Taste With The Eyes

Jimmy Buffett Day
and
Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya

Rest in Paradise JB – Merci pour la Magie… 

Jimmy Buffett
December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023

Jimmy Buffett Day

The day gives fans an opportunity to not only toast to our Jimmy and revisit his songs like “Margaritaville” and “Tin Cup Chalice” but also to embrace the carefree, coastal lifestyle he championed.

Florida officially made the last Friday in August “Jimmy Buffett Day” to honor the singer, songwriter, and storyteller who brought the laid-back island lifestyle to life through music, food, and good times.

The resolution from the Florida House of Representatives praises Buffett’s “free-spirited life and significant contributions to national and state culture,” while remembering how he first honed his craft in the bars of Key West. It was there that he built the breezy, tropical rock sound that became a soundtrack for escapism.

Of course, no Jimmy Buffett celebration is complete without food and friends. Last year, I marked the occasion by making his favorite gumbo. This year, we’re diving into Margaritaville The Cookbook for Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya, a dish that’s as lively and colorful as the music itself. Just like Buffett’s songs, it’s a recipe made for sharing, best enjoyed with a crowd, some laughter, and maybe a margarita or a cup of “good red wine.”

Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya

Just a bit spicy, soulful, and adapted straight from the pages of Margaritaville The Cookbook, this jambalaya is pure celebration in a pot. A Louisiana classic with roots in Spanish paella, French country cooking, and West African one-pot traditions, it’s a true melting pot dish—flavorful and festive.

Packed with shrimp, sausage, chicken and plenty of Creole flair, it’s hearty enough to feed a crowd and lively enough to keep the party going. Put on your favorite Buffett tunes, stir up a batch, and laissez les bons temps rouler…

Fill It Up With Good Red Wine

Pairing Opus One with jambalaya is a playful, indulgent experiment—definitely fun, though far from classic. Inspired by Jimmy’s song “Tin Cup Chalice,” one of our favorites, the idea brings a touch of whimsy to the table.

The wine’s structured tannins, dark fruit, and oak depth are a world apart from the smoky, spicy, and rustic flavors of traditional jambalaya. Yet, when the dish is adjusted toward a meat-forward, mildly spiced version with rich sausage and chicken, the wine’s intensity can find a kind of harmony with the dish’s savory depth. It’s a pairing that surprises the palate: the jambalaya’s smoky layers soften the wine’s tannins, while the wine’s luxurious fruit and complexity elevate the dish in a way that’s unexpected and memorable.

Tin Cup Chalice Lyrics

I wanna be there
Wanna go back down and lie beside the sea there
With a tin cup for a chalice, fill it up with good red wine
I’ll be chewin’ on a honeysuckle vine

Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya Recipe

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