Page 91 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2022

Crawfish in Coastal Mississippi
Desporte’s Seafood
197 Cailiavet St., Biloxi 228.400.9100
Mon-Fri, 7a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat, 7a.m.-3 p.m. Facebook @DesporteSeafoodLLC
No stranger to all things seafood, Desporte’s serves some of the best crawfish – and seafood in general – that you can find. Owner Sean
Desporte believes people love crawfish because it gives them a reason to
get together and catch up on life’s goings on. Beer is the perfect
lagniappe as it helps cut the spice and cools down any heat from
the pot. Desporte’s flavors their crawfish with a blend
of Zatarain’s, crab boil, and their favorite ingredient,
Chinese red pepper. They
believe the soak time is paramount to any good boil, but they always want to make
sure their crawfish isn’t over seasoned. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away.
530 Causeway Dr., Biloxi 228.999.4453
Tues-Thurs, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Facebook@yulsplace
No one will argue that crawfish and a beautiful water view don’t go hand in hand, and no one will argue that Yul’s Place on
the Popps Ferry Causeway has both of these things in abundance. Known for their smoked hamburgers and seafood dishes, Yul’s Place is the perfect place to enjoy hot boiled crawfish by car or by boat. Yul Grace opened his restaurant as a platform to show everyone just what he could do in the kitchen. He flavors
his crawfish with traditional seasonings, such as Chinese red pepper and liquid crab boil, but loves to get creative with a little pineapple juice and lots of minced garlic. Grace enjoys the competition aspect of crawfish season, and he thinks that’s what the consumer loves, too. Everyone has a favorite way to cook crawfish or a favorite place to go and it’s this “who’s who” of crawfish royalty that keeps the public excited. Yul’s Place features All You Can Eat Crawfish on Sundays, along with delicious drinks and beautiful sunsets.
2411 Beachview Dr., Ocean Springs 228.327.9020
Wed, 4-10 p.m.; Thurs-Fri, 4-11 p.m.; Sat, 11a .m.-midnight; Sun, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Facebook @bigdaddyk5150
The Bayou Restaurant and Tiki Bar is a hidden gem in Ocean Springs. Set up against the waters of Simmons Bayou, The Bayou is
a go-to place for good music and cold beer,
but the food – specifically the crawfish – is reason enough to make a visit. Chef Ronnie Emerson has been with The Bayou for over two years and prides herself on her ability
to serve up amazing dishes in a super fun atmosphere. The seasonal aspect of crawfish
is something Emerson believes draws people into the overall excitement. Her crawfish possess a strong savory/citrus taste, boasting the right balance between celery salt and lemons, limes, and oranges. While she knows the soaking time is incredibly important to
any proper boil, the crucial step is ensuring
the crawfish are properly purged. Ridding the crawfish of any unwanted and unsavory bits before boiling helps with an even distribution of spices. Emerson and her team have a tradition of releasing four of the smallest crawfish in the sack back into a nearby ditch as a way to thank the crawfish gods for another successful boil. The Bayou’s crawfish are large, peel beautifully, and can be enjoyed with a waterfront view. It’s a great way to relax at the end of a long week.
Yul’s Place
The Bayou Restaurant and Tiki Bar
What goes into a good crawfish boil besides the actual crawfish is up for much debate and ranges anywhere from your standard corn, potatoes, or sausage, to Brussels sprouts, carrots, and even boiled eggs. But to me, the most importation thing that goes into a crawfish boil is the time spent
with family and friends. One might think that crawfish boils are overrated. It’s an awful lot of time spent on preparing, cooking, and eating what amounts to a rather small piece of food. But anyone who’s ever been to a crawfish boil knows it’s so much more than that. It’s a way to unwind, be with the ones you love, and enjoying a relaxing afternoon in all its barbaric glory.
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