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HUGHESVILLE – Big Dogz Sports Bar and Restaurant, 510 Route 220, has a new chef, and he is introducing some authentic Louisiana-style cooking that maybe locals haven’t really had the opportunity to try.
John Nims, originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, has been introducing his Cajun and Creole menu items to the offerings at Big Dogz since signing on about a month ago.
Nims, recently of Philadelphia, works the kitchen of the restaurant and bar with his wife Kerri, who works the front, he said.
Nims, who lived in Philly for the past 18 years, owned Carmine’s Creole Cafe and sold that business to move to the area to be near family, he said.
He has been named among the top 25 chefs in the Philadelphia area, specializing in French Creole, and was getting ready to open a new restaurant on Broad Street near center city Philadelphia, when he changed his mind and decided to try small town living.
“The people here are so friendly,” Sims said.
Sims noted that there is a big difference between Cajun and Creole.
“Creole features lots of dairy and is more French. Cajun is more game, roasted, smoked and spicier than Creole,” he explained.
Sims said he comes from a long line of New Orleans cooking.
“Food is a culture in New Orleans,” he said.
Local business people, restauranteurs and bar owners were among those invited to the private tasting Big Dogz held Sunday afternoon, according to Kerri Nims.
“These are people he wants to introduce his specialty line of cooking to,” she said.
The menu featured the “staples” of New Orleans cooking, including New Orleans shrimp and grits, fried shrimp po’ boys with Tobasco pickles; crabcake sandwiches, Coucon Velait or roasted pork and for dessert, New Orleans beignets, fried pastry coated with powdered sugar.
Free New Orleans beer samples of Abita and Dixie also were served and are additions to the bar’s other more familiar beers.
Big Dogz owner Carl Schultz said he is hoping to spread the word about the New Orleans fare now available there, which includes 12 types of burgers and wings and Italian food.
“He (Nims) is the real deal. He makes everything from scratch and uses only the freshest incredients,” Schultz said.
The entrance to the establishment also is changing to make it more “family friendly,” Schultz said.
A new entrance directly into the restaurant has been added so those coming to eat at the restaurant don’t have to walk through the bar to get to the restaurant portion, he said.
Schultz said Cajun cookouts are planned for the warm weather season on the facility’s outdoor patio, where there is a Tiki bar and volleyball court.
“We also have karaoke every Wednesday night and live bands or a DJ on Fridays, open mic on Saturday nights. Coming this Saturday is a national band Gas Station Disco,” he said.
Schultz said Nims plans to “go all out” New Orleans style during the week of Mardi Gras and will feature beignets on Fat Tuesday.
For more information contact Big Dogz at 570-584-4542.