Evelyn's Blog - Taste of Gourmet

Can't resist the Cakes.....

He said he really needed to try the Catfish Allison...."but those Creole Catfish Cakes I had last Saturday were just soooo good - I had to order them again!"  Now that is rousing applause for our delicious Catfish Cakes.  And I just loved hearing that from a guest at The Crown today!

The recipe for the Cakes is in my Classic Catfish Cookbook - you can make big ones or appetizer size ones and they freeze perfectly!  Just lightly browned in a skillet then topped with the Salsa... Yum! 

There are lots of great recipes in my cookbook - 110 ways to cook Catfish (other than frying!) plus a lot of salads and vegetables that we serve at The Crown.  But no desserts!  You'll have to come to the Crown or one of our Taste of Gourmet Tastings for the Desserts (or order them on our website!)  You can order Classic Catfish on the website too! 

When I autograph it - I always write, "Best Fishes!"  Cause U.S. Farm-raised Catfish are the BEST!

Tail-gating Food is so simple.....

Simple when you use Taste of Gourmet products of course! This is one of my favorite recipes that makes a huge amount of dip!  And keeps really well in the refrigerator - if you can keep everyone out of it!  I LOVE the flavors! 

Suddenly Cheese Dip        makes about 5 cups

1 bag of Suddenly Salsa Dip mix
16 oz. sour cream
1 can (14.5 oz) petit diced tomatoes, drained
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Stir Salsa mix into sour cream.  Add cream cheese and cheddar, mixing well (I usually use a mixer, but a bowl and spoon work too) Then add tomatoes.  Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to two weeks!  It just gets better the longer it sits!

You know that Tail-gating is a state of mind!  It's all to do with being with Friends in the Fall - anywhere you choose to gather!  In the parking lot at the stadium, in front of the TV, on the deck enjoying the cooler air, or at the soccer field watching practice with the 8 year olds!  When friends gather, the food needs to be GOOD and shared! 

Fall is almost here!  Hurray!  It's the Eatin' Season!

Visitors coming from everywhere......

At long last - the B.B. King Museum is open in Indianola and we have been entertaining guests from all over the world all week at The Crown! And we are loving it! 

Today at The Crown we had guests from Scotland, Germany, Los Angeles, Atlanta,  two groups from Pennsylvania, Clarksdale, Jackson, Greenville, Greenwood and those were just the ones I talked to!  And somehow I always manage to ask, "Where are ya'll from?"  Our guests from Indianola are excited about the visitors too and stopping for chats!  We have our own brand of Southern Hospitality in Indianola!

I think the favorite luncheon dish this week has been our Creole Catfish Cakes   We've decided to keep them on the menu EVERY day now! AND our hot Tomato Basil Beer Bread has been a huge hit this week - with LOTS of boxes of our mix being packed away by our visitors!  It just smells so good when we walk by the tables with the steaming hot bread and the little whiff of basil and onion.....I can't resist it either!

I always say that leftover bread is scrumptious when you cover the slices with cheese and broil it so that the cheese toasts - almost like a pizza and a great appetizer!  Try it! 

AND come to Indianola to Visit the King and Eat at The Crown!

The B.B. King Museum is OPEN!

On Friday Night, B.B. King sang his signature song, "The Thrill is Gone" at the Gala before the Opening Day and the whole town danced! 

The "Thrill" has definitely come to Indianola!  The new B.B. King Museum we've been working on since 2000 has opened its doors and it is fabulous!  We are all so proud and B.B. loved it!  What a thrill to have him here to walk through with his family.  What a tribute to him and to the strength and determination of our little town of Indianola.

You will be "thrilled" when you come to see it!  And we want you to come soon!   Visit the King and Eat at The Crown!  What a way to spend a day!

B.B. is definitely King in Indianola

I've said it before...We have the greatest guests at The Crown!  Yes, all the guests are customers, but everyone becomes a friend too!  Kay Mills, a free-lance writer from California, has visited with us several times now and the Los Angeles Times has just published an article she wrote on Indianola, the Mississippi Delta, the blues...and...she included The Crown as the perfect place for lunch! 

September 13th is the date of the Ribbon Cutting for the 14 million dollar B.B. King Museum and yes B.B. will be here for the ceremony - and playing that evening at Club Ebony!  The people of Indianola are gearing up for the Community Celebration that day - music on the streets, great fun for the kids, local arts and crafts and food to make all our visitors happy!  Follow Kay's advice and come to Indianola next week or next month!  Just come experience our Southern Hospitality! I'll be looking for you! 

The link to the L.A. times article is

 http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-mississippi31-2008aug31