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The Crawfish Book
American Indians worshiped them as creators of the world, Napoleon ate them to celebrate his victories, Swedes have them shipped in from halfway around the world, and for Louisiana's Cajuns the humble crawfish is the centerpiece of cuisine, a symbol of ethnic pride, a staple commodity for thriving business ventures, and an inextricable part of folklore.
Research and interviews spice this delightful book that details the relationship between crawfish and humans―from antiquity to the New York markets of the 1880s; from Depression-era pauper's feast to gourmet entree of the 1980s Cajun cooking craze; from spring afternoon pastime to modern aquaculture agribusiness.
To get the reader's mouth watering, more than two dozen recipes from those who know crawfish best―both famous chefs and crawfishers―are interspersed throughout. Sections offer advice on catching, buying, handling, cooking, and, for those who wish to simplify their encounters with crawfish, ordering tasty dishes in restaurants. Included are also a bibliographical essay, an index to recipes, and a list of sources for spices, paraphernalia, and airfreight shipments of crawfish.
Research and interviews spice this delightful book that details the relationship between crawfish and humans―from antiquity to the New York markets of the 1880s; from Depression-era pauper's feast to gourmet entree of the 1980s Cajun cooking craze; from spring afternoon pastime to modern aquaculture agribusiness.
To get the reader's mouth watering, more than two dozen recipes from those who know crawfish best―both famous chefs and crawfishers―are interspersed throughout. Sections offer advice on catching, buying, handling, cooking, and, for those who wish to simplify their encounters with crawfish, ordering tasty dishes in restaurants. Included are also a bibliographical essay, an index to recipes, and a list of sources for spices, paraphernalia, and airfreight shipments of crawfish.
212 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 9, 2017
Do you know of any other books on crawfish? Seriously - what is a vegan doing with a book on mudbugs, right? When I lived in New Orleans, I probably ate my weight in crawfish every season. Now that most crawfish seem to come from China, I wonder how the process looks for crawfish being farmed for world markets. Probably not terribly pretty - or humane.
July 8, 2015
Wow. More information on crawfish than I could ever think of asking. It contains history, recipes, song lyrics...
I am of Swedish descent and I had no knowledge of Swedish love of crawfish. I really thought it was a regional food but apparently the little buggers are enjoyed throughout Europe.
I am of Swedish descent and I had no knowledge of Swedish love of crawfish. I really thought it was a regional food but apparently the little buggers are enjoyed throughout Europe.
February 28, 2026
This is definitely a unique work that is part history, part folklore, part cookbook. Pitre definitely has a unique take on the life and times of the tiny crawfish. While he certainly focuses primarily on South Louisiana and its prevalence among the Cajun people, there is also the parts that focus on how crawfish are seen and eaten around the world. I never the Swedish placed such a premium on crawfish! That said, his work is light on references, so some of the history comes off more as lore than anything else. But definitely a fascinating read and will look forward to giving some of the recipes a try!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews