I. Love. Shrimp. 

My favorite movie quote: Bubba’s shrimp monologue from Forrest Gump; my favorite seafood or pasta meal: Shrimp Scampi; my favorite characters from Happy Feet Two: Will and Bill the Krill (voiced by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, respectively). When I was a toddler, there were two things my mother would feed me when I couldn’t eat anything else: blue cheese ... and shrimp (separately, of course … I hope). 

So, it's safe to say I am a pretty big shrimp fan since I’ve been enjoying it since as long as I can remember, which is why I am happy to report that my love of shrimp has continued at the St. Louis U. High annual fish fry.

Thanks to the truly talented Kathy Hyla and her team, I was able to sit down last Friday with a platter of coconut shrimp, mac and cheese, a gooey butter cake cookie, and an ice water (I had to be healthy somewhere). While coconut shrimp isn’t my preferred choice of handheld fried shrimp (that would be buttermilk fried shrimp with chipotle lime sauce, which is *mwah*), I was still excited to dig into a plate of six delicious little delicacies accompanied by decent looking sides and good friends.

Thankfully, the shrimp didn’t disappoint. They were cooked just right, with a perfect texture that was not too chewy and not too tender either. Eating them was easy and fun too, as Mrs. Kathy cooked them so well that all the meat slid out of the shell in one bite. The breading was a perfect ratio that accompanied the shrimp instead of overshadowing it. The seasoning was also pretty good, but it definitely needs a little something extra. Personally, I could’ve used something a bit spicier or “cajun-esque,” and since I’m not a fan of cocktail sauce and Tartar sauce is a form of cannibalism for me, I was out of luck for any dipping sauces. Note to self: bring the portable bottle of Tabasco next time.

I highly recommend this entree for your upcoming SLUH Fish Fry. Even if you don’t go all the way like I did and instead opt for the three shrimp, one fish filet option, you can’t go wrong with trying Mrs. Kathy’s shrimp. It is a perfect mix of buttery, fried flavor with the rich, delicious protein of shrimp. Try it with a plethora of side options and an ice-chilled Pepsi when you get it, and be sure to sit down with strangers or loved ones when you partake in a meal that was made with so much love; you can taste it more than the coconut.