By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
September 20, 2011
Emeril Lagasse is back with a new cooking show for the Hallmark Channel. “Emeril’s Table” premieres on Sept. 26. On each episode, the famous chef cooks for a handful of guests at his table, as he shows them how to create some of his classic dishes. Lagasse, a food correspondent for “Good Morning America,” also has a new cookbook “Sizzling Skillets and other One-Pot Wonders,” which will be in stores on Sept. 27.
A bona-fide foodie, Lagasse picks New Orleans as one of the all-time great food destinations. “We have unbelievable food here in New Orleans,” says Lagasse, 51. “There is a season for everything down here — shrimp, oysters, strawberries, crabs. No other place has such a direct connection to the farms and fisheries. You can’t beat going to Jazz Fest and getting a soft-shell crab po’ boy, or jambalaya at Mardi Gras or making a big pot of seafood gumbo on football weekends.
Q. If you had to pick, which city has it all foodwise?
A. New York has every cuisine imaginable, so it would be my top pick, based on the incredible variety and many different cultures and styles of cooking.
Q. What are some of your favorite restaurants?
A. That’s a tough one. I love all of Mario Batali’s places, especially Babbo, Cafe Boulud, David Burke and Brio has wonderful Italian.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A. I’d love to venture over to Singapore and Tokyo.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Ibiza because of the beautiful waters and fresh seafood. Spain also has some of the richest culinary traditions and truly appreciates food that is simply prepared with top-notch ingredients.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. My wife, Alden, and her family are from the Gulf Coast, so, when the weather is nice, we’d go to Destin. I get down to Florida as much as I can for the great fishing and spend some time with my family. And, of course, I’ll be cooking!
Q. What are your favorite hotels?
A. Beverly Hills Hotel, Four Seasons and The Pierre.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. New Orleans, New York, Paris, Madrid and Lisbon.
Q. What have you learned about food from your travels?
A. Food is very representative of a city’s culture. In order to really get to know a place and the people, you’ve got to eat the food.
Q. Where have you traveled to that most reminded you of home?
A. New Orleans has so many European influences. Whenever I travel to France or Spain, the architecture and neighborhood cafes remind me of the French Quarter.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. My phone, of course, so I can stay connected, a couple of magazines and the local newspaper.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. Every so often, I’ll grab a bag of Zapp’s (potato chips). I still keep a few bags stashed in my freezer. I love oysters too. Oysters are one of my wife’s favorites so we’d dine on raw oysters topped with caviar. Pair it with chilled champagne and it’s the perfect light afternoon snack.
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
A. I keep a folder with notes on all the places I visit, so when I return I try to make it back to my favorites and also discover a few new places.
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
A. Sitting on the beach in Ibiza with my family and friends having a relaxing lunch. I like to keep things simple. It’s really about the wine, food and the beach view. Nothing can beat that.
© 2011 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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