Ingredients

1 cup roux (recipe follows)
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped bell peppers
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 bay leaves
Pinch cayenne
Emeril’s Essence to taste (see recipe)
1 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
6 cups venison stock (see recipe)
1 1/2 pounds bottom round cut of venison (or any cut, except for the loin and rib area), cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped green onions
3 cups cooked white rice
2 tablespoons chopped green onions

Emeril’s Essence
This is an all-purpose seasoning blend that can be used in many dishes.
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Roux:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons Emeril’s Essence (see recipe)

Venison stock:
7 pounds venison marrow bones, sawed into 2-inch pieces
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cups Claret wine
20 peppercorns
5 garlic cloves, peeled
5 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
1 1/2 gallons water

Instructions

In a large stockpot, add the roux. Add the onions, celery, and bell peppers and stir constantly for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted. Add the garlic, bay leaves, cayenne, Essence, and sausage. Season with salt and pepper. Add the stock and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Season the venison and add to the pot. Simmer for 1 hour. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface. Add the parsley and green onions. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Ladle the gumbo into a bowl and top with rice. Garnish with green onions and Essence.

To make the Essence:
Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Store it in a sealed container.

To make the roux:
In a large pot, heat the oil. When the oil is almost smoking, whisk in the flour. Cook the roux for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly for a dark roux.

To make the venison stock:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the bones on a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and brush with the tomato paste. Lay the vegetables over the bones. Return to the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Place the pan on the stove and deglaze with the wine, scraping the bottom of the pan for browned particles. Put this mixture in a large stockpot. Add the peppercorns, garlic, and herbs. Season with salt. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 4 hours. Remove from the heat and skim off any fat that has risen to the surface. Strain the liquid and discard the bones.

From the terrific book The Ultimate Guide to Grilling by Rick Browne. Available on Amazon.com

Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 oz. good quality tequila
2 pound choice porterhouse steak, aged
1 crushed garlic clove
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
1/4 cup melted butter
dash of balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
2 teaspoons Montreal Steak Seasoning

Instructions

Mix the soy sauce, olive oil and 2 ounces of the tequila together in a small container and shake until well mixed. Put steak into Ziplock bag, pour in marinade, and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour. Drain the steak, discarding the marinade.

Mix the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to both sides of the meat, rubbing in well with your hands.

Place steak on grill over hot mesquite fire (600 degree to 700 degree), and cook until you reach the desired state, approximately 6-8 minutes per side for medium-rare. Place meat on a platter and drizzle the extra tequila over both sides of the steak just before serving.

Do not pour liquor over the meat while it is over or near an open flame unless you want to be an ignited part of the barbecue yourself!

Denny Morrison is a Canadian champion long-track speed skater with an Olympic gold medal to his credit. His second passion? Grilling. His food of choice: burgers. You can read the full story at the link above, or check out his favorite burger recipe here:

Ingredients

1 lb. of lean or extra lean ground beef
3 handfuls of quick oats
1 egg
1 “sploosh” of milk
1 tsp. minced garlic
3-5 mushrooms, finely diced
1-2 jalapeño chilis, finely diced
6-9 splashes Worcestershire sauce
2-5 splashes hot sauce
1 tsp. each ground cayenne, oregano and thyme ½ tsp. each basil and sage
1 Tbsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
8 bread rolls of your choice
8 slices of cheese of your choice
1 large white onion, cut into rings
2 beefsteak tomatoes, cut into slices
2 ripe avocados
Ketchup, mustard and relish
Head of romaine lettuce

Instructions

Mix well all ingredients for the patties. Separate the meat into 8 round patties. Grill them at 375-450 F (or medium-high) for about 6 minutes. Flip the burgers and grill their opposite sides for about 6 minutes. Flip them again and add a slice of cheese per patty. Move all burgers to the side of the grill, but keep a burner on maximum and close the grill lid for 6 minutes. Remove them from the grill. Decorate the bottoms of the halved bread rolls first: Add 1 layer of relish, then 4-6 rings of onion and 3-4 strips of thinly sliced avocado.

Next, place the patties onto the bottom buns, cheese side down. Top them with ketchup and mustard smiley faces, one 1/8-in. slice of tomato, and 3-6 leaves of lettuce. Place the tops of buns gently onto the lettuce stacks, being careful not to spoil the burgers via tippage. Place the palm of your hand firmly on top of each burger and in a smooth, gentle, but forceful motion, compress each burger to half its original height.