Eats

Frank Randol touts Louisiana seafood in the Windy City

by Mary Tutwiler

Who needs BP's millions of restitution money to promote Louisiana seafood when you've got Frank Randol?

Randol is best known as a restaurateur and seafood purveyor in Lafayette, but he has connections nationwide and is using those ties to talk about why folks in Chicago should buy Louisiana seafood.

Randol was inducted into Shaw's Crab House's Oyster Hall of Fame last night. Shaw's has been a Chicago institution for 25 years, famous for its fresh seafood. Seasonally, the restaurant offers 40 different seafood entrees from all over the country. Randol supplies the restaurant with his fresh Louisiana Blue Point crabs and crabmeat.

In conjunction with the award, ABC affiliate WLS TV-7 in Chicago had Randol on the news, ostensibly cooking barbecued shrimp. But what he was really doing was talking about seafood testing and how Louisiana seafood is literally under the microscope these days. It's safer to eat Louisiana's exports than seafood from anywhere else, Randol says. He's a great ambassador for the seafood industry, cooking, talking and finally stripping off his shirt to reveal a T-shirt that reads "Got Lousisiana Seafood." "We are so appreciative that Chicago is buying Louisiana seafood," he concludes, "and if you're buying it now, buy more."