Holiday Gift Guide - Pelican Publishing

“Honey, if cookin’ is a chore, then you ain’t been doin’ it right.”--author and Lord Honey chef Jason Smith

From Kentucky ’Nanners Foster Waffles to ’Lasses-Glazed Carrots to Sweet Tea and Bourbon Fried Chicken, celebrate the art of “Country Bling” cooking with recipes that will have you digging out the cast-iron skillet and running to the store for some butter. Complete with colorful descriptions, accessible ingredients, simple directions, and helpful tips, this book will teach you everything you need to know about cooking with love. Kentucky born and bred, Lord Honey Chef Jason Smith honors his roots and, at the same time, refashions cherished classics. Enjoy beloved Southern traditions and odes to the homespun—dishes always perfect just the way Granny did it—but with a twist. Some of these recipes have won awards, and others haven’t made it to the competition yet, but all of them are just right for a sit-down with family and friends.

This baby memory book allows families to record all the milestones of a uniquely Louisiana childhood!

The lively illustrated pages provide spaces for photos and notes for baby's first twelve months in this one-of-a-kind state, with pages for the first and second birthday too. Parents then can set down the dates and details for baby's first king cake, football game, festival, and much more!

A heritage crafted of elegance and strength.

The wrought and cast ironwork of New Orleans is lauded worldwide for its intricacy and timelessness. Generations of artisans have labored to create the unyielding filigrees that guard windows, doors, and, gardens. Now, award-winning author Kit Wohl eloquently marries her passions for art, photography, and metalwork in this stunning tour of Crescent City craftsmanship. Graced with photographs of the city’s most famed works, histories of each piece and its location transport readers on a journey of elegance and beauty. From the famous cornstalk fence to the storied splendor of the Pontalba Buildings, these vignettes illuminate New Orleans’s rich artistic legacy.

You're not gonna taste this little beignet! In this confectionary folktale adaptation, a lonely baker gets his wish when he sprinkles magic sugar on a beignet and it comes to life. The little beignet boy runs away but is in danger of being eaten by the hungry people of New Orleans. He leads a wild chase through the French Quarter, visiting famous sights along the way. This delightful book, with wacky illustrations and a sassy refrain, will run straight into readers' hearts.

“History in its most painless form . . . lightened not only by cartoons but by narrative approach.”—New York Herald Tribune

The history of New Orleans is a street-level story, with names like Iberville, Terpsichore, Gravier, Tchoupitoulas, and, of course, Bourbon, presenting the city’s past with every step. The late John Churchill Chase eloquently chronicles the origins and development of the most fascinating of American cities in this humorous masterpiece.

Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children details the interesting stories of the developers and families as well as the infamous and famous people, places, and events from which the city’s names and character are drawn. First published by now-defunct New Orleans publisher Robert L. Crager in 1949, the book remains funny and informative, generally accepted as a standard reference about the Crescent City.

Chef Jason Smith is back at it, providing you with more of his one-of-a-kind Country Bling recipes. The Kentucky native, known for his glitzy wardrobe, colorful expressions, and award-winning recipes, is thrilled to present his second cookbook, which focuses on decadent confections, using eight ingredients or less.

The recipes in this book have been developed to encompass everything that makes a decadent dessert; whether you like sweet, salty, tart, savory, silky, crunchy, chewy, creamy, frozen, fried, or chilled; you are promised to have a lip-smackin’, eye-rollin’ experience with each recipe.

It was Chef Jason’s flair for taking all of the above considerations when making tasty confections that shot him into the national spotlight, when he competed on and won Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship, season 3; and Holiday Baking Championship—Kids vs. Adults, 2016. He continued to parlay his talents in the sweet and savory, by competing on and winning Food Network Star, season 13. Chef Jason has appeared as a judge and competitor on several national network food shows, and has had the honor of participating on The GOAT, an Amazon Prime reality show.

With all his accolades, he considers the privilege of sharing his love of food through his cookbooks to be his greatest accomplishment.

Poppy Tooker’s Drag Queen Brunch showcases delicious meals and brunch-time cocktails in some of New Orleans’ most iconic restaurants and courtyards.

Featuring luscious photos of all the dishes (both the ladies and the recipes) by renowned photographer Sam Hanna, the inspiring images are accompanied by light-hearted profiles of fifteen flirtatious queens and their favorite flavors— mouth-watering recipes for classic dishes, new favorites, and thirst quenchers— all designed to enhance the brunch experience. No matter where in the world you live, you can prepare a Crescent City style brunch brimming with fun and tasty treats.

Contributors include Vinsantos Defonte, a prominent voice in the national LGBTQ community and founder of New Orleans Drag Workshop; Wayne Phillips, curator of the Costumes & Textiles and the Carnival Collections of the Louisiana State Musuem; and of course, Poppy Tooker herself, celebrated host of Louisiana Eats!

A percentage of all proceeds is dedicated to CrescentCare (NO/AIDS Task Force).

This baby memory book allows families to record all the milestones of a uniquely Florida childhood! The lively illustrated pages provide spaces for photos and notes for baby's first twelve months in this one-of-a-kind state, with pages for the first and second birthday too. Parents then can set down the dates and details for baby's first orange juice, baseball game, theme park, and much more!

This lovely collection of 37 recipes features the pecan in appetizers, soups, salads, meats, and more. The popular nut grows naturally from Iowa all the way down to the Southeast and to Mexico.

America's most popular indigenous nut, the pecan offers a comfortingly rich and buttery flavor. Delicious in sweet, savory, and spicy dishes, the nut takes center stage. From the simple pleasure of roasted pecans to the more complex pairing of Speckled Trout with Pecan Meuniere, the dishes in this cookbook offer an enticing spectrum of tastes and treats to savor all year long.

"A must-read for anyone from beginner to practiced bartender. Marvin has made a serious study over the decades of what makes taste buds sit up and take notice."
-Joe Fee, Fee Brothers Bitters

"Great bartenders in America are appreciated. In New Orleans, they are revered, and no one is more so than the Carousel's Marvin Allen. His deft touch in creating a historically proper and balanced cocktail is a joy to behold and to taste. This volume is a reflection of his love for his craft and his city. Party on! Where are the go-cups?"
-Tim McNally, host of The Wine Show, wine and spirits editor of New Orleans Magazine

Swizzle your way from January to December with this indispensable introduction to the world of cocktails. Each month, experiment with a new spirit as you create fresh, well-balanced drinks. Included are the basics of equipment, ingredients, and techniques, as well as snippets of lore and suggestions for exploring new recipes and variations. Veteran crafters and budding enthusiasts alike will delight in these concoctions, which range from classics like the Sidecar and the Ultimate Classic Gin Martini to daring twists like Satan's Whiskers or the absinthe-based Monkey Gland. Discover tastes old and new in this clear, conversational guide to mixing your own magic.

Celebrate 300 years of New Orleans history!

Originally written by Joan B. Garvey and Mary Lou Widmer, this book is widely regarded as the definitive text for tourists, locals, teachers, and students. This concise history of the Crescent City contains chapters covering the Mississippi River, the city's founding, European rule, and more, updated with expanded jazz and African American sections. It is a must for every library and home, and for those who love New Orleans and its rich history.

Surrounded by the waters of the Mississippi, the blooming magnolias, and the buzzing mosquitoes, a solitary raccoon made his home in a cypress trunk.

As yet another Christmas approached with no friends to share the holiday season, Roux vowed to make a change. He built a tall bonfire, in the Cajun tradition, in hopes that Papa Noel would see the warm light of the flames on his Christmas Eve flight. 

Roux tucked himself into bed that cold, lonely night with not an inkling that Santa would indeed stop by his swampy abode. The jolly man in red brought gifts for the raccoon who had been nice all year, but gifts, he knew, were not what would bring little Roux cheer. As Santa set off to continue his Christmas Eve rounds, he scoured the bayous and towns for what would make Roux’s holiday complete. Can Santa find the perfect present to save Roux’s Christmas? 

This heartwarming story about the power of hope and the magic of friendship is sure to brighten your holiday reading. Children will enjoy this story of an unlikely friendship set in the southern swamps that references customs and traditions familiar to the littlest Cajuns. A recipe for Roux’s Bayou Stew completes this special tale.