catering

Food Creates Community

For years, I worked in the French Quarter and have great memories of what we referred to as “Orphans” holidays.  This was when all of your friends and coworkers who may not have had family or had family that was to far away, would come together to celebrate  togetherness.  The regional American foods that would find their way onto the table were truly spectacular…Creole and Cajun specialties were de rigueur, treats from the Northeast and  Eastern Seaboard were prevalent, and international specialties were shared by those who  made their way to New Orleans from abroad.  We still practice this ritual with our new friends here in Austin, who may not be “orphans”, but with kids and jobs and just life in general, may not have the time or resources to travel to be with family, and it is still just as special.  It is not uncommon to have 30-40 guests milling about the house on Thanksgiving Day, collecting up everyone’s dining room chairs to make one giant table out in the lawn, so we can all sit together and create community.  If you find yourself in the dilemma of not being able to travel for the holiday, scrounge up some friends with dining room chairs and recipes to share and go crazy, you may be surprised at the memories you create… New Orleans style!

As a private chef in Austin, keeping a kitchen spotless isn’t just about presentation; it’s about professionalism. Whether I’m cooking in a client’s home or preparing for a private chef experience, clean, well-maintained cookware makes a huge difference. Today, I’m sharing one of my best tricks to clean stainless steel cooktop heat stains.

One of the most common kitchen frustrations I see? Heat stains on stainless steel cooktops and sheet pans.

The good news: you don’t need harsh chemicals or expensive cleaners to clean cooktop heat stains. This simple method is something we use regularly in professional kitchens, and it works beautifully at home too.

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What You’ll Need

• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• A soft sponge or non-abrasive cloth

Step-by-Step Method

1. Make a paste
   Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide until you get a thick, spreadable paste.
2. Apply generously
   Coat the heat-stained areas of your stainless steel cooktop or sheet pan. Be generous, as this works best when fully covered.
3. Let it sit
   Leave the paste on for at least 5 minutes. For tougher stains, you can let it sit a little longer.
4. Gently scrub
   Using a soft sponge or cloth, gently scrub the surface. Avoid anything abrasive to protect the stainless steel finish.
5. Rinse and admire
   Wipe clean with warm water and dry. The difference is immediate.

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Why This Works

Baking soda provides gentle abrasion without scratching, while hydrogen peroxide helps lift stubborn discoloration caused by high heat. It’s a simple, effective solution trusted in professional kitchens to clean stainless steel cooktop heat stains (and by me!).

At NOLA Kitchen, attention to detail matters to us! These are the same standards we bring to every private chef experience in Austin, whether you’re booking an intimate dinner, a special celebration, or an in-home cooking experience.

If you’re looking for a private chef in Austin who values quality at every level, we’d love to cook for you.

When bold Louisiana flavours meet Texas spices, something magical happens! Meet one of Chef Mike’s all-time favourites: Crawfish Tacos! This easy recipe brings together juicy crawfish, fresh ingredients and that unmistakable NOLA flair.

Whether you’re using crawfish tail meat from your last boil or a quality frozen bag, this dish brings the taste of New Orleans straight to your table. Warm tortillas, buttery crawfish, fresh citrus, and just the right amount of spice.

Still Got The “Envie” For Crawfish? Dig into this crawfish tacos recipe, folks.

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Crawfish Tacos Recipe (Fusion Style)

Ingredients

(If you need clear measuring unit conversions, head here)

• Crawfish tails (Louisiana tail meat from the last boil or 1# bag frozen)
• Butter to saute
• 2 T fresh garlic
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1 small red bell fine dice
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 chilli of  your choice, fine-diced
• Tony Chachere’s to taste
• Chopped cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• Cotija cheese, diced tomatoes and avocado
• Corn tortillas (soft and crunchy)

Method

1. Sauté the garlic, onion, bell pepper, and chilli in butter until softened and fragrant. 
2. Add the crawfish tails and season generously with Tony Chachere’s, cooking until heated through.
3. Finish with green onions and fresh lime juice, then remove from heat.
4. Fill warm tortillas with the crawfish mixture and top with cilantro, cotija cheese, tomato, and avocado.
5. Enjoy every bite!

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We hope you love this crawfish tacos recipe as much as we do at NOLA Kitchen! As with all exceptional food, it’s best enjoyed with great company.

And if this is your kind of flavour… imagine it cooked fresh in your own home. Book Chef Mike for a private chef experience in Austin and bring authentic Cajun-Texas fusion to your next dinner, event, or celebration.

If You Can’t Handle The Spice In The Food, You Sure Won’t Be Able To Handle The Spice The Rest Of Our City Offers!!!

“In the latest chapter in the ongoing battle against New Orleans culture, Chad Arnold, a recent New Orleans transplant by way of New York, hired New Orleans attorney John Smits to represent him in a class action lawsuit against several local bars and restaurants in the Marigny. The bars’ offense? They dared serve him crawfish that he deemed “too spicy”. “Some of these places use too much spice in their boils,” said Arnold. “Not everyone wants it that hot and we feel it’s discriminatory toward people who have a softer palette.”

Go back to Blah-ville, we don’t need your kind around the Greatest Culinary City in America…