Evelyn's Blog - Taste of Gourmet

Deliciously Dill Dip

Tony and I are in Maine for a few days to play with our precious grandchildren and visit with Kevin and Deanna. And of course we are managing to eat our way through the local seafood in restaurants and in Deanna's kitchen!

This morning, we were sitting on a deck overlooking Portland's harbor and thoroughly enjoying a Fried Haddock Sandwich. (Yes, I know that it should and could have been a Catfish Sandwich, but this is Maine and Haddock is served everywhere!) My sandwich was SO scrumptious because it was smothered in a creamy dill sauce - that tasted a lot like Taste of Gourmet's Deliciously Dill Dip. It was a yummy combination, and you've just got to try it! I've always served Dill Dip like a tartar sauce for dipping pieces of fish or chicken, but spread over that Fish Sandwich it was just divine! 

 

Bon Appetit at Taste of Gourmet

What a lovely surprise we had last Thursday when photographers and journalists from Bon Appetit magazine walked into The Crown! They were in the area for several days doing research for an article on food in the Mississippi Delta and we were thrilled to have them as our guests!

Liz Welch, one of the journalists from New York, had lived and worked as a teacher in Yazoo City in the early 90’s and had eaten with us many times when The Crown was still out in the cotton field! She said she used to drive 65 miles just to eat lunch with us and enjoy our Mississippi Delta Fudge Pie! How nice to be remembered!

The four of them chose several items from the menu to enjoy for their own lunch, including Creole File’ Gumbo, Catfish Allison and Chicken Allison! With little tastes of several other dishes including our new Berry Bar-B-Que Chicken Sandwich! I was in and out of the kitchen for two hours during the photo shoot making sure they had lots of “tastes!” Isn’t that what Taste of Gourmet is all about?

I loved the concept they shot – bowls and plates ready to eat and then almost empty! The photographer said, “A really good meal, well enjoyed, crumbs on the table and all!” The photos he showed me looked great and I can’t wait to see what they actually use in the Bon Appetit article! Working with them was such fun – I love people who love good food!

 

Tail-Gating Ideas - Snacking at the Stadium doesn't get any easier or more delicious!

September is officially the start of the “Eating Season” with football games and cook-outs in the cooler fall weather! You know that using Taste of Gourmet foods can make all those events more fun!

 Don't forget Taste of Gourmet Sauces to pour over cream cheese and eat with crackers!

• Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves – So pretty and so good! Heat is just right! The all-time favorite!
• Chipotle Sauce - Traditional Mexican chili sauce! If you like HOT - dip your chip right in!
• Chimmi Sauce - A garlic pesto that’s colorful! Add grape tomatoes to the serving plate!
• Jezebel Sauce - Sweet, hot, horseradish mustard! You can eat it with a spoon!
• Cranberry Chutney – Perfectly sweet and still tart! Great on sandwiches too!
  

Vegetable Trays are so much better when the Taste of Gourmet Dip has “dazzle!”  Try these!

• Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette
• Garlic Herb Dip
• Deliciously Dill Dip
• Simply Spinach Dip
• Lime Cilantro Dressing is No Oil! No Fat! 

Try Taste of Gourmet Dipping Sauces for some popular pick-up appetizers!

• Fried Chicken Strips - Jezebel Sauce, Garlic Herb Dip
• Egg Rolls or Pot Stickers - Great Grilling Marinade
• Burrittos or Taquitos - Suddenly Salsa by itself or peach jam mixed equally with Suddenly Salsa.
• Boiled Shrimp – Jezebel Sauce, Deliciously Dill Dip
  
  

Taste of Gourmet Gets Widespread Attention

Our food has gotten a lot of attention lately! On July1, we had a great visit from actor and comedian, Mark DeCarlo, host of “Taste of America” for the Travel Channel! We knew Mark and his crew was coming and had time to really prepare for them! What we didn’t know, was how much fun working with Mark would be and how much we would enjoy that Sunday afternoon feeding Mark so many different dishes that we make with Catfish! Dr. Mike and April Montesi graciously opened their home and even fried some catfish and hushpuppies for them!

Smoked Catfish Pate was a hit of course, and the Catfish Allison! What I really loved was cooking our Great Grilling Chicken for Mark! I had marinated the long strips of chicken breast in our Great Grilling Marinade, then lightly sautéed them, just enough to brown and glaze the pieces! Great Grilling Chicken is so flavorful and a huge favorite on a salad at The Crown! Cooking it live on the show, really proves how simple it is to prepare a meal when you cook with Taste of Gourmet!  

Mark is a huge blues fan and musician, so we’re counting on another visit from this travel foodie when Indianola’s B.B. King Museum opens in September of 2008! That’s an event that will definitely inspire a few new dishes at The Crown!

We’ve welcomed people and media from all over the world this summer at The Crown! A food network film crew from The Netherlands came through the door one day! They were making a day trip from Memphis to eat with us – and film! Another group was doing a film for Public Television. If you are traveling into Mississippi, stop by one of our Welcome Centers and pick up the Mississippi Travel Guide. Our Creole File’ Gumbo is on the front cover, and you will find a four page spread on The Crown inside! 

We have been so blessed with such wonderful publicity! But we are most blessed when we know that you, our customers and guests, are happy with the foods we’ve created for you! Thank you all!

Big Things are Cookin' at Taste of Gourmet!

You know there is always something cookin’ at Taste of Gourmet! And this summer, the pots on my “stove” have been bubbling and steaming non-stop! The BIG things cookin’ are just beginning to be “dished up!” This “chat” with you is one of the first! Welcome to evelynsblog.com! 

If you’ve eaten with us at The Crown Restaurant, you know how much I love talking to my customers and making sure they are enjoying their meal with us! I’m always walking around the dining room, urging guests to have just “one more slice of our Bayou Beer Bread” or directing someone at the Dessert Table to take just a “little slice of all six of our yummy pies!”

That’s my job! Making sure you are all happy with the delicious foods we’ve created. You are all my guests! You may be sitting at a table in The Crown, a happy guest at a Consultant’s Tasting or enjoying the Sweet Potato Muffins that you ordered on-line! You are my guest and I want you to enjoy yourself!  

I want to know which Soup you love most. What is your favorite Dip Mix? Have you tried my Chimmi Sauce like a steak sauce? I am really looking forward to hearing from you, sharing recipes with you and keeping you right up to date with the “big things that are cookin’ at Taste of Gourmet!”