Jay D's Bites: Sweet Potato Pulled Pork Nachos

by Aimee Tortorich

I have never met a person that doesn’t love nachos. They are fun to eat, easy to share and can be created using different proteins and toppings. I wanted to do a little spin on a typical nacho plate that you would order at a restaurant, so I came up with this recipe. Sweet potato chips and pulled pork loaded with colorful and delicious toppings was a hit at the Bite and Booze headquarters and is sure to be a hit amongst your friends as well.

Sweet Potato Nachos with Pulled Pork 

Sweet Potato Pulled Pork Nachos

2 large sweet potatoes, thinly sliced on a mandolin

1 ½ cups Jay D’s Triple Threat pulled pork
1 cup of canned black beans, rinsed
1 avocado, sliced
1 cup Monterey jack cheese
½ cup sour cream
2 green jalapenos, thinly sliced
Oil for frying
Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub for seasoning chips

Heat a deep fryer to 300 F. Working in batches drop about 10 sweet potato chips at a time (depending on the size of your fryer and parcook for 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let drain. Set heat to 350F. Working again in batches, drop par-cooked chips into oil for about 1-2 minutes or until edges start to brown. Immediately remove from oil into a mixing bowl or on a paper towel lined rack and season with Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet Rub.

To assemble nachos:

Layer sweet potato chips with Monterey Jack Cheese, black beans, and pork. Broil until cheese melts. Top with avocado, sour cream, jalapenos, and a drizzle of Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce.

Jay D's Bites: Triple Threat Pulled Pork

by Aimee Tortorich

I love many things in life, but barbecue, pork and a little whiskey on the side will always put a smile on my face. For this recipe, I wanted to use as many Jay D’s products in one dish, while not overpowering the flavor of the protein and I believe that I have achieved success. The mustard created a lovely sweetness and allowed the rub to stick to the pork, while the sugars caramelized on the outside. It was a nice balance of spicy and sweet that would work well for many dishes.

Jay D’s Triple Threat Pulled Pork 

Jay D's Triple Threat Pork Shoulder

Serves 4-6

1 Bone-in Pork Shoulder (about 8 lbs)
1 cup Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub
1 cup Jay D’s Louisiana Molasses Mustard
4 Tbs kosher salt
2 cups Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce

Dry pork butt very well with paper towels and coat with 1 cup of Molasses Mustard. This will create a paste that the rub will stick to. Mix rub and salt together and apply liberally to all sides of the pork shoulder. Let sit uncovered in refrigerator overnight.

Soak apple wood chips in water and heat smoker to 225 F. Place wood chips in smoker and place pork shoulder fat side up in the smoker and smoke for about 1 hour per pound or until internal temperature reaches 190 F.

Take the pork butt off of the smoker and let cool slightly. Pull pork apart with gloves or tongs and toss with Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce. Enjoy on sliders, nachos, or as is.

Pick up the full gambit of Jay D's products on JayDucote.com!

Jay D's Bites: Jalapeño Duck Poppers with Barbecue Cream Cheese

by Aimee Tortorich

Looking for a cool way to use Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce? Try these jalapeño duck poppers with barbecue cream cheese! The sweetness of the cream cheese with the smokiness of the bacon and heat from the jalapeño is a perfect bite. They're a great appetizer at tailgates and holiday parties.

Jalapeño Duck Poppers with Jay D's Barbecue Glaze:

Yields 10-12 duck poppers

1 duck breast, sliced into ¼” slices (should result in 10-12 slices)

10 fresh jalapeño pepper slices, seeded

3 slices of bacon, sliced into thirds

¼ cup of cream cheese

½ cup of Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce, divided

Toothpicks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Lay bacon on sheet pan for 7-8 minutes.  Set aside and cool.

Combine cream cheese with 3 Tbs. of Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce and set aside.

To assemble duck poppers, layer one slice of duck on top each piece of bacon.   Spoon a teaspoon of the barbecue cream cheese mixture on each piece of duck and top with a sliced jalapeño.  Roll up and secure with a toothpick. 

Place poppers on a sheet pan and parcook in the oven for 7 minutes.  Heat grill pan on medium high heat and grill for 3-5 minutes, while basting with Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce and enjoy!

Jay D's Bites: Spicy & Sweet Popcorn

by Aimee Tortorich

Popcorn is one of the easiest snacks to make.  However, most of us take the easy way out with microwavable popcorn.  It might be simple to pop that bag in the microwave and savor that artificial butter flavor, but there's a better way. 

Stovetop popcorn is extremely easy to make, and super fun. The flavor combinations are endless and it only takes a few minutes to make it the old fashioned way. We tried it with Jay D’s Spicy and Sweet BBQ Rub and it's a hit!  Learn how to make this amazing, simple treat. 

Jay D's Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub Popcorn

Jay D's Spicy & Sweet BBQ Popcorn

Enough canola, vegetable, grape see, sunflower or coconut oil to coat the bottom of the pot

1/2 cup raw corn kernels
Large pinch of salt
¼ cup unsalted butter
4 Tbsp Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub, divided

In a small saucepan, combine unsalted butter and 2 Tbsp. of Jay D's Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub on medium heat. Once butter is melted, stir and reduce heat and set aside.

In a large saucepot or Dutch oven (about 4 quarts or larger), set heat to medium high, add the kernels to the pot and coat the bottom with your choice of oil and put the lid on the pot (the bag of kernels will give you different instructions, but trust us, this works better). When the kernels start to pop, shake/shuffle the pot on the burner until the popping starts to subside (about 1-2 seconds between pops). Remove pot from heat and pour corn into a large bowl. Immediately toss with Jay D's Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub melted butter and dust with remaining 2 Tbsp. of Jay D's Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub and enjoy!

Jay D's Bites: Fried & Baked Wings

by Aimee Tortorich

With LSU football season quickly approaching, wings are making their way back into our bellies, tailgating tents and our hearts (even though they never really left). Super easy to make, and a crowd favorite, we decided to create our baked and fried versions of these messy heartthrobs. These crispy wings will excite your taste buds with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Use Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce or Molasses Mustard for a great dipping sauce!

Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub Baked Chicken Wings 

Jay D's Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub Wings

1 lb chicken wings
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub

Preheat oven to 400F.
Mix vegetable oil with Jay D’s BBQ rub, toss in chicken wings and let stand for 5 minutes.
Spread wings out on a single sheet pan in an even layer. Bake for 45-50 minutes until crispy or until internal temperature reaches 165F.

Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub Butter Fried Wings 

½ cup softened, unsalted butter
½ Tbsp Jay D’s BBQ Rub
1 lb chicken wings
Salt and pepper to taste


Melt butter in saucepan and add ½ Tbsp of Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ Rub. Set aside.
Heat oil to 350F in a deep fryer or large Dutch oven. Add wings and cook for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Once cooked, toss in Jay D’s Spicy & Sweet BBQ butter

Red, White and 'Cue: A Look Back on Barbecue Bites Past

by Drew Broussard

Oh barbecue, where do we start? At Bite and Booze, our appreciation for barbecue runs deep. Three of our products were thoughtfully considered and concocted with the beauty of this "low and slow" cooking method in mind. Whether he's competing or simply taste-testing for the betterment of mankind, Jay has eaten his share of barbecue over the years. 

While spring time in Louisiana may be dominated by seafood, people pivot to pork, chicken and beef when the summer rolls around. Now that July 4th is upon us and we are itching to hit the grill, let's take a look back at some of our favorite barbecued dishes that we've enjoyed over the past few years!

The Best Brisket from Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas

Brisket from @franklinbbq. @jayducote braved the line yesterday, but of course he turned it into a tailgate party. #bbq #nofilter #atx #foodporn #nomnom #seriously #beef #brisket

A photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Nov 14, 2015 at 8:03am PST

Big Basket from La Barbecue in Austin, Texas

Doing things for real at @la_barbecue in #atx! Check out that colossal beef rib! #bbq #texas #foodpics #foodporn #barbecue

A photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Nov 18, 2015 at 12:06pm PST

Spare Ribs at Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City

Brisket from the GnarBQ 2015

St. Louis Style Ribs from Pimanyoli's

Smoked Sausages from Johnson's Boucanière in Lafayette

Sausages smoking at @johnsonsboucaniere. There aren't many prettier sights. @eatlafayette #lafayette

A photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Jan 12, 2016 at 12:44pm PST

Sampler Platter from Nola Smokehouse

Say hello to the sampler platter at @nolasmokehouse. Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, burnt ends, smoked sausage, boudin, and sides! #bbq #nola #chefrob #eeeeeats #satisfeed #instayum #instafood #foodprnshare #foodporn #instagood #foodgasm #nom #nomnom #nomnomnom #foodpic #fdlmoment 

photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Jul 10, 2015 at 9:49am PDT

Team Bacon Rouge's Pig from Hogs for the Cause

We can hardly wait for this year's @hogsforthecause!Team @baconrouge is ready to rock and roll. Make sure to grab your tickets! #hogsforthecause #pork #citypork #yummy #wholehog

A photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Mar 22, 2016 at 10:11am PDT

BBQ Plate from Mitchell's Bar-B-Q in Cheyenne, WY

Doing some #BBQ research at Mitchell's Bar-B-Q in downtown Cheyenne, WY. #thestruggle

A photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Jun 23, 2014 at 1:00pm PDT

Jay D's Barbecue Venison Pizza

When @jayducote found out @indieplate carries fresh #pizza dough and @chuckp23 stocked us with venison, the @hugjayd Louisiana Barbecue Venison pizza was born!

A photo posted by Bite & Booze (@biteandbooze) on Mar 2, 2016 at 12:11pm PST

In Pizza We Trust

by Daniel Harris

First, a haiku:

Pizza, so yummy

I could eat it all the time

I love you, pizza

Here at Bite and Booze, we believe pizza is less a food and more a way of life. #Pizzaluminati

#pizzaluminati

Some like it simple, maybe just cheese or pepperoni, and others like to throw on so many toppings you can barely see the cheese. Despite how you enjoy your pizza, you’ll love to feast your eyes on a few of our recent pizza pics.

Il Forno a Legna

Shrimp, smoked salmon, mushroom, mozzarella, parsley pizza at Il Forno in McAllen, Texas.

Jay D’s Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Jay D's Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Frank's Pizza Napoletana

Crawfish lagniappe pizza from Frank's in Shreveport

Lüke

Starting off brunch at @lukeneworleans with the flammkuchen, a southern German style caramelized onion, cheese, fig and bacon tart. Have you eaten at Lüke or other @chefjohnbesh restaurants?

A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@biteandbooze) on Oct 11, 2015 at 10:59am PDT

Dat'z Italian

Wood-fired pizza from Dat'z Italian at the Baton Rouge Blues Fest

Red Zeppelin

Loving on this leaning tower of pizza @redzeppelinpizza with @ruerusike! What are y'all getting into for lunch today? 🍕

A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@biteandbooze) on Sep 8, 2015 at 11:32am PDT

Jay D’s Barbecue Venison Pizza

Gimme pizza! P-I-Z-Z-A! Head to biteandbooze.com and check out @jayducote's Barbecue Venison Pizza recipe, using @hugjayd barbecue sauce and ingredients from @indieplate! #pizza #gimmepizza #yummy #indieplate #foodpics

A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@biteandbooze) on Mar 7, 2016 at 8:27am PST

Jay Takes on More Austin Barbecue

by Jay Ducote

Franklin Barbecue may have been home to some of the best brisket I've ever tasted, but I knew my barbecue tour of Austin couldn't stop there. While I didn't get the chance to venture to any of the legendary stops outside the city limits, I did make sure to find a couple of the best BBQ trailers around.

The first of those quests brought me to Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ. A trailer located a little out of downtown, Valentina's puts a Texas-Mexican spin on traditional Hill Country barbecue. Their pork ribs were the best I had in Austin. Brilliantly spiced and the proper kind of tender, I could go back and get a whole rack of ribs if it weren't for something else on the menu calling my name...

Brisket Taco Special at Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ in Austin

The brisket taco gave me a new appreciation for what happens when good barbecue combines with Tex Mex flair. A fresh flour tortilla engulfed the smoky brisket which was dressed with spicy salsa, crunchy slaw, and a squeeze of tart lime juice. This is what I want in a taco. Layers of flavors and textures combine into one sensational bite after another. And like a burger is only as good as its bun, the tortilla game at Valentina's is strong.

Of course, I didn't just have the brisket taco. I also feasted on an arrangement of brisket, ribs, and a play on an off-the-cob Mexican street corn. I found my happy place.

Brisket and ribs from @valentinastexmexbbq has me and @dylanewers like 😄😂😋🤗 #atx #bbq #texasbbq

A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@jayducote) on Nov 17, 2015 at 12:55pm PST

On the east side of town is a food truck lot that hosts a single occupant: La Barbecue. With two smoking trailers, a service trailer, and plenty of picnic tables and open space, this joint just rings out “Austin” in my ears.

Jess Pryles set me up to meet Ali, one of the owners of La Barbecue, to do a proper sampling of the smoked meat menu. Along with my Chief Confusion Coordinator Blair, my buddies Andrew, Jonathan and Zac joined me because I knew we couldn't eat it all.

When the cafeteria tray covered in pink butcher paper came out, the salivation began, and the meat sweats ensued. Before us, arranged majestically to cover every square inch of the platter, lay a smorgasbord of smoked meats that could feed an army. One of the stars of the show was the legendary La Barbecue beef rib. Accompanying the rib were brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey, smoked sausage, pork ribs, and a number of legit sides.

Doing things for real at @la_barbecue in #atx! Check out that colossal beef rib! #bbq #texas #foodpics #foodporn #barbecue

A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@biteandbooze) on Nov 18, 2015 at 12:06pm PST

After polishing off the entire spread, we could barely manage to pose for a picture. Every bite I took brought me to new levels of barbecue glory. There was a line when we arrived, but nothing like the one at Franklin. I'd gladly go back to La Barbecue again and again. This place is the real deal!

We did some damage at @la_barbecue in #atx. Thanks to @jonathanjow and @hitmanzac for joining me!

A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@jayducote) on Nov 18, 2015 at 12:00pm PST

Barbecue Bites: Pulled Pork Sandwich

We do a lot of cool things with Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce, but truly, our favorite thing to pair the sauce with is pork. The sweetness of the cane syrup and brown sugar along with the heat of Louisiana seasonings in the sauce go perfectly with many iterations of pork.

Pulled Pork Sandwich with Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce 

In this recipe by Chef Eusebio Gongora, we put a Louisiana spin on a classic sandwich using ingredients from Indie Plate. Buckle up, it's going to get messy. For more tasty recipes featuring local ingredients, check out HugJayD.com.

Pulled Pork

1 Pork Butt, bone in
3 tbsp Jay D’s Sweet & Spicy BBQ Rub (Red Stick Spice Co.)
½ lb Carrots
1 lb yellow onion
10 garlic cloves, peeled
1 cup Pork Stock, or any meat stock
1 cup Jay D’s BBQ Sauce
1 bottle Swamp Pop File Root Beer

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place a Dutch oven on the stove top and set to medium high heat. Season all sides of the pork butt with the BBQ Rub. Sear all sides of the pork for 2-3 minutes on each side. Place all other ingredients into the pot and allow it to come to a simmer. Cover and place into the oven to cook for 3 hours until the meat is tender and the bone comes out clean. Remove the pork from the pot and shred.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

2 lbs Pulled pork (see recipe above)
1 cup Jay D’s BBQ Sauce
½ cup BBQ Aioli (see recipe)
1 head cabbage, shredded
4 Brioche buns

In a sauce pot, heat Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce on medium heat. Once it comes to a simmer, add pork and toss it to coat. In a small mixing bowl, combine the BBQ Aioli with cabbage to coat cabbage. Place 6 ounces of BBQ pork on bottom bun and top it with 3 ounces of slaw mix. Place the top bun and enjoy!

Barbecue Bites: Crawfish Roll

Crawfish roll, photo by Maria Do of Indie Plate

This crawfish roll is our answer to the North's lobster roll. Chef Eusebio Gongora came up with this recipe for a flavorful summer sandwich that's sure to be a hit at your next party.

Of all the things you can do with leftover boiled crawfish tails, this is one of our favorites (and one of the yummiest). Or, if you don't have any spare tails lying around, Indie Plate can hook you up.

Pair this cold sandwich with an ice cold beer to beat the summer heat! Find this recipe and more at hugjayd.com.

Crawfish Roll

1 lb crawfish, cooked from favorite boil
½ cup BBQ Aioli (see recipe here)
1 tsp Slap Ya Mama seasoning
¼ cup green onion, chopped

¼ cup celery, diced

4 soft buttery rolls
2 tbsp BBQ butter (see recipe here)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 1 tbs of BBQ butter on each roll and toast the buns for 3-4 minutes. In a mixing bowl, combine crawfish, aioli, green onions, celery, and seasoning until all ingredients are incorporated. Fill each roll with the mixture and enjoy.

Barbecue Bites: Jay D's BBQ Shrimp

We are so fortunate to live in a state with direct access to Gulf of Mexico seafood. There’s nothing like a fresh Louisiana shrimp, all plump and pink and perfect for popping in your mouth.

Luckily, Indie Plate saved us the trouble of hopping on our shrimp boat and heading out to sea. Indie Plate, a Baton Rouge-based grocery delivery service, sources food items from local producers (including these gorgeous shrimp). 

Jay D's BBQ Shrimp, photo by Maria Do from Indie Plate

For this recipe by Chef Eusebio Gongora, we brought together our beloved Gulf shrimp from Indie Plate and Jay D’s Barbecue Sauce to make a delicious and simple summer seafood dish, perfect for enjoying outdoors with a chilled glass of wine. For more tasty recipes featuring local ingredients, check out HugJayD.com.

BBQ Shrimp

1 lb large head-on shrimp, marinated (see recipe below)
½ cup BBQ butter, divided (see recipe below)
½ cup heavy whipping cream 
1 tbsp Jay D's Barbecue Rub (available at Red Stick Spice)
1 loaf French bread
¼ cup green onion, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the French bread into 1/2" crostinis and spread 1 tsp of the BBQ butter. Place crostinis on a sheet pan and bake for 5-7 minutes until slices are golden brown. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, and add marinated shrimp to cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the shrimp and add the cream. Reduce cream by half and add the remaining BBQ butter and the Jay D's Barbecue Rub. Continue to cook the shrimp and stir in the butter until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency. Plate the shrimp on a platter and garnish with green onions and crostinis.

Shrimp Marinade

¼ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup garlic, minced 
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp cayenne
1 tbsp Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce

In a mixing bowl, combine Jay D's Barbecue sauce, oil, garlic, black pepper, cayenne, and Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce. Place shrimp into gallon Ziploc bag and add the marinade mixture. Allow shrimp to marinate for 4 hours in the refrigerator.

BBQ Butter

½ lb unsalted butter, divided
¼ cup garlic, minced

1 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced
1 tbsp fresh oregano, minced
¼ cup Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place 2 tbsp of butter in the skillet and allow it to melt. Add the garlic, rosemary, and oregano and cook for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is soft. Add Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce and cook for additional 2 minutes. Pour the contents of the skillet into the mixing bowl of stand mixer and allow it to cool. Once cool, add the remaining butter, black pepper, and whip butter for 4-5 minutes. The mixture should double in size.