Which grill to use?

Michael LaDuke here. I get a lot of questions about which type of grill to use at home for cooking seafood: gas, charcoal or wood. They each have some pretty solid points.

Gas is the most convenient. It’s the quickest, and easiest to clean up, but it does the least when it comes to flavor. If you use a gas grill, make sure it gets hot, and take good care of your grill grates so they stay clean.

Charcoal is a little more work, but gives good flavor. Just make sure you allow the charcoal to burn for a while and do not use too much starter fluid. All that fluid creates fumes that seep into the flavor of your food.

For the best flavor and grilling experience, I prefer wood. Nothing is better then cooking on a great wood fire. A nice hard wood like oak gives great flavor as do other woods like mesquite and citrus wood. Start the wood and allow it to burn until the flames reduce and the temperature is right.

So let me know what type of grill you will use for your Father’s Day Feast. Thanks for stopping by and keep the questions coming! And remember, Come See What’s Fresh Today at Red Lobster. Michael LaDuke

Fresh Idea for Summer -- Tuna Bruschetta

The chefs love this time of year – with fresh produce in the markets and fresh, light recipes on everyone’s minds. Please join Chef LaDuke as he prepares Seared Tuna Bruschetta with Balsamic Syrup and Chive Oil. It’s a seafood take on an Italian favorite!

Breakfast for Mom

Michael LaDuke here again at The Red Lobster Chef’s Blog. Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so I wanted to share some cool ideas for a breakfast or brunch for Mom. Breakfast is a great time to experiment with new flavors and seafood is a great way to make those dishes special. Shrimp cocktail is a classic way to brighten up your items, but try making it with a nice Lime Aioli in a salted glass, and call it a Shrimp Margarita. I also like to add a little lobster and bacon to my breakfast potatoes for some nice Lobster Hash Browns! You can always substitute shrimp or bay scallops for a slightly less expensive version. My favorite brunch dish is a Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Frittata au Gratin with on Whole Wheat Crust. I know it sounds complicated, but it’s really is simple to make. A frittata is a classic Italian open faced omelet. In this dish we simply add asparagus tips to the omelet and top it with shredded Jack cheese and thinly sliced smoked salmon. Served on a whole wheat individual pizza crust, it makes a great brunch dish.
Whatever your favorite dishes, Mothers Day is a great time to have some fun with brunch, then relax for dinner and come see us at Red Lobster!! (No sense in you working all day, right?)
Check out these recipes below to add to your brunch, and please, come back soon to see what’s fresh today at Red Lobster.

Lobster Hash Browns!
Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Frittata