Cajun Seasonings Spice Up Your Grill

Outdoor cooking is becoming more popular for any season. Amateur chefs have run through their hamburger and hotdog menu stage and are looking for more challenging variations on the same old barbecue standards. Spicing up the food you grill by looking to ethnic cuisines for inspiration is bringing even the most picky foody out to the grill to try new dishes.

To help outdoor chefs who are looking for bold flavors and spices to please their palate and their guests, Jimmy Bannos, chef/owner of Heaven on Seven restaurants, suggests grillers turn up the heat. Bannos offers outdoor barbecue cooks tips on how to use unique seasoning blends and fresh ingredients to create New Orleans style Cajun inspired specialties.

"There's just something about Cajun flavors that draws people in and makes them want to try them on all types of food. Simply adding flavorful seasonings or marinades can bring just right amount of zest to any grilled creation," claims Bannos.

Bannos, author of The Heaven on Seven Cookbook: Where It's Mardi Gras All The Time! and Big Easy Cocktails, Jazzy Drinks and Savory Bites from New Orleans, can attest to the new flare of popular Cajun dishes. As a third-generation restaurateur, Bannos' many creations have been inspired by the Creole and Cajun cuisines that natives and visitors to NOLA rave about.

Whether you were born in Cajun country, sampled the spices on a visit or just want a great way to perk up your grilling, believe Bannos when he says that Cajun soul food creations are taking over the open flame.

Try these tricks of the trade to create mouth-watering Cajun cuisine: