Ocean Drive

Beach, Boogie & Shag!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

We're going to the beach, putting on some good ole Beach music and dance the night away! Carolina Beach music is a regional genre from the 60's that swept the country. And to go with this unique music you had to have a cool dance... thus the birth of the swing style dance called "the Shag". 

Today we're cookin' up some sweet and spicy pasta with some delicious blackened grouper, listening to some old rhythm and grooves and enjoying some "High Tide" punch.

Get out your dancing shoes.

The pots are on!

The Plate...

Blackened Grouper Linguine / Beurre Blanc Sauce

There is nothing I love more than some good spicy fish over pasta. With this dish you get sweet and spicy. The beurre blanc sauce has a great sweetness that really goes well with the blackened fish. 

Sounds fancy, but trust me this is really easy to make. 

I don't know why more restaurants don't offer an entree like this... Hmmm. 

What you need... 

Linguine:

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt

6 oz fresh linguine

Beurre Blanc:

2 cups heavy cream

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp cider vinegar

1 shallot minced

4 tbsp butter

Salt and pepper

1 tbsp red pepper flakes

Grouper:

1 tbsp olive oil

Cajun seasoning (Tony Chachere)

1 8oz grouper filet

2 cloves garlic minced

1 oz shredded parmesan

Lemon wedge for garnish

What you do...

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add olive oil and salt.

Add the linguine and cook for about 2 minutes.

Put cream, lemon juice, red pepper, vinegar and shallots in a saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a boil and reduce by about half.

Whip in the butter until it is smooth and add salt and pepper to taste.

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. 

Sprinkle the Cajun spice all over the fish. 

Cook until well seared (3 min per side).

Pour the past into the pan with the Beurre Blanc and toss to blend.

Now arrange the linguine in the center of the plate and place grouper on top. 

Garnish with lemon wedge. 

The Playlist...

Ocean Drive

Sweet soul music... that's what we're talking about! You can't help but feel good listening to these great old dance tunes. I don't know exactly what makes up a great "shag" tune. They say it's a 4/4 beat with a little "blues shuffle"; fast or slow it doesn't matter. 

A lot of modern day musicians try to copy the style, but the original R&B groups had it down to a science. I mean if you don't feel like dancing to this stuff, especially at the beach, then something is wrong. It's windows down, cruising the boulevard, dancing on the boardwalk, good time music. 

Starting us off is a great cover of Little Walter's "My Babe" by Columbus Short... great tune. Then it gets a little revved up with Arthur Conley singing about "Sweet Soul Music".

There're a lot of great classics here. So put on those old loafers and get out there and dance. 

The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Ocean Drive

The Bar...

High Tide Punch

What you need...

Malibu Rum

Blue Hawaiian Punch

Sprite

Orange slice for garnish

What you do...

Pour equal parts rum, punch and sprite into big picture. 

Garnish with orange slice.

Have a couple and shag like nobody's looking'!

Dancin' The Night Away...

That's What He Thinks!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!