Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking

Book excerpt: From Venison Grillades to Coconut Chili-Chocolate Tarts and much in between, Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking features more than 150 recipes fun and easy enough to make in the backyard. It also tells the remarkable story of how this Baton Rouge–based chef achieved national culinary celebrity. Fans of the reality cooking show Food Network Star remember Jay Ducote as the runner-up in season eleven, a strong showing that led to appearances on Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and many other programs, including an episode of Beat Bobby Flay in which he outdueled the acclaimed chef. As Ducote and coauthor Cynthia LeJeune Nobles explain, his love of all things culinary started in college, when he cooked under the oak trees on the LSU campus prior to football games. Over the years, Ducote’s popular tailgate parties showcased Cajun favorites, such as chicken and andouille gumbo, crawfish hushpuppies and fritters, grilled shrimp, and jambalaya, as well as a rich array of smoked and grilled meats. He has gone on to create specialty dishes, including Barbecue Popcorn, Crawfish Étouffée Arancini, Loaded Barbecue Cheese Fries, Pimento Cheese–Stuffed Jalapeños, and his award-winning Blackberry Bourbon Bone-In Boston Butt. Now a popular radio host, caterer, and restaurant owner, Ducote provides readers with a wealth of surefire recipes for dishes and drinks to enjoy at a tailgate, a family get-together, or whenever the weather feels right for cooking outside. Celebrating the world of barbecue pits and cast-iron cauldrons, Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking conveys a passion for the cultures, foods, and flavors of south Louisiana.