Steal This Recipe� Awesome Al's Shrimp Pie | Po' Boys Creole Caf�
Oct-01-2011

Named after the sandwich that was invented in New Orleans in the 1920s to feed those who couldn't afford a large meal, Po' Boys Creole Caf� has made a name for itself in Florida. They're known for their inexpensive traditional Creole and Cajun fare as well as a distinctly New Orleans atmosphere. They have photographs of Big Easy landmarks and Mardi Gras memorabilia everywhere. It's a great place to relax and support the Florida State University teams. We've "stolen" a pizza recipe with shrimp, a spinach and cream cheese mixture, generously topped with provolone cheese from Carmen Calabrese, Po' Boys Creole Caf�'s catering head. For something a bit less filling, try serving it as an appetizer or with less cream cheese and provolone.

About the chef: Carmen Calabrese and a high school buddy, Jon Sweede, had made a pact as teenagers to open a restaurant together. Their goal was to make it happen before they turned 30. At their 10-year high school reunion, Sweede presented Calabrese with the business plan he and Charlie Youngs had put together. Calabrese immediately resigned his position at Chili's as a general manager and joined the business venture. They opened their first 24-seat restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida in 1992, only blocks away from Florida State University. Since then, Po' Boys Creole Caf� has grown into a chain.

Calabrese currently oversees the catering side and although 70 percent of catering orders stick to Po' Boys standard menu - which includes traditional Creole fare like gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice and po' boy sandwiches - Calabrese has catered elaborate Italian dinners, cocktail parties featuring stuffed mushrooms, cheese and crab dip, and fresh shucked raw oysters, and holiday dinners such as deep-fried or Cajun-style turkeys and mashed potatoes.

Chef's note: this recipe uses two 8 inch pizza crusts - store bought is just fine, but if you want to make your own we have a great, healthy, whole grain recipe for you.

Po' Boys Creole Caf�
224 E. College Avenue
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
850 224 5400

Awesome Al's Shrimp Pie is served at Po' Boys Creole Caf� for $9.95 with a side salad. This recipe makes two restaurant servings.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup yellow onions, finely chopped
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tsp garlic, chopped
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup white wine
1 tsp olive oil
12 ounces medium Gulf shrimp, peeled
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp honey
12 ounces chopped, thawed, well-drained spinach
2 8-inch pizza pie crusts
20 ounces shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese
Cocktail sauce (optional)

Steal This Recipe� Step-by-Step Instructions:
Saut� yellow and green onions, oregano, salt, mushrooms and garlic in olive oil and white wine until soft.
Add shrimp and cook until shrimp turns a pinkish color.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Once cooled, pour into a mixing bowl and add cream cheese, butter, Worcestershire sauce, honey and spinach.
Mix until there are no lumps of cream cheese or butter remaining.
Spread 1 cup of the mixture on each pie crust.
Sprinkle each pie with 10 ounces of shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees until each pie is lightly brown on top (check periodically).
Optional: serve with a side of cocktail sauce.

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Posted by Ken at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry  |  Share this entry  |  Print