On this episode of “Hot Off the Press” Chef Pete catches up with longtime friend Lucy Buffett at the world-famous LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama, while on a little break from her summer-long tour for the release of her second cookbook Gumbo Love: Recipes for Gulf Coast Cooking, Entertaining, and Savoring the Good Life. In this delicious love letter to the Gulf Coast's vibrant food culture, the restaurateur and beloved younger “crazy sista” of music legend Jimmy Buffett, has put together a collection of over 100 recipes showcasing the Caribbean, Cajun, Cuban, Mexican, Old Florida, and Creole influences of Gulf Coast cuisine. Incorporating stories from Lucy's childhood growing up in Mobile, Alabama, adventures traveling the seas as a cook, time spent working as a chef in New Orleans, and her philosophy of relaxation, gratitude, and seizing the day, Gumbo Love entertains and inspires as it serves up recipe after recipe, each tastier than the last.
And of course, the coastal-inspired cookbook wouldn’t be complete without a few of those refreshing frozen concoctions that help us hang on! The Bama Breeze, inspired by Jimmy Buffett’s song of the same name, is a favorite of locals and tourists alike:
THE BAMA BREEZE
Ingredients
1 Lime, cut into wedges
1/2 ounce simple syrup (recipe included below)
3/4 ounce ruby red grapefruit-flavored vodka
3/4 ounce coconut rum
cranberry juice, enough to fill the cocktail shaker
How to Make It
Put 2 lime wedges in the bottom of a metal cocktail shaker. Add the simple syrup, vodka, and rum.
Muddle gently, avoiding the lime rinds, which can add a bitter taste.
Fill the shaker with ice and cranberry juice. Pour the mixture back and forth between the shaker and a large mixing glass a few times.
Pour the drink into a glass, add a straw, garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy the Breeze!
To make the Simple Syrup:
Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Once cool, pour the syrup into a storage container. It will keep, refrigerated, for a long time.
For more information on Lucy, her cookbooks or any of her restaurant locations visit www.lucybuffett.com. You can also connect with Lucy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.