This past month, I was able to spend some time out of my own kitchen. Part of cooking is learning from new experiences and being inspired. Everyone is influenced by different things: tastes, textures, colors, and smells, just to name a few. Chef Heidi at the Red Lobster Culinary Development center has created some amazing dishes for Red Lobster. With her guidance I had the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look and have a flavor adventure of my own.

We started off with Korean BBQ Shrimp which is a bold and savory flavor. Chef Heidi introduced me Gochujang, which was new to me. It gives the shrimp a subtle heat that doesn’t overwhelm, but compliments the sweetness of the sauce. The rice vinegar and brown sugar were on hand to balance out the Gochujang, which help to create this bold dish.

Next was a Red Lobster classic and an ultimate comfort food. Alfredo sauce evokes memories of home. My mother often made this dish and sometimes put her own spin on it by adding mushrooms or chicken. The Red Lobster Shrimp Alfredo is creamy and decadent. You get that warm happy feeling in your tummy that shows with the the big grin you have on your face while eating it. Well, at least that is how it happened for me! The creamy texture of the sauce with the crisp bite of shrimp is perfect.

Closing out this flavor adventure was a dish that was truly special to Chef Heidi. Parmesan Peppercorn Shrimp was created and perfected by Chef Heidi herself. It was so great to hear her creative process and how she developed the recipe. For starters, I didn’t know how many types of peppercorns there are! At first glance, you may pass this off as your regular breaded or fried shrimp. However, this is not your everyday fried shrimp batter. This dish has flecks of Parmesan cheese along with green, red, and black peppercorns. If you thought this dish could not get any better, it’s then elevated by the Meyer lemon aioli dipping sauce. These crunchy and savory shrimp will make you thankful for “Endless Shrimp!”

Part of loving to cook comes from loving to eat. The more you familiarize your palette with different flavors, the more creative you can be in the kitchen. So many times someone will ask me ‘how do you know these things go together?’ This comes through trying different flavor combinations when I am outside of my own kitchen. The great thing about Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp is that it allows you to challenge yourself. After this experience, I am heading home with new ideas for my spice cabinet and a craving for more Shrimp Alfredo!

To learn more about Endless Shrimp and to find a Red Lobster in your area visit: https://www.redlobster.com/specials