Santa Fe Restaurant & Bar Directory 2023 |
4 Best Frozen Fried Shrimp Brands, Ranked
When it comes to the best frozen fried shrimp, I consider myself a bit of an expert. See, I grew up in Northeast Florida, where you can head to the docks and get shrimp that was battered and fried just moments after it came off a trawler. (Oh, how I miss you, Singleton's!) Frozen fried shrimp from the grocery store is unlikely to approximate the crustaceans you'd eat at a picnic table outside a shrimp shack in the dense Florida humidity, but it shouldn't be bad either.
Sadly, a lot of frozen fried shrimp is pretty bad. The shrimp is small. It's covered in too much breading (and when there's too much breading, it all turns to soggy mush). It has none of that signature shellfish snappiness whatsoever. We tried a lot of mediocre shrimp to find four fried shrimp brands that are worth the freezer space.
SeaPak Popcorn ShrimpPopcorn shrimp is a childhood classic, and SeaPak makes the best frozen popcorn shrimp we tried. These tasty little morsels are pleasantly salty, wonderfully crip out of the oven, and the shrimp itself is super tender, even if it doesn't bring big seafood flavor. That's allowed with popcorn shrimp. Throw some of these lil' guys on a cookie sheet with good oven fries (we recommend Lamb-Weston), grab some cocktail sauce or malt vinegar, and that's dinner, baby.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Whole Catch Black PeppercornWhen I worked at Applebee's in college, we served a shrimp caesar salad topped with black peppercorn breaded shrimp, and I could never resist stealing one off the plate before I served it (don't worry, there were A LOT on the plate, but, also, this is why I'm no longer in the service industry). I expected these peppercorn shrimp from Whole Foods to be like the ones I pilfered from hungry Applebee's diners, but, good news, they're even better. They're coated in a crispy, flavorful batter that reminded Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling of chicken nuggets. They're so black peppery, it almost reads as heat. The shrimp themselves are much higher quality than a lot of frozen shrimp—they actually have bite rather than being mushy or chewy. Follow in the footsteps of a mediocre chain restaurant and toss a handful of these on top of a caesar salad.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Whole Catch Crunchy Coconut Butterfly ShrimpSo many of the coconut shrimp we tasted were just. Too. Sweet. Coconut shrimp should taste like mild, nutty, fresh coconut flakes, not like a damn piña colada. These shrimp from Whole Foods are by far the best frozen fried shrimp you can buy if you're looking for something a little tropical but not cloying. They're big and the coconut coating doesn't overpower the flavor of the shrimp. With a ramekin of sweet chili dipping sauce on the side, these make a restaurant-quality app. I even put in my notes that if I got these at a restaurant, I'd be into it! If I ever have the space to host a proper party, I'm serving these.
Kirkland Breaded Panko ShrimpKirkland's panko-breaded shrimp are the best frozen fried shrimp we tried, by a longshot. They're at least twice as big as the other shrimp we taste tested. The breading is crispy rather than soggy. The oil they're fried in is super fresh tasting. These are probably intended for parties (the box is gigantic), but I say make space in the freezer and keep a box on hand for everyday dining. Seriously, the next time you make an Asian rice bowl with veggies and a squiggle of yum-yum sauce, these will make the perfect protein.
Other products we tried: SeaPak Budweiser Beer Battered Shrimp, Gorton's Beer Battered Shrimp, Gorton's Butterfly Shrimp, Amazon Coconut Shrimp, Kroger Popcorn Shrimp, Kroger Coconut Shrimp, Kroger Butterfly Shrimp, Great Value Butterfly Shrimp
This Small, Drive-thru Place In Macon Is The Real Deal. Authentic Caribbean Food Anyone?
Apr. 21—Winston Cunningham, a native of Jamaica, has always wanted to own his own restaurant.
He's been a chef his entire adult life, working at restaurants and hotels mostly in Jamaica and then New York.
In late December, Winston and his wife, Sherwauna, took the plunge and opened their own family restaurant in Macon.
The couple own and operate Crooklyn New York Caribbean Cuisine at 3924 Pio Nono Ave., a small drive-thru restaurant in the South Plaza Shopping Center.
The eatery also has a walk-up window and a few patio tables.
The establishment's name is a nod to Spike Lee's 1994 film "Crooklyn" that's loosely based on what he and his siblings experienced growing up in Brooklyn, New York, which is where the Cunninghams met and made their home before moving to Macon.
"We just wanted a change," said Sherwauna, who also has her own online business, Sweet Diva's Hair Boutique, and has operated her own daycare businesses.
"My husband has been a chef all his life and I do it on the side. He's the primary chef."
Winston added that his wife is a good cook in her own right.
What to expect
Their restaurant offers authentic Caribbean cuisine. The couple's youngest son, Tyler, 15, also works at the restaurant on weekends.
"This is the best restaurant in Macon," Daniel Blackshear volunteered as he pulled up to order at the drive-thru.
Motorists drive up on one side of the restaurant and pick up their food on the other side.
What sets Crooklyn New York Caribbean Cuisine apart from other eateries, Blackshear said, is the "seasoned and flavorful" food.
Besides, the owners are friendly, he said.
On their business website, the Cunninghams described their establishment this way:
"We are a small Caribbean restaurant which serves real authentic Caribbean food. You wanna feel like you're in Jamaica, Trinidad come eat with us. We promise you will love the hands that feed you."
On a recent visit, Blackshear ordered grilled shrimp with cabbage and peas and rice. He most often orders their fried chicken.
What to try
Among the restaurant's most popular dishes are oxtails, curry goat and jerk chicken, said Sherwauna, who suggested also trying jerk pork or cow foot.
Picking one dish, Winston suggested the jerk chicken for someone new to Caribbean cuisine.
Daily specials on a recent visit included a choice of curry chicken, jerk chicken or brown-stew chicken as well as two-pieces of curry, steamed or brown-stew tilapia.
The oxtails came with two side dishes such as cooked cabbage and rice and peas.
Other entrees include steamed, brown-stew or escovitch red snapper, curry chicken, jerk chicken and brown-stew chicken. They also serve jerk, curry, curry-coconut and brown-stew shrimp.
More options
Soups include corn soup, chicken soup and fish soup.
Wraps include ranch chicken, jerk chicken, grilled chicken, ranch shrimp, jerk shrimp and Gulf shrimp with or without fries.
The menu also features chicken wings, fried whiting and fried shrimp. Roti can be filled with vegetables, curry or brown-stew shrimp, ackee and saltfish, curry or brown-stew chicken, curry goat or oxtail.
Fried patties include beef, jerk chicken, curry chicken, spinach and veggies. For veggie lovers, there's dumplings and callaloo with or without rice.
Sides include white rice, fried plantains, rice and peas or collards, cranberry rice, veggie fried rice, rasta pasta, steamed veggies and mac & cheese. The restaurant also offers fries and sweet potato fries.
Desserts include cheesecake, red velvet cake, fruitcake, banana cake and strawberry cake. Drink selections include Coca-Cola products and assorted juices.
Other restaurants previously have operated out of the drive-thru building, including J.A. Cuisine that offered Jamaican food.
Worth noting
The Cunninghams plan to set up a food tent at the 2023 Pan African Festival at the Macon Centreplex on Saturday and Sunday.
Crooklyn New York Caribbean Cuisine is open from 11 a.M. To 8 p.M. Monday through Saturday and offers call-ahead ordering as well as catering. The restaurant's number is 478-259-1435.
This story was originally published April 21, 2023, 5:00 AM.
(c)2023 The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Ga.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
17 Shrimp Recipes You Can Make In One Dish For An Easy Summertime Meal
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Food Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl
Shrimp is a great dinner option because it cooks quickly, and these one-dish recipes make it even easier because they offer fast cleanup as well. These simple shrimp suppers will become go-to recipes for when you're entertaining or simply need a quick weeknight dinner to feed your family. Whether you want to cook your shrimp in an Instant Pot, in a cast-iron skillet in a Dutch oven, or even on a sheet pan, there's sure to be a one-dish shrimp recipe on this list to fit your cooking preference.
Read on for our best one-dish shrimp recipes that you're sure to make again and again once you see how flavorful they are. Plus, having minimal dishes to wash once dinner is over is an added bonus.
Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
One of our editors proclaimed that this fried rice recipe is even better than takeout, and it will be on the table in just 25 minutes which is quicker too.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Dinner will be done in 30 minutes when you lean on this one-pan dish. Instead of water, the Orzo is cooked in vegetable broth along with shallots, white wine, butter, and oil.
Though this dinner will feel elevated when you serve it, it's actually simple to pull together.
Cooking every component of Jambalaya in one dish allows the drippings from cooking the meat to add extra flavor to the finished product.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
No boiling water is required for this one-pan version of a shrimp boil that still delivers just as much, if not more, flavor than the original.
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Cooking Jambalaya in the Instant Pot makes use of the extra steam to perfectly cook the shrimp.
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Make sure to offer plenty of bread and hot sauce alongside your Étouffée when you serve it.
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Food Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl
We've packed plenty of Cajun flavor into one pot with this recipe.
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
You're just one sheet pan and 25 minutes away from serving up this shrimp supper.
Story continues
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox
We use convenient pre-peeled shrimp and store-bought pesto to help this one-pot dinner come together easily in just 25 minutes.
Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Since shrimp and couscous both cook quickly, this dish comes together in just 30 minutes.
Jennifer Davick
Adding ingredients in stages as listed in the recipe will ensure that each component is cooked perfectly.
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton
When selecting the shrimp for this recipe, make sure you use medium-sized shrimp so it's not undercooked.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner
If you thought Jambalaya could only be cooked in a pot, think again. This sheet pan version comes together in just 35 minutes.
Southern Living
Feel free to use fresh okra if it's in season and you have some on hand, but frozen is what we call for.
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Cooking in stages allows this dish to come together in one pot.
Southern Living
Our test kitchen thinks canned tomatoes add a nice touch of acidity to this gumbo recipe.
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