Sean Brock Cooks Shaved Catfish - Mind of a Chef

Sean Brock attempts to recreate Middendorf's legendary Shaved Catfish on Episode 4 of Season 2, Mind of a Chef: Louisiana.

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PBS series The Mind of a Chef combines travel, cooking, history, science, and humor into an unforgettable journey. In season two, Join executive producer and narrator Anthony Bourdain as he takes viewers inside the mind of Chefs Sean Brock and April Bloomfield, airing Saturday, September 7th on PBS.

[franciscoleyva]

"You're the Grant Achatz of fried catfish" hahahaha! Love these two guys. Great chefs and great dudes.

[kwaynecummings]

Lov sauce, lemon juice, and a side of sloppy sue, s ta-ta sauce !! Mmm Mmm. It don't get much better than that.

[rollins]

Got way into long blades over the years. SF

[aarons]

There's a better way.... Alongside the filet, lay down a couple of "chopsticks" (or the such) that are a precise height (say, 1/8th or 1/4th of an inch high). Then, laying your knife on those "chopsticks, " create a filet. Then repeat until as many thin filets have been created from the original filet as possible.

DO NOT USE A STORE-BOUGHT BREADING. Horst Pfeifer, the owner of Middendorf's, says as much. He said that it will overpower such a thin piece of fish. My old standard is roughly 1/2 cornmeal, 1/2 flour, and some salt (for larger filets, add in some pepper and garlic powder). It's better to have more cornmeal than flour, if it comes down to it.

Don't use egg wash, etc. (again, as Pfeifer says). Just place the filets in salted water (obviously not too much salt!), that will give it the moisture to cause the breading to adhere. When you're done breading, place it in ready-to-go oil! If it takes several seconds to start bubbling, it's not right. If the bubbles are large and overwrought, it's too hot. If it is in oil that is not yet ready, it will soak up oil. Too hot, and it it may burn.

Cook until golden brown (and/or when a filet can be held on one end and it will not droop).

You're welcome!

[Zarathustra.was.right]

What's the name of the fryer they are using?

[stevelogan]

Yep, but i like wild catfish over farm raised. Sorry, but i have not yet found any farm raised seafood that is better or even equal to the taste of fresh caught in the wild.

[AntwonDaBusiness]

They just fried catfish….? This is a let down.

[terrymoore]

Do you have any idea what Farmed fish eat and what country they are raised...do your home work dude !

[kofola]

Hey, Americans are not that bad. When they are not invading other countries.