HOUSTON – Spring means mudbugs - and Tanji Patton of Goodtaste with Tanji is here to help Houstonians make the most of crawfish season. From big-family boils to a crunchy, cheesy crawfish bread demo, Tanji showcases two local favorites plus wine pours that pair perfectly with Cajun heat.
Where to get your Cajun fix
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Crawfish Shack (Crosby) brings bold combos built for sharing. Try the Shack Trio — 2 pounds of fresh boiled crawfish, a 1/2‑pound snow-crab cluster, 1/2‑pound hot boiled shrimp, two potatoes and one ear of corn (add Cajun sausage, spicy boiled egg or mushrooms if you like). Their Louisiana crawfish étouffée features exclusively Louisiana crawfish tails, a light roux and finely chopped veg served over white rice. Also on the menu: a classic chicken-and-sausage gumbo that’s perfect for chasing the spice.
Crawfish Hideaway has two Houston-area spots - Dayton and Cove (Baytown) - with Dayton offering a full menu. The Crab Hook Up is a feast: 4 pounds of crawfish, a snow-crab cluster, eight jumbo shrimp, two ears of corn and two potatoes. Save room for their homemade banana pudding (a family recipe they’ve kept for 20 years) - Dayton even offers a “banana-less” version. The Dayton location also serves a Catfish Étouffée Plate: fried catfish over rice, smothered in crawfish étouffée with a side of red beans and rice.
Crawfish bread, wine and more
Tanji demos a fan-favorite New Orleans crawfish bread - crispy, cheesy and loaded with crawfish tails.
She also recommends the following wines to pair with seafood boils.
- Brady Vineyard Paso Robles California Zinfandel
- Martin Codax Albarino Baixas 2024
- Josh Cellars Prosecco
All are under $20.
The Goodtaste TV team also shared a complete how-to guide for backyard boils with a local crawfish expert and friend of Houston Life, Joel Barrios, owner of Bayou Boys Catering in Needville.
Whether you’re rolling up your sleeves at a boil or trying crawfish bread at home, Tanji’s picks are a local guide to all things mudbug in Houston.
Listen & learn
Don’t miss Tanji’s Goodtaste for the Soul podcast. This week’s episodes include a moving lost-and-found effort after the July 4th Hill Country floods and an encouraging update on breast cancer vaccine research from Mays and UT Health SA.
Podcast episodes:
Dondi Persyn & The Lost Items from the Kerrville Flood
A chat about breast cancer vaccine research with Dr. Kaklamani
You can watch Goodtaste with Tanji this weekend on KPRC 2. Tune in Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 5:30 a.m.
Tanji always finds great pieces to add to her seasonal table at Kuhl-Linscomb.