They arrive at the food court on their lunch break from the convention center next door, the nearby cruise ship terminal, or from the casinos and hotels down the street.
Boiled seafood and pasta with shrimp come to mind. Many have the name Mr. Shrimp on their tongues.
As they approached the counter to order, they spotted the shellfish impresario on the stove and shouted his name.
Mr. Shrimp is Larry Thompson Jr., and I've been following his journey in the New Orleans food world for some time. That's what led me to his new walk-up restaurant, Mr. Shrimp's Kitchen, recently. You're unlikely to find great boiled seafood or any other type of seafood in the Riverwalk Outlet Mall food court.
Chefs started hearing about Mr. Shrimp. Thompson started out as a supplier to restaurants, bringing his unique personal connection between the restaurant's menu and Lafitte's docks.
His food court restaurant is new so I recently returned with a colleague to explain to her why I like it. Sharing the joy of her discoveries with others is truly one of the best parts of her job as a food writer, and Mr. Shrimp was yet another delightful discovery.
We ate in the food court's common seating area and found an outdoor table on the deck overlooking the Mississippi River.
Mr. Shrimp has their own brand of boil mix called “Throw It in the Pot.” I love the name, it brings a strong spice without being harsh and emphasizes the balance of sweetness and umami in the shellfish itself. A swarm of local shrimp and Dungeness crab spilled out of a tray supported by the neck of a boiled turkey, stripped to its bones.
Ebi's products and recipes are delicious. But there's more going on here. That guy comes at you with a lot of goodwill and high spirits, and we certainly need more of that in the world. You came to boil, so you might leave feeling a little lighter.
