Tudor reminisces past journeys to the Deep South

Just as the sun begins to set on another summer season, Boisdale, the home of fine Scottish cuisine and the bottomless Jazz Brunch, in Canary Wharf has teamed up with the infamous Dickie Brennan to host a week long New Orleans festival.

The Boisdale New Orleans pop up festival promises to be a fantastic week of food, drink, music and American football. Throughout the week we are promised some of the best music from the birthplace of jazz, including the Mississippi Swamp Dogs, Dom and the Ikos and The Dixie Devils.

But what really sets this festival aside is the quality of the Louisiana dishes available. With a family background first established in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1946, Dickie’s restaurants combine traditional dishes such as Gumbo Ya Ya, Lamb Mirabeau and Bananas Foster with an amazing selection of cocktails … all played out to a background of some of the best Jazz you will hear in the Crescent City.

If Creole cooking is new to you, then I would suggest that you start with some lightly fried catfish or some fried oysters. A great accompanying aperitif is “The  Gambit” a luscious combination of Southern Comfort, Peychand Aperitivo, Regans’ Bitters and Herbsaint Spray. If you’ve forgotten what Southern Comfort can add to a cocktail, this is a great place to reacquaint yourself.

The one thing about New Orleans is that it evocative flavours and memorable sounds stay with you forever. And if you want to recreate it at home, have a go at one of Dickie’s easy to make Creole seasoning recipes:

Combine half a cup of salt, a quarter cup of granulated garlic, a quarter cup of granulated onion, 2 tablespoons of paprika, 4 teaspoons of cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon of cracked black pepper.

You can add this seasoning to meat, fish… even to pop corn for your Saturday night film. It will keep fresh in an airtight container for use time and time again.

The pop up New Orleans party is taking place for one week only, 25th September – 1st October at Boisdale of Canary Wharf. You can book on line herehere.