Chef Biography
In 1954, Gigi Patout was born in New Iberia, Louisiana to a Cajun family who owned the Frederic Hotel there. The family had five children, who all learned to cook at an early age from their mother, taking turns cooking the daily meals, and only eating out on Sunday’s at their hotel. Eventually all became chefs and owned restaurants.
In 1979 at age 26, they opened Patout’s in New Iberia, winning many awards, and in 1986 Chef Gigi and two of her brothers went out to Los Angeles to open Patout’s West. Three years later, she left her brothers in charge, and returned to open Patout’s Cajun Corner on Bourbon Street. In 1992, the Great Chefs team showed up to tape Chef Gigi Patout for the Discovery Channel’s Great Chefs series, the Louisiana New Garde (episodes # 9, 12 & 22).
In 2001, she left New Orleans to open her own catering company, Gigi’s Home Cooking back in Lafayette, Louisiana where she remains today in 2016
Recipes
Cabbage Rolls
Serving: 4 to 6 Print Cabbage Rolls By Great Chefs November 11, 2015 In Louisiana, when people sit down to eat, they really eat! This recipe for cabbage rolls could easily serve four as a main dish. It’s great for company because all the preparation comes at the beginning and it tends itself while cooking. […]
Cajun Smothered Duck
Serving: 4 to 6 Print Cajun Smothered Duck By Great Chefs November 10, 2015 Smothered is another term for fricassee, a dish of poultry that has been sauteed, then stewed with vegetables. This hearty recipe with bell pepper, green onion, and parsley makes its own gravy. If you prefer, it can be made with chicken. […]
Maw Maw’s Chicken Stew
Serving: 4 to 6 Print Maw Maw’s Chicken Stew By Great Chefs November 10, 2015 Every comfort food is filled with flavor in Louisiana, as in chef Gigi Patout’s chicken stew with rice. The chicken is browned in chicken fat, three kinds of pepper give the dish zing, and a depth of flavor is provided […]
Maque Choux
Serving: 6 to 8 Print Maque Choux By Great Chefs November 9, 2015 If there are vegetarians at the table, this sweetly savory vegetable stew of corn, onions, and peppers simmered in milk — a traditional Cajun specialty — will melt their hearts. This is a whole new way to experience fresh corn. Ingredients Ears […]