re: The best dish you've ever cooked

I was asked to provide a dish for 32 people for a Christmas party. Of course, my first thought was gumbo or oyster artichoke soup some type of soup is usually the easiest way to go.

Instead, I borrowed 3 dozen coquille bowls from a cousin who does catering. I made a stuffed crab like filling, but a little spicier. I pushed the filling into the bowls as if it were a pie crust, Then I browned them in the oven until a little crusty.

Next I made a thick oyster and shrimp stew. At service I took the coquille bowls with the crab crust out of a warmer oven, ladled in the stew, garnished and served.

It was very rich, so the portion didn't have to be very big. I got more positive compliments on that dish than almost anything else I have created. It was a lot easier to make than it sounds like and service was very easy.