PHOTO: A Louisiana firefighter has secured his spot in the finals of “The Great American Recipe” reality cooking show on PBS. Coby Bailey is one of three people left vying for the Season 4 crown. The Lafayette native and U.S. Navy veteran has had performed solidly over the last five weeks, using his Louisiana roots to produce Cajun dishes that have wowed the judges. Bailey has been working for the Lafayette Fire Department for 27 years, 10 of those as a captain.
In the latest episode that aired Friday, the home cooks had to create “heirloom recipes that have been treasured by their families for generations.” Bailey’s dish, Alligator Sauce Piquante, featured gator, smoked sausage, Gulf shrimp and was served atop homemade grits made with heavy cream and chicken broth.
“The Great American Recipe” selects home chefs from across the country, and explores the way their backgrounds and stories impact their personal recipes and cooking styles. Described by PBS as an “uplifting cooking competition,” each contestant shows off the dishes that mean the most to them, exposing the wide range of flavors and cuisines that make American cooking delicious.
You can watch his performance in the finals of “The Great American Recipe” on Friday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m. central on PBS or online.
