Recipe Box, A Festival of Shrimp!
Ahhh, October on the Gulf Coast…
The sky turns pink at sunrise and sunset
and the sun sparkles on the water like no other time of year
It’s also the time for the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama source
You never know what you’ll see source
This event started 43 years ago as a simple food event honoring Alabama gulf shrimp source
Now it is a showcase for arts, crafts, and food that attracts over 250,000 visitors source
Music is the highlight for many, and bands play from morning to night source
Charities and other local causes are well represented
The pink pick-up catches everyone’s attention for breast cancer awareness
HH and I arrived early last Friday, hoping to beat the crowds, and the place was already abuzz with activity
Lots of healthy, nutritious food 😮 Deep fried Oreos, really?
HH vowed to try Alligator on a Stick…he says this every year
But when we stepped up to the booth, he couldn’t do it…we both looked at each other and shook our heads…
That’s it, front and center, huge hunks of grilled meat on skewers…they say it tastes just like chicken…
The ice trucks were busy, it was already 85 degrees at 10:30am, the sun was bright and beer was flowing
A Crustacean Celebration!
There were tons of T shirts and silly souvenirs to browse
Bama was well represented
Just about any food you can think of was there for the asking
This “tablescape” was pretty rough, but I loved the pirate sign~
“I’m on a Captain Morgan [rum] diet and so far I’ve lost three days!
Obviously shrimp are a big part of the festival bearing their name
An artist’s interpretation of shrimp cocktails~ looks like a rollicking good time!
This is a photo of a winning dish in the restaurant chef cooking competition source
Last year’s winner of the sand castle competition source
We didn’t stay too long, as it was HOT, we headed back to catch a swim and the porch breeze
I do love fall and cooler weather, but winter not so much…so I am holding on to my summer memories to keep me warm this winter!
I have a feeling you might be craving shrimp by now, so if you want a great and simple shrimp recipe for anytime of year, see New Orleans BBQ Shrimp here~
See this recipe from local chef Brody Olive, Grilled Shrimp Tapenade Crostini click here source
For a tutorial on how to paint shrimp, Shrimp Bucket click here
Thanks so much for soaking up some local color with me!
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I will be joining the fabulous parties and blogs on my side bar and:
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It looks like lots of fun in the sun at your Crustacean Celebration Jenna! Love the driftwood shrimp sculpture! I think October on the water is the best time of year the with lower humidity. I’ve always wondered about Deep Fried Oreos but never tried one 🙂
Delicious and fun! My kind of festival. Love the jack o lantern sand castle!
Thank you so much for sharing all these lovely snapshots and your experience of this year’s festival. We enjoyed it two years ago, when we first moved to Foley, but haven’t braved the crowds or the temperatures since (nor have we tried the alligator!). IF we were within walking distance, however, I think I would be COMPELLED to wander over … if for no other reason than to be on the beach. Your ‘views from the porch’ are enticing!
Thanks Sharon, it was hot and crowded, but always interesting! I wish I had seen more of the art this year, it seems to be more food and clothes than it used to be~
Thanks so much. Have a great weekend!
Tell HH to be brave and take a bite of that alligator! I even tried rattlesnake once in Texas at a fancy restaurant on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. A bite was all I actually tried of either one… That second shot of the sky is incredible. I could use some shrimp about now. Thinking about making some Savannah red rice for dinner and adding shrimp!
We were expecting petite little skewered bites and it looked like the whole alligator tail on sticks! Yikes!!! You are brave Ellen, I am Miss Picky!
Oh, I sooo love shrimp!!!!
How fun and you captured such amazing pics of the day!
Beautiful shots of the area this time of year. I have not attended this festival but it looks like a great time and wonderful food. Thanks for taking us along. I love your balcony shot. Looks so relaxing.
I am hungry for shrimp now!!
Looks like a blast! Love the Captain Morgan Diet… actually, I think I’ve been on it but can’t remember:@)
Oh a day like that would be heavenly for me – what fabulous pics !!!
( I could live on shrimp – I’m with Bubba – you can barbecue it – boil it – broil it – bake it – saute it
and I could go on as long as he does too LOL )
xoxo