FLATIRON FACES: JEAN-PAUL BOURGEOIS, EXECUTIVE CHEF OF BLUE SMOKE ENTERPRISES
Photo credit: Melissa Hom
To highlight some of the great aspects of the Flatiron District, the BID asks notable neighborhood figures several questions about the area. This month, just in time for this weekend’s Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in Madison Square Park, we took a moment to chat with someone who knows barbecue…
Please meet Jean-Paul Bourgeois, Executive Chef of Blue Smoke Enterprises, which includes Blue Smoke, Jazz Standard, and Blue Smoke on the Road. He will also be Blue Smoke’s “ambassador for Southern food and traditions” at this year’s Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in Madison Square Park during the weekend of June 7-8. The Bourgeois family’s passion for living off the land and cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients led the Thibodaux, Louisiana native to earn a bachelor’s degree from the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University. “It’s the satisfaction you get out of feeding another person,” says Borgeois about the appeal of his profession. “The purest form of what you can do for someone is feed them.”
1. Describe the Flatiron in three words: Community. Vibrancy. Diversity.
2. All-time favorite dish you like to prepare: At home, my favorite is seafood gumbo. Being from Louisiana, I have an affection for seafood and this dish reminds me of home. At the restaurant, it’s brisket because I like cooking large format pieces of meat. It’s exciting to see it from start to finish, even though it’s a 16-hour process.
3. Food tip for this year’s Big Apple Barbecue Block Party in Flatiron: For the first time ever at the Blue Smoke tent, we’re doing Louisiana Andouille sausage with Yellow Mustard Chow Chow. Being from Louisiana, it helps tell the story of where I’m from. My Andouille sausage is rich, smoky, hearty, and full of flavor with a little kick of spice.
4. Where do you like to eat in the district: Maysville. I like to support a fellow southern boy, Kyle Knall from Alabama, who creates fresh and seasonal food with a southern backbone.
5. Favorite building or architectural element in Flatiron: How could I not choose the Flatiron Building? I always enjoy the spring and summer floral arrangements surrounding the building.
6. Love most about the district: This neighborhood has the ability to host amazing events like the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. There are always things happening in Madison Square Park. There’s always action there; it’s a lively space. I also love the changing art installations in the park.
(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
INTERVIEW WITH JEAN-PAUL
