“Wishin’ I were a fast freight train / Just a-chooglin’ on down to New Orleans.”
You want to be in New Orleans. You want drinks on Bourbon Street. You want beignets for breakfast. You want a Cajun food coma for dinner. You know that’s not going to happen – at least not soon – so you decide to “cook Cajun” at home. You’ll buy a nice couple of pieces of catfish for you and your partner. You’ve got a vintage cast iron pan. You’ll hit the internet – find some recipes – get to cooking.
You’ll learn why Cajun restaurants have EXCELLENT ventilation systems. You and your dinner guest will discover the meaning of “weaponized spices”. You’ll laugh about it even while wiping tears of pain away. When the burning in your lungs has finally stopped, you’ll have a new found respect for Cajun cooking – a beautiful catfish dinner – and the realization Cajun rubs are best used on the grill.
(salt, paprika. Black pepper, cayenne, onion, garlic, chili powder, all spice, celery salt, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, bay leaves)