. This fantastic gadget transforms ingredients into a frosty, ice cream–like dessert without as much dairy. Promising reviews:"I absolutely love this little machine! I use it every day! It is not like a blender… The fruit comes out just like soft serve ice cream! It is incredible! Someone complained about that it is hard to is so easy to clean. Anyone on Weight is like eating free ice cream! " — L. Whitted Get it from Amazon for $35.97+ (available in five colors). 7. A veggie chopper because none of us have time to cry at the club anymore — and by "club" I mean your kitchen and by "us" I mean myself (I'm reserving for my annual viewing of Titanic). Anyways, this baby will dice up anything you throw in it at record speed. Chop, chop! Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets. Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action. Promising review:"Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.97 (available in four colors). 8. Extra long oven mitts so if you're far too focused on whether your cookies are browning enough on the bottom to realize if your bare arms are about to touch the oven rack you won't *actually* be at risk of being burnt. Promising reviews:"I absolutely love these oven mitts! It's one of those kitchen items that are a MUST, but always put off purchasing. I had criteria for what I wanted in mitts and found them. The mitts do everything they say they do and that's keeping my hands and arms safe. I highly recommend them." — Amazon Customer "Great purchase. I use these every day. Had them for a while now and they hold up beautifully." — Badgerman Get them from Amazon for $16.99 (available in six colors). 9. A stuffed waffle maker you can count on to make all of your brunch dreams come true — fill 'em with cream cheese, strawberries, chicken, or anything else your heart desires! Promising review:"Oh my goodness. This was way better than expected. Definitely only need one waffle per person, they are huge. T hey are beyond delicious and the stuffing options are endless. It does take about seven minutes to make one waffle but totally worth it. Comes out perfect every single time. No issues at all. Buy it now!" — armywife Get it from Amazon for $49.99. 10. Avocado Huggers that'll help you extend the life of that beautiful fruit you were weary about slicing in half because you KNEW you didn't need the entire thing for your recipe — this lil' tool will help keep that unused piece raring to go for tomorrow's breakfast. Food Huggers is a small business! The set comes with a large and a small size of Avocado Huggers. Promising reviews:" My niece gave me this set for Christmas last year, and I use it almost every day. It really minimizes the browning of leftover avocado. You can put it in the dishwasher, but I usually hand wash so it's ready the next time I need it." — EJ Get a set of two from Amazon for $14.99. 11. A KitchenAid stand mixer with a reputation that precedes it — and for good reason! It is the appliance of ALL appliances! In addition to helping you expand your baking/cooking repertoire, it will also become the centerpiece of your kitchen. No pressure when choosing a color. 😉 Promising reviews: " I have used this almost every day since it got here. I am disabled and this has made baking a joy. I highly suggest it for those who might not bake as much because of physical limitations. I wouldn't be able to handle stirring, and I've never been able to make something like meringue. I can now! I did it the first day. Definitely the best investment in my kitchen." — KJ Get it from Amazon for $449+ (available in 23 colors). 12. A cutting board and strainer combo, your mom will "ooh" and "ahh" over when you excitedly show it to her over Facetime while *also* asking her, "Do you think this chicken is cooked?" Amazon Promising reviews:"I love this product! I use it every day to slice or cut vegetables or fruit and then rinse them in the colander. Versatile and fits over my sink perfectly." — Jeff Wedgwood Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors). 13. A handheld garlic press that'll have you rockin' and rollin' your way to the perfectly crushed or minced ingredient your *almost* flawless sauce is missing. Amazon, Promising reviews:"I just love this item. I use it just about every day when we have something that needs fresh garlic in it." — Ann E. Linvill Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes). 14. Cut-resistant gloves for anyone who has already had the somewhat horrifying experience of slicing one of their digits. Sorry, Chef, but no one wants blood in their meatballs. Safety first! You can even pop these in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning. Promising reviews:"I got really tired of coming away with sliced fingers after manually grating cheese or potatoes. Measuring the glove size as instructed was easy, and the fit was perfect (small). I have used these gloves every day since I received them. I was going to try a mandolin, but that was more troublesome than it was worth. Just slip on the glove, and you are safe!" — S Martin Get them from Amazon for $13.49 (available in sizes S—XL). 15. And an affordable and excellent chef's knife you can use to beautifully cut up ingredients in a way even Gordon Ramsay would applaud. (And we *know* how much he loves to aggressively shout criticisms!) Mercer Culinary is a small business! Promising reviews:"Aside from a Victorinox paring knife and a filet knife, this is the ONLY knife I own. I've used it just about every day for the last two months, and only now does it seem to be losing its edge. Since I primarily cook from scratch, I've put it through quite a bit! It's survived pounds upon pounds of potatoes, onions, garlic, a few acorn squash, and carving a whole chicken. I'd say it's a sound investment for the price." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $18.22+ (available in several sizes/types). 16. A hand-powered chopper that'll have you slicing and dicing in literally seconds. If you can pull the cord on a Woody doll (you know, like from Toy Story) then, congratulations, you can chop an onion! See it in action on TikTok. Promising reviews:"Simple to use. I have used this every day for the past 10 days since receiving it. I have made salsa over and over again, and it takes me only three minutes to make. I have made hummus two times as well, and it was phenomenal." — Jill Clement Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in three colors). 17. A set of gravity-activated grinders to make you feel like you've just landed inside an episode of Futurama whenever you use 'em. No twisting or turning is needed — these automatically release freshly ground salt or pepper whenever you tip it over. Watch this TikToker use these automatic grinders while cooking! Promising reviews:"These are really beautiful and add the exact touch of copper I was looking for in my space. When used, the end lights up blue, which is very cool and gives them a modern feel. They feel heavy and solid, including the clear receptacle that holds the salt/pepper." — Pink Dragon "Pretty and so practical I love it and use it every day." — Cary Thorne Get the set of two from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three colors as well as a single grinder). 18. A rapid egg cooker with the ability to make hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, and omelets — which is about two more kinds than I know how to make on my own. Shh, don't tell anyone I'm about to rely on this gadget to make it seem like I know how to cook. With over 102,000 5-star reviews, you certainly can't go wrong. Promising reviews:"We bought this in 2020. Used it almost every day without any issues, and finally, after three years, it's time to replace it. Such an amazing product to last so long." — Shal Check out our deep dive into the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker here. Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in two sizes and 10 colors). 19. Plus a Crack'em egg cracker and spoon rest to ensure your scrambled delights will be shell-free every single time — and how cool will you look cracking eggs open singlehandedly??? Amazon Crack'em is a veteran-owned small business established in 2013 that specializes in family-friendly kitchen accessories. Check out a TikTok of the egg cracker in action. Promising reviews:"I love the quality of this product and use it every day. Haven't had to fish out errant eggshells and like the clean straight break in shell; very easy to use." — Sue P. Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in nine colors). 20. A"Gracula" garlic crusher that'll make you want to say "bleh, bleh, bleh" a la Hotel Transylvania whenever you use it — just don't let the Count hear you! With a few twists you can use it to mince garlic, ginger, nuts, chilis, and herbs. Promising review: "My entire family is IN LOVE with this little guy. He's cute as a button and put garlic on almost everything (even in some of our drinks) so we use him every day. I used to hate cleaning out our old garlic crusher, it was dishwasher safe, but bits got stuck in the edges and holes. This one doesn't hoard the garlic, does a great job of making it just as small, and is easier to wash than a cup!" — Bob & Wife Get it from Amazon for $17.95. 21. Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel Seasoning to upgrade basically everything you eat — from avocado toast, eggs, and bagels to chicken, fish, and veggies, there isn't much this seasoning won't improve. Do you need a handkerchief? Because it looks like you're already drooling over the mere thought of adding this to your dinner tonight. Samantha Wieder / BuzzFeed, My colleague swears by this simple mixture of sea salt, onion, and garlic. Check out her Everything But The Bagel Seasoning review for more deets. Promising review:"This stuff is delicious. Every day I find a new application for it. I have used on everything from pizza to pasta to burgers to steads seafood and even popcorn." — Timothy M. Get it from Amazon for $6.87. 22. And/or a bottle of truffle seasoning that'll ensure you never have to live another day without access to life-changing homemade truffle fries. It's what you DESERVE, my beautiful bougie friend. My colleague Emma Lord (pictured above) is ready to divulge why this stuff is so great: "Okay, I bought this on a whim because there's a sushi place down the street from me that makes truffle avocado sushi rolls and I was like, I need these in my life, but I also need money to live. I decided to DIY it with a regular $4 avocado roll and this seasoning and the umami bliss of it all basically exploded my brain. Since then I've tried it on eggs, on burritos, on potatoes, on chocolate mug cakes, pretty much every sweet and savory thing I can think of. The best part is you really get an excellent bang for your buck — it's so flavorful that I've been using this for months now and have barely made a dent in the container!" Promising review:"Where has this black truffle seasoning been all my life? OMG I am putting this on everything every single day. It's really that good and I put it on eggs and potatoes and even on my turkey and avocado sandwich. I need to order more." — LMK Get it from Amazon for $13.87. 23. Plus an Oxo Good Grips veggie brush to ensure your potatoes get a proper scrub down before you turn them into the delicious aforementioned truffle fries. Promising reviews: "I use this every day. Works great on all veggies — potatoes and carrots from the garden, celery, apples, mushrooms, etc. I wish I had ordered one years ago!" — Katherine Croft Get it from Amazon for $7.95. 24. A meat thermometer so you'll never have to guess your grilling skills — cook with the confidence of someone who just crushed an important exam or beat their personal Peloton record. Alpha Grillers is a family-owned small business in Nevada that sells BBQ and grilling tools. Promising review: "I really like this unit. It turns on when you unfold it and turns off after a time or when you fold it back up. It reads super fast and, so far, seems to be right on the money for accuracy. I use it almost every day, and the length makes it easy to check your turkey or roast. It is quick to change from F to C. Just push a button, and you will be ready to go. It also has the safe range of temps for the different types of meat on the handle so you have a quick reference in hand." — K Hamby Get it from Amazon for $15.99. 25. KitchenAid shears with over 69,000 5-star reviews to convince you to stop using your regular ol' crafting scissors when you're cooking. 😅 Use these to beautifully cut quesadillas or pizza into slices (a must-have for parents!) or to finally chop some herbs. Promising reviews:"These scissors do it all! From cutting poultry to removing gristle from the bottom of a tri-tip roast, and any number of other kitchen items. I'm left-handed, and the grip is comfortable. They're very easy to clean, and the plastic sheath that comes with them is a plus, preventing me from gouging myself when looking for other items in the 'sharp object' drawer. I'm thinking about getting a second pair. I highly recommend these kitchen shears!" — Suzy-Q666 "Finally! Excellent quality kitchen shears that cut easily through chicken, salmon steaks and meat. Easy clean on the top shelf of the dishwasher. I use these every day! No rust, no dulling of scissors edge." — Tiffany A. Ballinger Get it from Amazon for $9.89+ (available in six colors). 26. Plus, some herb scissors so you can chop basil, chives, and parsley as fast as if you were gunning for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records as "World's Fastest Herb Cutter." Promising review: "These are sharp and work well. I like how it cuts three pieces at a time so you can cut your herbs faster. I actually got them because we use a lot of green onion and these work well to cut that. They are easy to clean, too. They are lightweight and sturdy." — Nederland*brasil Get it from Amazon for $7.03. 27. And! A set of salad scissors that'll help you whip up a fancy salad in no time at all and without the hefty price tag that, sadly, comes with ordering a lovely chopped salad. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the salad scissors in action. Promising review: "Love these! I hate big leafy salads so I bought these and they're perfect for chopping greens into bites. I also use them to quickly chop cherry tomatoes, onions, and other veggies. VERY nice quality." — asoon Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 28. A meat shredder with suction cups to ensure it stays put on your counter while you twist away and prep the most delicious homemade pulled pork sammies on this side of the Mississippi 😉. RedRoko is a small business. Promising review: "After watching a video on this it seemed I had to buy one and try it. This makes life so much easier. No cutting board, no knife. Can make chicken salad professional style in shreds now. It does an excellent job staying suctioned to the countertop while you swirl the top to get perfect even shreds from your chicken." — Katie Get it from Amazon for $17.99. 29. A colander spoon to let you scoop food straight out of the pot and onto your plate — may you NEVER break another ravioli in a colander again! It's made from toughened nylon and is suitable for use on non-stick cookware. It's resistant to temps of up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's dishwasher-safe! Promising review:"I've owned this for just over a month, and I don't know how I lived without it! From spooning potatoes into boiling water without a mess to draining a full can of beans and far, far beyond, this scoop is a must-have in the kitchen. I find myself reaching for it every day. It has easily replaced the other spoons/scoops that I would usually use. You cannot go wrong with this purchase!" — Jill Clement Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in three colors). 30. A rotating whisk blender you'll praise your new I-cook-all-the-time self for buying — it can blend, froth, whisk, beat, and stir, all without taking up much storage space in your kitchen. Are you someone who casually whips up a salad dressing all on your own? You just might be now, thanks to this tool. Check out a TikTok of the whisk in action. Promising review:"This is one of the coolest gizmos I've purchased! And it works like a charm, especially for scrambled eggs. I've always struggled with getting the egg white and yolk blended well together. This tool does the trick. I found it most effective with liquids. Any kind of sauce or salad dressing can be well blended with this tool too." — Austin Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 31. A meat tenderizer that'll transform your cheap cut of steak from drab to fab — it'll take you no time at all to use this tool and make your meat that much more delectable. Jaccard is a small business! Promising review:"This thing really works great. Takes only seconds to tenderize any kind of meat. I've used on pork, beef, and chicken and the results are these meats cook and taste so much better after being tenderized with this. Many people ask about dishwasher-safe. I have used it for a while and always put it in the dishwasher and it's fine. It's plastic and stainless-steel so I don't think the dishwasher can hurt it." — 5280 Get it from Amazon for $29.97+ (available in two styles and four colors). 32. A Gozney pizza oven the entire family can enjoy — from rolling out the dough and adding toppings to watching it cook over the flame, this is one activity you'll actually have a good time doing together (probably a better idea than game night for your very competitive fam). Promising review:"Once you get used to how it cooks, you can have a pizza party whenever you want! My first three pizzas were a little well done, but once I got used to the way the oven cooks, I make perfect pizzas, Strombolis, and calzones. I use the gas option for fuel and with a regular 4-gallon propane tank I have cooked 20 pizzas. My oven takes about 20–25 minutes to get to full temp. (about 800–900 degrees) Although Gozney does not require any cleaning, I take a small vacuum and just vacuum it out after it cool down. if any pizza gets on the stone a light wire brushing and your all set. I love this appliance. No more store-bought pizza for me ever again. Gozney makes a great product!" — Retep Get it from Amazon for $499.99 (available in three colors). 33. And a stainless-steel pizza cutter rocker you can use to channel your inner-Carmy (from The Bear) while you effortlessly slice up the pie you just made for your squad. Amazon Promising review:"I really like this pizza cutter. I used to have a stainless steel wheel blade that had a plastic holder/handle, this is 100% better. Washes easily and I don't foresee having to replace it for many many years. Plus it cuts pizza far better than a wheel." — Lorrie M. Get it from Amazon for $7.99. Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
BBC News
08-02-2025
- BBC News
Emeril Lagasse's guide to the best gumbo in New Orleans
He's an expert on all of NOLA's iconic foods but has a special place in his heart for gumbo. Here are his favourite bowls – from Cajun-style Brigsten's to the OG at Commander's Palace. There are few things that New Orleanians feel more passionately about than their hometown's famous cuisine – unsurprisingly, since the city's historical blend of cultures has given rise to a vast array of destination-worthy dishes. Beignets, jambalaya, étouffée, po'boys, king cake and muffuletta are just a few of the city's culinary stars; their flavours reflecting its Creole, Cajun, West African and French heritage. But only one iconic NOLA dish has been named the official dish of the state of Louisiana: gumbo. Gumbo is a thick meat, seafood and vegetable stew whose name derives from ki ngombo, the word for okra in many West African languages. It has French and West African roots, and both Cajuns (an ethnic group of Acadian descent) and Creoles (people of mixed European, African, Caribbean and Native American ancestry) make the dish. The first recorded mention dates to the early 19th Century when it was served at a gubernatorial reception in New Orleans. There are countless variations of the Louisiana classic and no shortage of opinions on the right way to make it, but gumbo almost always starts with a roux: flour cooked in fat that forms the base of the dish. The other consistent element: the "holy trinity" of onion, celery and green bell pepper, ever-present in Cajun and Creole cuisine. The proteins range from seafood or poultry to ham or beef, veal or game – or a combination thereof. Tomatoes may or not be used depending on the particular preparation, but you'll often find the eponymous okra – a savoury pod-shaped green fruit that gives the stew its unique flavour. NOLA-based chef Emeril Lagasse – famed for bringing Creole and Cajun cuisine into America's homes via his acclaimed, long-running television series, Emeril Live – has been making and eating gumbo since he moved to New Orleans in 1982. "I eat it five times a week and make it at home, but there is excellent gumbo all over the city," he says. Though he appreciates traditional gumbo – served over rice – Lagasse offers a modern take at his flagship restaurant, Emeril's, which he says has evolved quite a bit since the space first opened in 1990. "It used to be made with seafood," he says, "then we switched to chicken sausage and now it's made with lobster." It's not just the ingredients in the stew that have changed; the presentation has too. "The gumbo is currently in the form of a hot canape," he says, "that's the perfect concentrated taste of lobster-based gumbo made with a super dark roux." While his son, EJ, is now running the kitchen, Lagasse frequently wanders over to the restaurant to say hello to everyone and fix himself a bowl. Here are Lagasse's top picks for gumbo in the Big Easy. 1. Best classic Creole gumbo: Commander's Palace Commander's Palace, a New Orleans institution, has been a landmark in the Garden District since its founding in 1893. In the 1970s, legendary Louisiana chef Paul Prudhomme helped put the restaurant on the national map for its distinct blend of Cajun and Creole cooking. In 1982, at only 23 years old, Lagasse took over from Prudhomme, continuing a tradition of "haute Creole cuisine", with classics such as garlic bread, turtle soup with sherry and Creole gumbo. Even though Lagasse left Commander's Palace in 1990, he still cites the gumbo as one of the best in NOLA because the quality of the seafood is so good. Their recipe for the stew starts with a toasty, dark roux and includes crab stock, crabs, shrimp and okra. "Some places add chunks of seafood, but for me, that's something you do at home cause the fish starts getting stringy as it sits," he says. Website: 1403 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130Phone: +1 504-899-8221Instagram: @commanderspalace 2. Best gumbo for a cause: Café Reconcile Café Reconcile was founded in 1996 to help local 16-to-24-year-olds with career exploration and job readiness, using the restaurant as a foundation for learning and training. While most of the hundreds of interns who have been through the 14-week programme go on to work in restaurants, others become nurses, mechanics, technicians and more. What's consistent is that they all learn to cook classic New Orleans fare like red beans and rice, po'boys and gumbo. "Café Reconcile's chicken and sausage gumbo has a rich roux with lots of okra," says Lagasse, "and it always hits the spot." It's a win-win, according to Lagasse. "Your meal helps support the workforce development," he says. "What could be better?" Website: 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113Phone: +1 504-568-1157Instagram: @cafereconcile 3. Best gumbo z'herbes: Dooky Chase Restaurant Known as the Queen of Creole cuisine, chef Leah Chase was the heart behind legendary Dooky Chase Restaurant, first opened in 1941 by her in-laws and later evolving into a meeting place for excellent food, music and dialogue. In the upstairs dining room, many influential leaders of the civil rights movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr and the Reverend A L Davis, met to discuss crucial issues affecting the African American community. Starting in 1973, every year on the Thursday before Easter (Holy Thursday), Chase would cook up to 100 gallons of her special gumbo z'herbes, made with nine types of greens. "They do a traditional style of gumbo," explains Lagasse, "but during Lent it has lots of greens – mostly collards, mustard, turnip greens and okra, and it's finished with gumbo filé." For decades, Chase's Lenten gumbo attracted New Orleanians from all over the city. Chase passed away in 2019 but her grandson, Edgar "Dook" Chase, carries on the gumbo tradition. Some say it is the best in New Orleans. Website: 2301 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119Phone: +1 504-821-0600Instagram: @dookychaserestaurant 4. Best seasonal gumbo: Casamento's Family-owned since 1919, Casamento's on Magazine Street is primarily known for its briny Gulf Coast oysters, which peak during cool autumn and winter months. "Locals love to go there whenever they see the open sign, which is only when the oysters are great," says Lagasse. He enjoys eating the plump oysters alongside their much-loved seafood gumbo, which is replete with shrimp, tomatoes and okra. Other Casamento's must-haves include their oyster stew and sandwiches, made with their signature "pan bread" instead of traditional French bread. Website: 4330 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115Phone: +1 504-895-9761Instagram: @casamentosrestaurant 5. Best Cajun-style gumbo: Brigtsen's Chef Frank Brigtsen also started his culinary career as an apprentice under Paul Prudhomme, who helped him and his wife Marna open Brigtsen's in 1986 in NOLA's Riverbend neighbourhood, where he serves classic Cajun-Creole cuisine. "Frank is an excellent cook," says Lagasse, "and I really like his filé gumbo, which is Cajun-style, meaning it has no tomatoes." Cajun gumbo also doesn't include okra. Instead, Brigtsen thickens the stew with filé powder, a ground spice made from sassafras leaves. "The flavour is kind of like dehydrated greens," explains Lagasse. The other distinction to Brigtsen's gumbo is a little unorthodox: instead of slowly frying the oil and flour for the roux, the recipe starts with heating a pot of oil to 375F, then quickly whisking in the flour. This cuts the cooking time significantly and yields a deep, complex flavour. Website: 723 Dante Street, New Orleans, LA 70118Phone: +1 504-861-7610Instagram: @frankbrigtsen BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
