THis kitchen is often the heartbeat of the house. It is the place where memories and meals are made, and the epicenter of the fast-growing culinary empire of Shana and Eric Jones.
With the imminent release of their first cookbook A healthier southern life, With a vibrant social media presence, famous collaborations, and even interest from renowned arrogant chef Gordon Ramsay, things are quickly heating up for Houston couples.
With foodies and creators alone, the couple integrated their talents in January 2018 to create the Dude That Cookz website. This site is a fascinating hub for cocktails, gift guides and other delicious mausers, as well as recipes for all meals of the day.
The company’s creative director and photographer, Shana Jones, co-founded the lifestyle site Urban Swank with former local adventurer and friend Felice Simmons. Eric was a professional athlete, had an artistic touch, and was always interested in everything that was savory.
Born in Louisiana, Eric grew up in his grandmother’s and mother’s kitchens and enjoyed the butter-soaked Southern cuisine with the charm and spices of Creole. He had never attended a cooking school, but he reproduced his family’s recipes himself and paid attention to how and what was cooked.
“I went to grandma’s class,” says Eric Jones. “They lived down the streets to each other, so I saw all aspects of Southern cuisine. I loved it all and grew up eating.”
Food is definitely a word of love. But when Eric recreated the food he grew up in (or a memorable food in a restaurant), he wanted the language to speak in a healthier way. The couple were eating clean meals “little by little,” but soon they began to renew their recipes in earnest and post them on their website.
Eric’s other regulars are the notebooks he has to write down dietary details that resonate with his taste buds and vision. Healthier Southern Life..
In addition to her photography skills and marketing knowledge, Shana brought her love for desserts to the table, allowing couples to create a complete collection of recipes. Each has a healthy makeover while maintaining the Southern Meets Creole Hybrid Mix.
“We loved the Southern tradition and started eating cleanly as a family by replacing heavy cream with coconut milk and butter olive oil,” says Shanna Jones.
“You can taste healthy and delicious Southern food without sacrificing flavor,” Eric adds.
Creating a cookbook
The couple was approached by Page Street Publishing after the publishers noticed the Dude That Cookz website and evaluated their fresh perspective on familiar favorites. A redesigned collection of dishes, such as chicken and sausage jambalaya, low fat, old-fashioned chicken and dumplings, red snapper and cheese pollenta with creole tomatoes, highlights recipe salt, fat, carbohydrates, and calorie-lowering ingredients. doing. What was important to Eric was that there was a dish in the book for everyone, regardless of allergies or dietary preferences. Therefore, there are options for shellfish replacement and vegetarianism.
The cookbook is divided into seven chapters. With a total of 60 recipes, including sandwiches, sides, desserts, breakfast, and even soups, Eric’s favorite section.
“The soup chapter will surprise a lot of people,” he says. Paper City. “The taste of healthy soup is outstanding.”
His personal favorite is the five-star truffle mushroom cream soup, inspired by the asparagus truffle soup that Jones had in Napa. His healthy version includes baby bella mushrooms, garlic and vegetable soup.
Eric recognizes the sense of smell, not taste, as the helm of his food recreation. And he relies on Shana to act as chief taster, giving honest and knowledgeable opinions.
“That’s the weirdest thing. It’s based on scents,” says Eric Jones. “Once you smell it, throw the ingredients into the kitchen like a canvas. That’s my art.”
The chemistry of their cooking began early in the relationship. Rather than booking a table for two on Valentine’s Day, the two held a cook-off, each creating a menu and trying to surprise each other in the kitchen each year. It is now a Jones family tradition.
The duo has already attracted the attention of Saxe Slice, Zwilling and Bob’s Red Mill and is collaborating with the brand on various projects. Other collaborations are just around the corner.
When Jones was called by Gordon Ramsay’s production company, it was simply a matter of timing that prevented the project. Eric and Shana knelt on the cookbook to meet the publisher’s deadline. With them Healthier Southern Cuisine A couple of books, due out on February 22, are preparing for a new opportunity in front of the kitchen and camera.
“Four years ago, we turned our hobby into a business,” says Eric. “Shanna has taken me out of my shell and convinced me of the possibilities, and now I’m really enjoying it. I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.”
Everything should be delicious next time.
